Drying towels outside on a line

evoke

Why do my towels end up like cardboard (hard and rough) if I dry them in the sunshine on a line in our garden?

If I dry them in the dryer they are soft and fluffy!

They are washed at 60 degrees Celsius in the washing machine with no added fabric softener.

Annabee

I would like to know this too!

I have ended up drying outside initially and then while they are still a bit damp, finishing off in the dryer. This seems to produce an acceptable 'fluffy' effect but a bit easier on electricity costs!

And yes, I don't use conditioner on them either, I must have been told, like you, that this is no good for towels. It doesn't seem to make any difference though, does it?

VfM4meplse

Watching this thread with interest.

One of the best things about this weather IMO is being able to dry laundry outside!

eamon

The tumbling action of the machine is the reason, it prevents the fabric fibres from "sticking" together as air is constantly being mixed amongst the fibres. You can unstick an externally dried towel by rolling it into a sausage shape a couple of times before finally folding up for storage.

shegar

I dry mine 75% on the line and 25% in the dryer to help keep them soft, Ive also got a water softner, but I wouldnt dare leave them out to totally dry on line otherwise they too would be like cardboard, and I have got egyptian cotton towels from Next , so if expensive towels go hard I dread to think what happens to towels bought from supermarkets................!Probaly only way to keep them super soft is always dry them in the dryer, but its too expensive to dry bath size towels and thick ones cheaply by electric dryer,it takes an hour to dry one thick bath sheet size towel , :eek:so I would have thought its quite a lot to always dry towels that way , I have this week put up a linen line in the shade so that may help a bit........Im waiting for someone to come on here and tell me there is a way to keep them soft..........:D

scottishminnie

I've found if it's really windy when I dry them outside it helps to make them a bit less hard although they are never as soft and fluffy as in the dryer. I do mean really windy though but being on top of a Scottish hillside means that's not unusual - it's getting the dry weather along with it that tends to be challenging!

I'm also in the 75% outside and 25% inside camp - think that is the best compromise.

HannahIOW

I've always wondered why as well, although I dry my towels on a clothes horse by the storage heater as we don't have a garden. I love my towels to be crispy

notisis

Mine aren't. But I sometimes put a dash of vinegar in the softener drawer or it could be because most of my towels have model. Not all my towels do though. I do give them an extra rinse on the wash program as I've heard too much detergent can make the towels hard so wonder if that's why so far mine are soft?

Come to think of it my mum's are often hard so I'll ask her what wash she uses/check the towel type.

peachyprice

Am I the only one who likes nice stiff towels? They make me feel really clean when they're a little abrasive against your skin, soft towels leave me feeling less clean.

But I love getting into a cold bed too

prosaver

i heared if you put fabric conditioner in it makes them a bit waterproof//it was on thats life many moons ago..
ps I like the smell of the fresh air in the towels as i live near the sea

Torry_Quine

I've never had a problem with the softness of towels dried outside and I use conditioner when tumbled but not when line dried.