towels are hard, what will soften them?

[hermykne]

new washing machine arrived so i am buying ev ery detergent aid there is to start off a beautiful new relationship.
colour catcher
stain removal
but most importantly something to soften the towels

tia

Don't use fabric conditioner
Tumble dry them

why shouldn't you use fabric conditioner? I've heard this before but didn't know why?

It makes them less absorbent.

Aaah right, that makes sense. Thank-you

I think the answer's probably white vinegar (it always is). There was a vinegar thread a few days ago, and someone suggested putting it in instead of fabric conditioner once in a while. Breaks down the detergent deposits that make the towels hard. Fabric conditioner 'coats' the fibres, making them less absorbent, so only use sparingly and once in a while.

nuvver vote for tuimbler - mum line dry's hers then sticks em in the tumbler for the last 5 mins but hers are still hard, mine are soft all the time but that's cos I use the tumbler form wet.

u can get those bounce sheets as well - not sure if they effect the absorbancy thou.

These tumble drier balls from Lakeland and supposed to be great, but I haven't tried them, maybe someone else has?

That was me!!
White vinegar is magic, use it for everything!!

You can line dry them but stick them in the tumbler for 10 minutes 'before' hand

I've tried white vinegar on mine ahd it didn't help at all. Any suggestions, plaease?

Pesonally I like hard, scratchy towels.

Although not as keen on hard, scratchy loo paper...

Not a good solution I know, but more expensive towels stay soft better. We don't have a tumble dryer so line dry everything - the posh JL wedding towels stay soft and the rest go crispy.
Would love to know how to keep the non-JL ones soft tough, so keep the suggestions coming.

(NB anyone who tumbles their towels from wet, have a peek at the electricity meter the next time it's on. You'll have a heart attack!)

tumble dry

I'm not fond of tumble dry myself. Any other suggestions, please?

i usually tumble dry from damp but from wet , eek
keep meaning to get those dryer balls.

and the vinegar sounds good
will do that

ta very much

A former colleague of mine used to leave them on teh washing line when it was raining. She would then rinse and spin on a low cycle.

Swore blind she had the softest, fluffiest towels in London.

I attach them to trouser clothes hangers, leave them until dry, then 'refresh' them in the tumble dryer.

I use the dryer balls - I switched after doing some research and discovered that fabric softener "softens" because it is petrolem-based and coats the fabric with a layer of petrol-based oil - how awful does that sound?- which is also why the absorbency of the towels is affected. HAven't bought fabric softener in ages and use the dryer balls for all the linen and towels and other stuff that goes in the dryer.

Coolmama, that's interesting. Where did you get them from ? I don't like the idea of chemical softeners being next to the skin so always use Ecover, which is plant based - hopefully doesn't have the same affect as you have described ?

All petro chemicals are plant based . I like the ecover conditioner and use on my towels as well as everything else.

Personaly I like to tumble dry from slightly damp too.

have a look at this

• hope the link works - or just try www.ecotopia.co.uk

A true story: January 2011

New Indesit washing machine (cold fill only) 2 years ago. 1400 spin speed for cotton towels, always use Super rinse to ensure proper rinsing on these economy-rated machines.

Hard water area (Thames Valley)

Always have dried on a clothes horse or outdoor line for 40 years.

Immediately.

Previously always soft towels from old Hotpoint washing machine (hot and cold fill)immediately hard - stiff board-like1

Newly purchased premier grade (most expensive) towel hard after 2 washes.

Tried everything on this website and elsewhere to get them soft:

Ideas includes, Calgon, less or no Fabric softener, 95 deg. wash, different wash tablets and liquids, no wash product at all for 2 washes, white vinegar, witches spells too!

Today finally bought and used a Hotpoint Condensing Tumble dryer £220 (never ever used a tumble dryer before). Used a programme for cotton - not high heat - it automatically ran and did 2 white bath towels (it automatically took 30 mins + 10 min cooling cycle) Totally fluffy soft towels at last!

But why?

Found this on a search for softer clothes. I've been constantly assessing my softening methods since sadly changing my also warm water fill Hotpoint washer to cold only. I swear ever since my stuff is not so soft. Anyone got any hints. I've not yet tried white vinegar but I'm tempted. 🙂 I live in a hard water area. I dry outside when poss. No tumble dryer. And don't want one. I use softener on towels. Though having gone no-poo silicone free hair-wise this year of kind of makes regarding towels.

Any thoughts??

Help - my fab towels have gone scratchy. I haven’t a tumble dryer as I don’t need 1. Any tips for softening please?