Anyone who has ever bought a good set of towels will eventually face the following problem: the towels become rough and stiff after repeated use, just like any other towel in the bathroom. While it's hard to get your towels back to the condition they were when they were new, there are a few tricks that can help restore some of their softness, even to the most worn out towels. The best part is that this trick is easy to implement. You only need the usual laundry facilities and a few household items if you want to experiment with non-standard solutions.
Step
Method 1 of 2: Washing in a New Way
Step 1. Use less detergent
There are a number of reasons why soft towels become stiff. However, one of the most frequently cited reasons is the excessive use of detergent. Over time, the chemicals in detergent can build up in the fibers of the towels, making them stiffer and less absorbent. To avoid this condition, use less detergent than recommended on the package. This will make it easier for the washing machine to remove soap residue with each rinse.
Don't be afraid to cut down on your detergent use. Chances are no more dirty clothes. Research shows that most people use more detergent than necessary to wash clothes. Another advantage of this approach is that you will save even more money
Step 2. Leave “more room” for the towels in the washing machine
If you want to keep the towels soft, try not to cram all the laundry at once. For best results, you should leave enough room in the washing machine so that the towels can be rinsed and wrung out properly. It means:
- Wash with a small to medium load. The washing machine should be about half filled with loosely stacked clothes. This also applies to dryers.
- Wash towels separately (without other clothes). In addition to clogging the washing machine, clothes that have zippers and buttons can wear out towels.
Step 3. Use a hot wash and a cold rinse
If your washing machine has the option of setting different wash and rinse temperatures, use a hot wash followed by a cold rinse cycle. At least, this method is widely recommended on the internet. Hot water softens the fibers of the towel and helps remove the dust, dirt, and coir residue that causes the fibers to stiffen. Rinsing with cold water makes the towel fibers shrink thereby minimizing the chance of sticking together and "clumping".
Check the label on the colored towels before washing. Most white towels are safe to wash in hot water, but this method can cause colored towels to fade
Step 4. Limit how long the drum rotates in the drying process
Drying machines can be a double-edged sword. Although the drying process can make towels softer in the short term, if you do it too often it can cause wear and tear so that over time the towels lose their softness. Fortunately, there are several ways to avoid this problem:
- Use a softer setting in the drying process. In other words, reduce the temperature and spin speed.
- Do not machine dry towels all the time, but alternate them by drying them in the sun.
- Dry the towels, then "refresh" with a short machine drying.
Step 5. Try putting the towel in the washing machine after the detergent has dissolved
Several online sources emphasize the importance of knowing when to wash towels, not just how to wash them. If you have filled the washing machine, add a little detergent, let the water run, and then put in the towels. Avoiding direct contact between detergent and towels will help reduce soap deposits and keep towels soft.
Step 6. Fold and hang the towel for maximum softness
Don't forget that the washing process doesn't end once you take it out of the dryer. The way you fold and store towels also has a certain effect on the texture of the fabric. Use the technique described below to keep the towels soft.
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Avoid forming stiff creases in the fabric by folding the towel loosely. You can also roll up the towel in the same way. Here's one good folding technique:
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- Hold the towel lengthwise (so the short side is pointing toward the floor). Fold the towel in half so that it forms a small longitudinal fold.
- If you hang towels on hangers, don't stack multiple towels at once. This method also makes the towel at the bottom stiffer.
- Fold the towel bundle in half before storing it
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- Store folded towels side by side (like books), not stacked. This method prevents the bottom of the towel from being flattened by the towel on top of it.
- If you hang towels on hangers, don't stack multiple towels at once. This method also makes the towel at the bottom stiffer.
Method 2 of 2: Using Nonstandard Solutions
Step 1. Use the ball for the drying process
If you have towels that are a bit stiff, one way to soften them is to throw in a dryer-safe ball or two during the drying process. The repeated collisions between the ball and the towel will eventually "relax" the stiff parts of the towel and restore their softness. You can buy commercial dryer balls on the internet or in major supermarkets for less (usually no more than IDR 50,000 per piece).
If you want to save some money, try tossing a tennis ball in the dryer instead. Tennis balls can have the same effect
Step 2. Try adding vinegar when washing
Plain white vinegar can help soften the towels. To do this, add cup in the first rinse cycle (you can increase or decrease the amount according to the load of the laundry). Vinegar helps remove soap chemical buildup and hard water deposits from the fibers of the towel. The towels will become softer after several rinsing cycles.
Use only white vinegar for this method. Other vinegars, such as apple cider vinegar and especially balsamic, can stain laundry
Step 3. Baking soda
Another effective additive for making towels soft and fluffy is baking soda. Like vinegar, baking soda can also attract dirt and chemical deposits from the fibers of the towel. In addition, baking soda also helps remove odors from old towels. However, be aware that baking soda can fade bright colors.
Many online sources do not recommend using baking soda and vinegar together. These two chemicals will react and neutralize each other (as in the popular science project “papier mâché volcano”)
Step 4. Try borax or tablets to soften the water
“Hard water” is water that contains large amounts of soluble minerals. If you use hard water to wash clothes, these minerals can build up and cause the towel fibers to become stiffer. However, some "water softening" products can reverse this effect. For example, borax (sodium borate) is a safe and affordable additive to help reduce the mineral content of hard water and make towels softer.
You can buy borax on the internet and in supermarkets (in the laundry section) for a low price. One package of 500gr borax costs around Rp. 25,000
Step 5. Remove the hard water from the towel before drying
Don't have a stock of borax? Try to get the hard water out of the towel yourself. You can squeeze the towel gently in the sink and shake the towel vigorously to remove excess water. The less hard water that remains on the towel when you put it in the dryer, the less mineral accumulation will form.
Step 6. Limit the use of fabric softener and dryer sheets
Although the use of fabric softening products sounds very reasonable, many sources no recommend it for towels. Although in the short term the towels become soft and supple, over time the chemicals in these products can accumulate in the dense fibers of the towels (just like the chemicals in detergents). Over time, the towels will become stiffer and tougher. This problem gets worse if you load too much laundry and use too much product.
Tips
- Please note that all of the suggestions above can be applied to the maximum for high quality towels. Cheap towels will become stiff over time, regardless of what technique you use to care for them.
- Materials like Egyptian cotton and bamboo are usually the softest and most cushioned.
