remind me how to have soft towels without tumble drying

[thewomanwhothoughtshewasahat]

they're like cardboard and I hate it. I know it's got something to do with vinegar but can't remember what

er.........archive search?

Only way mine are soft is when I tumble dry, have tried everything else so, I too would be very interested.

wasn't it vinegar instead of fabric softener?

But this would make them smell, no?

ketchup good too

Fairy non bio fabric conditioner

marvellous stuff

assuming you're not boycotting fairy of course

softest towels I've ever had is from a condensor dryer - the normal ones aren't a patch for softness.

why not tumble?

(actually I prefer my towels a bit on the rough side!

oh bloody hell - what have P&G done?

I won't be boycotting whatever anyway!

Didn't think you were supposed to put fabric conditioner in with towels - doesn't it stop them absorbing so much water.

I'm afraid I tumble dry mine, regardless of the weather - hate having crispy towels.

am I meant to be boycotting fairy? why not tumble dry - a. coz it's bad for my conscience, b. coz it's bad for the environment, c. coz it's bed for the electricity bill, d. because it makes the kitchen even hotter than it already is and e. because the tumble dryer's knackered

vinegar it is then! (if you want that chip parfum about you!)

Hi, I sympathise with the bill, heat and environment too, I dry mine for 10 mins then hang them out, it takes the 'crispyness' off of them ;0) but if your dryer is knackered, there isn't much you can do!

Saffymum - I do it the other way round. Hang them out then finish off for 10 mins in the tumbler dryer (a condensing one).

Try a pre soak of borax solution before the wash.

saffymum - that's what I normally do and it just about satisfies my yearnings for soft towels without being too lackadaisical with the environment but, yes, at the moment not much good as the thing's on the blink. but am thinking I should use the opportunity to train myself in better ways.

When I wash towels I always fill the fabric conditioner thing with vinegar, which not only makes towels softer, it cleans the washing machine of any soap residue.
I have turned into the vinegar queen since first reading a thread about it on Mumsnet!

oh, and they don't smell of vinegar afterwards

Yup - I use vinegar on nappies and it keeps them softer.

Towels I use comfort and just spend longer drying myself . I tend to collapse on the bed snuggled in towels and air dry anyway.

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the back of cupboard stuff...

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lakeland dryer balls work apparently...

Towels go crispy and hard when they have completely dried out. Therefore if you don't want to use your tumble dryer, just take them off the line/dryer when they are still very slightly damp. It works for me...when I remember!

line dry - 5 minute tumble

i use fabric softner every 5 or so washes and that helps.