Making towels soft

FranDan

I line dry mine whenever possible.... mind you, the ones that don't feel as soft are from mothercare, the ones unaffected are organic from kittykins. You could have a point there about quality...

System

Mother used to rub a hot iron over her line dried towels to keep them soft. Mine just get chucked in the dryer.

Austin_Allegro

I think agitation might be something to do with it. I use vinegar in the wash but still get rough towels, but after a few rubs (I change my bathtowel once a week) they've turned softer. It might be the movement of tumble dryers rather than the heat which softens them. Perhaps you could just try agitating/shaking/rubbing out your towels once they've air dried.

FranDan

Thanks guys, knew you'd be full of suggestions:D

bagpuss

Calgon tablets can be bought much cheaper in France if anyone is going there on a "booze Cruise" (as can foil, stock cubes and lots of other things so don't just go down the wine aisle!).

Also can anyone tell me how much vinegar do I use instead of fab con and also are we talking about white vinegar here (I would guess so?).

Thanks

mrsmab59

bagpuss wrote:

Calgon tablets can be bought much cheaper in France if anyone is going there on a "booze Cruise" (as can foil, stock cubes and lots of other things so don't just go down the wine aisle!).

Also can anyone tell me how much vinegar do I use instead of fab con and also are we talking about white vinegar here (I would guess so?).

Thanks

I kept the lid from a fabric softener bottle and I half fill that with vinegar for each wash. It's about 2 tablespoonfuls

needmoney

Must be something wrong with me I love a nice crisp towell can't stand the soft ones.

mhoc

You know how fluffy towels are when you get them form the shop? Well I've never been able to get mine like that after they have been washed.

I do one or two loads of towels a day and wash them seperatley with no other items. I wash them at 30 unless someone has been rolling in mud, use non bio powder and fab conditioner (tried all varieties and makes no difference). I dry them on the line or flat over a door inside during the winter. I never dry them in the tumble dryer, too expensive when you do the number of washing loads I do every day and also fills the kitchen with steam. Also I HATE the smell of drying towels.

Whatever way they come our flat and hard.So what am I doing wrong?

Mary

leonie_2

I think its the fabric conditioner that does it. I just use white vinegar as my final rinse and they come out soft and fresh.

I read somewhere that you shouldnt use fab con in towel washes, but I dont use it in any washes now, just good old vinegar!

Queenie

Vinegar rinse, line dry, then a 5 minute tumble to re-fluff.

Stored folded in the airing cupboard. They never return to "brand new fluffiness" but they don't get hard and crusty either