Towels air-dried outside become stiff and abrasive due to "bound water" that sticks to cotton fibers. Water's polar nature and unique hydrogen bonding, when bound to cotton cellulose fibers, result in the capillary adhesion that leads to fabric stiffness.
Absorption of Hard Water Minerals: If your water supply has high mineral content (hard water), these minerals can deposit on the towel fibers during washing and drying. When air-dried, these minerals can crystallize, leading to a stiff, crunchy texture.
It saves a lot of money, energy, and wear and tear on the clothes! You can reduce towel crunchiness by holding one end of a damp towel and snapping it briskly through the air to fluff the terry before you hang it. If it's still stiff when dry, crumpling it in a ball and rubbing it will help.
The crunchiness likely comes from excess laundry detergent or softener. Consider washing them without soap and add vinegar to the rinse cycle to get the build up off. Then use very little detergent with your towels in the future. I can usually get away with a tablespoon for a big load of towels.
Most fabric softeners will reduce the absorbancy of towels. Perhaps a product designed to soften the water would help but the best way to have fluffy soft towels is a turn in a dryer. You can hang them out until they are almost dry and put them in the dryer for 5-10 minutes.
Place your towels inside the machine dryer while making sure there's enough space for the items to move around freely inside the drum. 2. Add a dryer sheet. Place a Lenor Dryer Sheet on top of your towels to preserve their just-washed-freshness, provide them with extra softness, and reduce creasing and static cling.
Towels that are air-dried, particularly in a low-humidity environment, can become stiff as the fibers dry out too quickly, making them less pliable. Conversely, over-drying towels in a machine can have a similar effect, as it removes too much moisture, making the fibers more brittle.
Add vinegar
Hard towels are commonly caused by a build-up of chemicals, including those found in tap water. “Thoroughly cleanse your towels by adding 230ml or 1 cup of white vinegar to your wash,” advises Lucy Ackroyd.
There's no denying that towels can be harsh on your skin. This can lead to unwanted redness and can especially irritate those with sensitive skin. Air-drying your face allows you to ditch the rough, irritating towel and give your skin a much-needed breather with no rubbing required.
Key Takeaways. Towels air-dried outside become stiff and abrasive due to "bound water" that sticks to cotton fibers. Water's polar nature and unique hydrogen bonding, when bound to cotton cellulose fibers, result in the capillary adhesion that leads to fabric stiffness.
Vinegar, especially white vinegar, has been a go-to natural cleaning agent for generations. When used in laundry, it acts as a fabric softener deodorizer and can even help remove soap residue. It's a natural way to soften clothes without introducing additional chemicals.
The easiest way to keep towels soft after air-drying is to add fabric softener. Not only will they be beautifully soft, but they will smell amazing too. If you have an older one that has started to smell a bit bad lately, the softener will make even that towel wonderful to wipe your face with.
Adding wool dryer balls can also help. Wool dryer balls create air gaps between your towels as they dry which reduces the drying time. The natural lanolin in wool also helps soften your towels. We suggest using 4 Wool dryer balls each time.
Dilute fabric softener: Dilute a small amount of fabric softener in a cup or glass of water. Second rinse: Drop your clothes into clean water, and then move them to one side so you can add the fabric softener. Then stir your clothes in the water for a few minutes to help the fabric softener do its magic.
Baking Soda: Baking soda is another natural alternative that can help soften fabrics and eliminate odors. Adding half a cup to one cup of baking soda to the wash cycle can help soften clothes and neutralize odors. Wool Dryer Balls: Wool dryer balls are a specific type of dryer ball made from natural wool fibers.
It is not recommended to use vinegar in your washing machine. Because of its acidic nature, vinegar can corrode some parts of your washing machine over time, especially rubber elements.
Sodium Bicarbonate (Baking Soda)
Baking soda is right up there with vinegar as one of the most effective and economical all-natural cleaners. To use as a fabric softener, add 1 cup directly to the rinse cycle (you can even add it at the beginning, and it will work fine) and launder as usual.
And when you're line drying your towels - bring them in whilst still slightly damp. Give them a good old shake and this will help to fluff out the fibres. Leave them to dry that last little bit inside then put them away once fully dry. And there you have it!
Incorporating natural additives such as vinegar or baking soda during the wash cycle can further enhance softness. Advanced drying methods, utilizing commercial-grade dryers with precise drying cycles, play a crucial role in preserving the towels' plush texture.
Using vinegar in laundry is simple. You can add it to the fabric softener dispenser in your washing machine or pour it in during the final rinse cycle.
Clothes feel stiff after air drying because fabric fibers bond more tightly as they dry naturally. The absence of motion, like in a tumble dryer, allows hydrogen bonds in fibers to reform more rigidly. Factors such as detergent residue and minerals in water can also contribute to stiffness.