Making towels soft

Olliebeak

One of the best 'freebies' that I sent for was a soap powder measuring cup! I didn't realise how much I was overusing the soap powder until then. Now it gets measured EVERY time I do laundry. It IS definitely the over use of powder that causes nasty towels.

I only use Asda own brand soap powder (the largest box that they sell) and Asda fabric conditioner - my laundry always comes up clean, is soft and smells nice!

PixiePie

Apparently you shouldn't use fabric conditioner in a wash with towels as it makes them less absorbent - I don't understand the technicals of it, but I haven't used Fabric cond. in the wash on towels for years and years now and none of mine have gone scratchy at all.

Another thing you can do (rather than not do lol) is to beat them - after they are dry, hit them whilst they are still hanging up with an old fashioned rug beater. And I third (?) the measure your washing powder posts

demonicangel

The only thing I can suggest is to use calgon.

I use it for my dds nappies, I have very hard water and nothing was getting them soft. Since using Calgon, they are softer but not really soft.

Bashing them against a hard surface is another way to get them a bit softer.

Failing that, get some bamboo towels! Bamboo material is gorgeously soft and stays soft even in hard water!

catkins

I never use fabric conditioner in with my towels as I understood it was that which makes towels go hard. I always hang them on the line and they are always soft and fluffy

jo1972

I'm with mocolo, I love a hard scratchy towel! I find the softer they are, the less absorbent.

Sockmonkey_2

Hello!

I was wondering whether I am missing a trick..

I wash my bath towels with normal detergent and a fabric softener and they come out crispy no matter what.

I have been told that this is because I dont put them in a tumble dryer, but was wondering if anyone has any ideas on how to get them soft without the use of a tumble dryer?


Thanks!

poppyolivia

nope I've tried everything...tumble drier is the way to go....save it til you have a few towels and put it on only once??????

Have you seen how hard they get if you put them on the radaitor?????Flippin eck thats bad!!!!LOL

Taadaa

I tried the soak them in vinegar and water trick...still hard. Apparently it's the limescale deposits from the water, hence trying vinegar.

Also I did hear that fabric conditioner affects their absorbency- I don't use it anyway. But I don't have a tumble dryer either

Nile

Hello Sockmonkey

There are more threads on this subject in the 'Old Style' board, such as:

Rough Scratchy Towels


So I'll move your thread across.

Hi, Martin’s asked me to post this in these circumstances: I’ve asked Board Guides to move threads if they’ll receive a better response elsewhere(please see this rule) so this post/thread has been moved to another board, where it should get more replies. If you have any questions about this policy please email [EMAIL="abuse@moneysavingexpert.com"]abuse@moneysavingexpert.com[/EMAIL].

Regards

Nile

squeaky

<sigh> Wimmin!

You make your towels all super duper soft and then spend a fortune on exfoliating gloves and creams and lotions - when a good brisk rub with a not quite so soft towel does the whole thing for you for free!

Kidding aside, the advice given above and in the link provided by tine should help you out.

I.e. Don't use fabric conditioner because it reduces the water absorbency of towels, (and vinegar is a good alternative), and yes, get them "mostly" dry on the line and just finish them off for a few minutes in the tumble drier.