Making towels soft

Curry_Queen

BrightonLad wrote:

millie is exactly right - you should not use fabric softener on towels as it adversly affects their absorbancy.

I've noticed a huge difference since I swapped my fabcon for vinegar, and not just with towels. It also damages the transfers on football kits etc and we were told not to use fabcon when washing them, but again, they're absolutely fine with vinegar. I've also noticed less static in our clothes since I stopped using it too.

Chris25

Curry_Queen wrote:

I've noticed a huge difference since I swapped my fabcon for vinegar, and not just with towels. It also damages the transfers on football kits etc and we were told not to use fabcon when washing them, but again, they're absolutely fine with vinegar. I've also noticed less static in our clothes since I stopped using it too.

You also shouldn't use it on fabrics that have been treated with flame-retardent as it affects the finish.

I read a couple of articles just the other day (think one was in Good Housekeeping mag) that the mineral salts in water bond together in fibres of towels or any fluffy fabric (worse in hard water areas) and to prevent that you should wash towels in a temp no hotter than 60C and instead of fab con use a tablespoon of white vinegar.

For towels that have already been affected, wash twice without detergent on low temp and finish with vinegar. Hang on line until touch-dry and finish in tumble-dryer on low-med, or put in airing cupboard. Do not put on radiator as the heat is too intense.

squeaky

Slow drying might help. I noticed that towels seemed to be especially hard when dried in hot sunny summer days and less so in cooler sunless slightly breezy days.

Anyway, as has been pointed out, a rougher towel is ideal for exfoliating. I make no attempt these days to make mine super soft and fluffy.

MrsMW

You can buy the water softener tablets for the washing machine at Lidl. Can't remember how much theyare but bound to be cheaper than Calgon.

FranDan

Was just wondering if anyone had any thoughts about using the occassional scoop of calgon in with terry nappies??

Had been reading this thread last week and decided that my towels could do with a revitalize, noticed the nappies were not 'quite' as soft as they were either.

I have just put them in with a small scoop of calgon and usual Filetti powder, you think they'll be okay?? BTW the terry's don't come into contact with babies skin as I use a fleece pocket nappy wrap.

Curry_Queen

Sorry, can't help with that one as I haven't had one in nappies for 12 years

And what on earth are fleece pocket wraps????

FranDan

Thanks curry_queen;)

.... a pocket nappy is a shaped nappy with an opening to stuff with absorbent material.
I've Minki fleece nappies which I stuff with terry squares. The fleece outer is supposed to keep wetness away from babies bum and theres what they call a PUL liner inside which stops leaks. Hope that's shed a little light... took me aaaggggeeeeeessssss to get my head around all this washable nappy business!

Third baby, so I thought I really had to give it a go - and I must say, can't believe how easy it all is now, wish I'd done it years ago!:o

Curry_Queen

Sheeeeeeeeesh whatever happened to plain old terry's and plastic pants ... oh and those flimsy little liners LOL!

culpepper

I remember having to wear plastic pants as a toddler.They cut into your legs terribly if they are old as they start to go brittle I still have the marks.
I was always very careful to throw them away as soon as they looked suspect when I had litlluns.

Sarahsaver

my sister's nickname was rattlepants:)
my kids all had terries, and they are now 3, 5 and 7, so not all that long ago. mums towels are always soft and she line dries hers. I think they are expensive. I think quality does have something to do with it.