How do people LIVE with fabric softened towels?

[Haroldwilson]

Staying in a holiday house. Towels soft and fluffy but so fabric softened that they don't absorb anything. I might as well scrape water off me with a spatula for all the good they do at drying.

Do people do this all the time? I can't cope with this savagery

I don’t use fabric softener at all these days.Waste of money.

Hardness of water is a good point. The water here is so hard that I have to use limescale remover on the front of the cupboard in my bathroom. Not from drips but just the steam.

My mum uses vinegar - you can smell it.

Towels in particular I wash with disinfectant - stops that musty smell. I also use fabric softener and have no issues with absorbency.

I don't use fabric softener at all, but my DH likes his clothes to smell of spring awakening ffs - he washes his own. I wash the towels and so there is no softener put in there.

I recently learned that the reason that the drawer gets mouldy is because some fabric softeners contain animal fat (tallow) and this allows the growth of bacteria.

As I'm vegan and he doesn't eat meat, I was quick to tell him so and I hope he stops using it soon.

does it really matter in this heat ?? im glad of the cooling effect for a bit ive got really bad rash hives so everything has to be really soft ive brought towels and used them straight from the shop in an emergency

I recently learned that the reason that the drawer gets mouldy is because some fabric softeners contain animal fat (tallow) and this allows the growth of bacteria.🤢🤢🤢🤢🤢

Yes to this ^^ exfoliated and dried properly 🙏

Are you staying at my mum's?
She over conditions towels. It's horrific trying to dry yourself.

I'm not a fabric conditioner person, and I don't really care if the towels aren't fluffy. I tumble them for just ten minutes to stop them turning into a Pringle though (very hard water).

However, I have recently been using this "dream scent booster" thing because a load of free samples were shoved at me a few weeks ago. I can confirm the do literally NOTHING. I would never have bought it (I wouldn't even have seen it in the shop) but it's good to know I'm not missing out!

I've never wasted money on fabric softener. I like rough towels.

I have an almost visceral reaction to soft fluffy towels. Especially the ones that leave little bits all over you. And they DONT GET YOU DRY! UGHHHH

Give me a stiff, scratchy towel any day!!!!

I like a rough towel too but also, the scented fabric softener can drive me mad on holiday- it is like when teens spray deodorant on the bus- my eyes water and my nose stings.

😁

Tell me more!!! What's it called?

I've always used fabric softener on towels. All my washing goes in together.
It's all line or air dried. The towels are fine. Soft (not 5* hotel fluffy, but not taking a layer of skin off) and absorbent.
We have very hard water so I don't know if that makes a difference.

I've been washing towels for more than 30 years.

The way I keep my towels soft is only wash on a wool wash so the fibres aren't being vigorously agitated, use minimal detergent

Put them in the tumble dryer until a bit damp

Hang on the line or in airing cupboard to finish off.

Please tell me about vinegar in the washing machine.
Is it white vinegar (assume not malt)!
How much and does the laundry not smell vinegary?

Is there an optimal amount?
Is it just for towels or all items?
TIA

My favourite towels are my 20 year old ones... heavy duty grade sandpaper style when line dried... I love them!
I do tumble guest towels though... seems a bit mean to flay my guests

The best way to get fluffy towels on the line is to use vinegar instead of fabric softener BUT you have to really shake the towels before hanging them, from all four sides to make the fibres stand up. I like to do this a couple of times and honestly it makes such a difference.
DH likes a proper itchy scratchy towel that would rip your skin off.

I use white vinegar (not malt) to wash some things. It does smell like vinegar until it dries and then there is no smell.

It is also cheap and eco-friendly too.

I use Miniml which was about £6.00 for 5 litres

I love a dry crispy towel - it exfoliates and dries at the same time. I couldn’t be doing with a soft towel.

When they've been on the line have they got a mark where they've been folded in half? That's how you know they are old enough and stiff enough 😂

@DamnYerEyes I've just washed a waterproof sheet that my very poorly FIL weed on in just the white vinegar. Now that it is washed, it smells of nothing really. You can't smell the vinegar or the piss 🤣.

You can use white vinegar as a general cleaner too, and can add essential oils to it too - I haven't gone that far YET, but I'm tempted.

I'm another one using regular white vinegar in my laundry rinse cycle. 👍
It helps remove soap and stink.