machine washing bathroom towels

I much prefer crispy towels as fluffy ones are hopeless at drying wet skin, but I actually dry myself perfectly well with a dry flannel (and then the flannel dries itself much faster than a wet towel). It’s quite warm enough to not need to wrap up when stepping out of the shower.

I prefer fluffy towels and live in a hard water area.

I machine wash them at 40 degrees (without over using detergent), then line dry. The final step is to tumble dry for around five to ten minutes.

I use vinegar instead of softener. Apparently, build up of softener stood the absorbency. I also use washing soda as it softens the washing cycle water.

White vinegar my cousin as worked in hotels for years and she told me to put couple of drops of it in machine no conditioner that’s what makes them stiff

I like a soft towel, not necessarily fluffy so I line-dry mine - and then pop them into the tumbler on extra dry, low temperature for a few minutes and they come out perfectly without having to use much power.

A good shake works wonders.

I hang my towels until they are just damp and finish off in the tumble dryer. We love fluffy towels!

I don't have a tumble drier so always line dry (inside or out) I have noticed that towels are softer if there is a good drying breeze or if they have had a touch of frost on a winter day.

asda.scene7.com/is/image/Asda/5057172798568?hei=662&wid=662&qlt=85&fmt=webp&resmode=sharp&op_usm=1.1,0.5,0,0&defaultimage=default_details_George_rd
Like these.

I think you will only get soft fluffy towels if you dry them in a tumble dryer.

I love fluffy towels and have tried everything! In my experience the only thing which makes them fluffy is ten minutes in a tumble dryer. Unfortunately we don’t have one any more.
I’ve bought expensive towels and cheaper ones with no difference.
However, I have found that my Asda patterned towels with quite a short pile has stayed the fluffiest.

You could try putting washing soda in with your detergent. You won’t need as much detergent and the soda softens the water and helps against limescale.

Always line dry, but my towels are not very soft, which I don’t mind as I think they dry you better, tge family were never tgst keen though?

I can soften my crispy old towels by holding them out and giving them a very quick hard shake, like a whip snap, then turn over and repeat the other side. You can always repeat the process. It really does soften them up.

Be careful putting vinegar in the washer. It’s not great for door seals.

Iron them with a steam iron when they are dry. It won’t make them fluffy but it will soften them.

I think less washing powder/liquid will help. It won't be like a tumble-dried towel though.
I sort-of "snap" mine hard as I hang them on the line and when half-dry do it again, hanging them from the other end. I find they are definitely more flexible for doing this.

I haven’t used fabric softener for about 18 months now. In the conditioner drawer I put vinegar and a splash of floral disinfectant for every wash…

I spin them twice, then the dryer. We like fluffy.

I’ve never had a dryer and live in a hard water area, so it’s what I’m used to, as others have said, they dry you well which is the main point.

I do have a tumble dryer and give towels a 10 minute bashing in there before hanging them on the line.

It seems to take the hardness off them without making them too soft and fluffy.

I’m thinking along the same lines as Arewethereyet and maybe you’ve used too much power/liquid. Try washing them without any laundry product and on a hotter than usual wash.

PinkCosmos

I agree with Chestnut. I am trying to make my towels less fluffy and more absorbent.

White vinegar is for getting rid of the conditioner which makes the towels more fluffy but less absorbent - or so I thought.

Yes, you are correct but white vinegar also breaks down soap residue often found in face cloths which makes them go sour quickly.

I don't like like soft fluffy towels though - just use non-bio wash pods, splash of white vinegar and line dry for as long as possible. Lovely rough towels and super absorbent.

Chestnut

Why do you want fluffy towels? I find scratchy old towels much better, the soft fluffy ones are not so good at drying.

If you have hard water you might not be able to get them soft and fluffy because the water hardness is relevant.

Yep, a good bit of scrub in a towel is great, I always think. They soften up after the first use.

Give me soft fluffy towels any day of the week! Ours are always soft and fluffy but dry you very well.