Can't get my towels soft

[AutumnBliss]

I buy really decent towels e.g. White Co. John Lewis. However, as soon as I wash them they turn to sandpaper. I have a water softener machine, so that should help, but it doesn't.

Please share your super soft towel tips.

Tumble dryer

Tumble dryer

tumble dryer or outside on a windy day helps.
I've heard of ironing making them softer but have not tried it.

Tumble dryer!

Do not use fabric conditioner, and then tumble dry.

Yeah. Tumble drier.

Fabric conditioner in wash and tumble dry them.

I read an article that the reason they get stiff is because they absorb the washing liquid. It recommended washing with vinegar. I haven't tried this though!

I don’t understand the need for the advertisement driven need for ‘soft, bouncy’ towels. I wash mine with bedding at 60 but no comfort/conditioner. I like a ‘rough’ towel! I think bedding better too (convinced conditioner gives slimely coat) but it’s personal preference!

Rough towels always remind me of the scene in Motherland where Julia’s mother says it’s like drying herself on a Weetabix

Don’t use fabric softener with towels and always tumble dry them

Powder, not liquid and tumble dry.

Tumble dry or if lived dry iron them

Capful of white vinegar in the wash and no fabric conditioner. My parents towels were (in the words of Pam in Gavin and Stacey) “like ryvitas” until I did this. They don’t have a tumble dryer.

Tumble dryer here too and no conditioner.
Every time I line dry they are crispy but a blast in the tumble dryer softens them up.

Powder not liquid,
ironing always softens them up but a good blast on the washing line in windy weather can even cut out that middle man.

As pp have said - no softener, tumble dry until almost dry but not quite, shake out well to fluff them up, then hang to finish drying.

Thx everyone.

LOL at Ryvitas. Yes mine are like that. The only upside is that at least I get a body exfoliation every time I dry myself.

I’m surprised people are saying no fabric conditioner before tumble drying.
My towels are fluffy and soft and I always use it. They smell gorgeous too.

The few times I’ve run out and washed them without it I’ve ended up with cardboard clothes/towels even after tumble drying.

@Justgivemewine

Powder not liquid, ironing always softens them up but a good blast on the washing line in windy weather can even cut out that middle man.

I don’t think I’ve ever ironed a towel! 😬

If you have been over-generous with powder and fabsoft, they will accumulate a residue. Very little is needed if you have a water softener.

Give them a HOT HOT HOT wash with no powder, no softener, and a cup of washing soda crystals.

If the water foams up and goes grey, that is the residue dissolving out.

As well as going softer and more absorbent, whites will be whiter.

There may be more stuck to the inside of your washer drum. The same treatment will clean it out.

I always use fabric softener too. I like the smell and the softness. I’ve tried without, aforementioned weetabix towels!

Only thing that makes towels soft is the tumble dryer.

Definitely distilled white vinegar instead of softner.

Is distilled white vinager just the stuff from supermarkets ?!