How can you keep bath towels soft?

s@sha

Is there something other than fabric conditioner that can be used to make bathroom towels nice & soft again?

The towels in question aren't even that old, maybe couple of years & they're nice quality M&S ones. But it seems that after a while all my bathroom towels start to harden up, to the extent that even if tumble dried, they're still rather rough. I never line dry them now as they go so hard & stiff & scratchy.

I don't put fabric conditioner on them....used to, till I was told that it reduces the absorbency. I've tried white vinegar as a fabric softener but that didn't seem to do much....perhaps I need to use it several times? Or use more than i did?

My sister's are always so much softer (yet older!) but she says she doesn't do anything special to them, so I''m stumped. it can't be differences in the water as we only live 20 mins from each other.

I've a baby on the way & have been given some lovely new baby hooded towels as a gift. I don't want to see them ending up all scratchy & hard as well

divadee

I have heard that about the fabric conditioner making them less absorbant, but i still use it as i dont want my towels going all hard. also if i do line dry them i put them in the tumble dryer for 10 mins at the end just to soften them up.

rolpaula

We tend to line dry them first and then shove them in the tumble to finish them off with a 'Bounce' sheet and we do always use fabric softener usually comfort

aliasojo

Do you use more soap powder than your sister does by any chance?

I've found that if there's any soap residue left at all, then this can have an effect on softness.

Try putting them through one hot wash with no soap powder at all to see if there's any difference.

Curry_Queen

You shouldn't use fabric conditioner on towels as it interferes with their absorbency and actually makes them go hard!!!

A couple of tablespoons of white vinegar in place of fabric softener is guaranteed to make your towels softer

rolpaula

Thanks C_Q and here's me just been downstairs with all the towels that were mainly on the bannisters and shoved them in the wash as i have run out of washing and its too late because i put Comfort in will try that tip next time though :T