How on earth do I keep towels looking and feeling nice?

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See photo attached.

On left - new, unwashed, super soft to the touch

On right - same type of towel after one wash. The piling has ruined and its not half as soft

I followed the instructions on the label. 40 degrees, colour safe detergent, no fabric softener (as this affects absorbency). Washed with an older towel, couple or hand towels and teatowels

Any tips on how to keep towels nice?

Wow. You really wanted to know!!!

Sorry the rubbish app when you press submit on the post doesn't appear to do anything, stays on the same screen, I pressed it a few times and then gave up. Came on PC to post and it looks like it's posted numerous times. I've reported the other threads.

Any advice appreciated though

Are you tumbling them?

What make are they?

Tumble dry them. It's the only way to keep towels soft unfortunately.

Oh also you need to use fabric softener. Personally I don't find it changes absorbency but tbh even if it does, it's the price you have to pay to keep them soft.

No tumble dryer. They were from Tesco, some weird make, probably made especially for tesco - 'hotel quality' egyptian cotton etc. £8 each on offer

Use fabric softener and tumble dry them.

BUT where are they from?

That makes all the difference.

I have Primark towels that look like this no matter what, but they sit in the cupboard as spares so doesn't really matter.

I also have a couple of John Lewis which look and feel divine and I've had them going on 5 years now. I've only had to throw the ones that DD covered in hair dye.

Replaced them with Sainsbury's towels about a year ago, and they are probably somewhere in the middle.

So I think when it comes to towels, brand / price kinda matters.

Tumble drying is what fluffs them up.

Tumble drying is the only thing that works, sorry.

From Tescos - 'hotel quality' egyptian cotton. On offer £8 each, although the before reduced price seemed unrealistic.

If tumble dryer is the only solution then probably buying expensive ones won't help? Saw ones in JL for like £20 each for bath sheet

Tumble dry but not all the way as they will get crispy. Hang to dry completely.

Buy white ones and boil wash

Could you try tumble drying them in a laundrette a couple of times, just to see whether that really is the difference?

Am the only one who likes nice hard scratchy towels?

@YetAnotherSpartacus
I like hard scratchy towels too. Shows they're clean. Softened ones feel slimy somehow.

Plus exfoliating and invigorating!

I love a hard scratchy towel and my DH loves a soft towel! I just choose the softest one and give him that.

Put a cup of vinegar in with them to wash. It softens them up a bit and is good for the washing machine. That and tumble drying (sorry)

Scratchy towels all the way for me too. I don’t like thick towels either. I’m thinking about trying hammam towels.

Tumble dry

I like thin scratchy towels. Although thick feel luxurious in the shop they take longer to dry me.

Another vote for scratchy thin towels.
Soft fluffy towels feel ick on my skin.

ahh i've found my people. i love a crispy, scratchy towel. i can't stand new plushy ones.

The towels I have are expensive and have stayed fluffy despite us never using fabric softener or tumble drying.

Something like this

www.kingofcotton.com/product.php/28/modal_650gsm_luxury_towels/8ae56dda0ec52166ed805a8373a6dd94

White vinegar where you would put the fabric softener. Use washing powered the same as normal.