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Housekeeping

Find cleaning advice from other Mumsnetters on our Housekeeping forum.

Original poster

I use fabric conditioner, so why are my towels still so crusty and hard??

57 replies

greenday · 28/02/2007 20:01

Help! Apart from them being really uncomfortable to use, I'm tired of being embarrased by my them whenever I have guests. Any advice?

OP posts:
cece · 28/02/2007 20:02

tumble dry them

belgo · 28/02/2007 20:02

A tumble dryer will fluff them up.

misdee · 28/02/2007 20:02

you shouldnt use fabric condiotioner on towels.

can you partly tumble dry them?

charmkin · 28/02/2007 20:03

tumble drier#

ScottishThistle · 28/02/2007 20:04

No fabric conditioner!

crispyduck · 28/02/2007 20:06

I use concentrated fabric conditioner..it works

Sobernow · 28/02/2007 20:12

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Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Troutpout · 28/02/2007 20:38

tumble dryer

MascaraOHara · 28/02/2007 20:39

the only thing that makes towels soft and fluffy is tumble dryer (you don't need conditioner then) and conditionaer ruins absorbancy..

Troutpout · 28/02/2007 20:41

Are you in the south east greenday? mine were always a bit crusty there even with a tumble dryer.
errrm Move up north? ... they are quite fluffy here without even tumbling ...we don't get that white stuff in our kettles either

Gawd...theres gotta be a few bloody benefits

frumpygrumpy · 28/02/2007 20:42

Even the oldest, crustiest towel will fluff up when tumble dried.

If you don't have one......new towels for guest use only

DeviousDaffodil · 28/02/2007 20:44

HAs anyone tried those JML balls that you put in the tumble dryer? They are supposed to reduce drying time and no fab cond needed.

funnypeculiar · 28/02/2007 20:51

mine are crusty even out of the tumbledryer (which I hate using, anyway) - southeast. Will move up north

LowFatMilkshake · 28/02/2007 20:51

I have drier bals and they are great - dont rally reduce drying time as much as advertied IMO. However they reduce the ironingand all the clothes including towels come out beautifully soft.

I still use softner though as I like the smell.

I live in the South East too so add water softner or calgon - bl**dy limescale.

Somerset water is lovely and soft too!

Muminfife · 28/02/2007 20:56

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Original poster
greenday · 28/02/2007 21:12

Thanks all. I don't have a tumble dryer which seems to be the best solution. No space for them too. I live in north London .. is that north enough??

OP posts:
Muminfife · 28/02/2007 21:35

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Pannacotta · 28/02/2007 22:37

Agree bamboo towels is way forward. Have some bamboo nappies which are lovely and soft (and absorbant) however I dry them, line or tumble. Lots of places sell them now incl Habitat.

Original poster
greenday · 01/03/2007 09:29

What are bamboo towels?

OP posts:
Muminfife · 01/03/2007 10:07

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tissy · 01/03/2007 10:12

bamboo towels

JackieNo · 01/03/2007 10:16

Try washing them using minimal detergent and instead of fabric conditioner adding some white vinegar instead - it's the detergent deposits that make the fibres hard, and the vinegar helps to get rid of those.

Cappuccino · 01/03/2007 10:18

"I'm tired of being embarrased by them whenever I have guests."

you're embarrassed by your towels? How Stepford is that?

Muminfife · 01/03/2007 10:56

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MummyPenguin · 01/03/2007 16:31

My towels are crusty and hard too. I don't have a tumble dryer. I have to iron the damn things for any degree of softness.