Softening up old towels

[Simbobbly]

Our towels are about 7 years old and have got quite hard. We're in a hard water area. I've soaking in loads of vinegar, boil washing and tumble drying. Any other ideas?

I'm wondering if they just need to be replaced but our previous ones lasted a lot longer.

Oh I like a brisk towel. Send them on to me!
<not helpful>

Hanging laundry on the washing line on a windy day might be worth a try.
<slightly more helpful>

Wash with 1 cup bicarb, rinse with 1-2 cups vinegar and I don’t have a dryer but do hear that a tennis ball in with towels is a good thing.

Fabric softener - why do anything else ?

I find if I've hung mine to dry, they're usually a lot harder. So I put them in the dryer for the last 10 mins and it makes them soft.

Soda crystals will help soften your towels.

I am not sure if this will help with your old towels but as a rule stiffness of laundry is caused by residual soap.

Putting it on extra rinse is just as effective as fabric softener but with fewer chemicals.

My brother insists on a hard towel, one that's been on the line, out in the sun; so hard you can practically fold it into a paper airplane. He hates a soft and fluffy ones and has different ones to his family :)

My only advice would be FC and tumbling - but you've already tried that, so I'm stumped, sorry.

Thanks everyone for taking the time to reply. First world problems, I know.

@Hurstlandshome yeah my husband's just the same. Apparently if they are soft and floppy they don't dry as well?!