towel drying

[chazza]

I dont have a tumble drier, so in wet weather I dry all my washing inside, on a clothes horse in front of a radiator. I find that my towels become all hard and scratchy when i do this.

Is there any way of stopping this? Obviously I don't want to use fabric softener as this affects the absorbancy of the towels!

[Emma-J]

You could try using a washing powder that has fabric softener in it, personally I don't think that fabric softener makes a difference to the absorbency, but I always use 2in1 (powder and softener) and my towels are always fine.

[charliebaps]

Google 'eco balls'. They keep my sisters towels softer. She started using them due to her son's eczema and not wanting to use powder. They do work but have yet to invest in them myself (pure laziness)!

[smudge]

Emma - just out of curiosity, which 2in1 powder do you use.

I use Persil non-bio powder & Comfort Conditioning Pearls & are quite happy with them, but wonder if a 2in1 powder is equally as good? Thank you.

[Emma-J]

Smudge - I actually use Bold 2in1 tablets (thats what I meant anyway) (Flavours - Lavendar & Chamomile, Ocean Clear and Apple Blossom & Lime Zest) I would never use anything else, they leave you clothes smelling wonderful and like I said they also leave your clothes soft.

They are quite expensive, about �4.00 for 48 tablets, but there is only me and my boyfriend and they usually last about 3 weeks (2 in a wash).

Hope that helps
Emma

[smudge]

Thank you for that info Emma - after reading about those lovely fragrances, I'm going to give Bold 2in1 tablets a try.

Apart from buying the Persil, the Comfort Softening Pearls alone costs �2.38 for 10.

There's only the two of us at home too (well apart from when the Grandchildren stay), so it should work out not much more than you spend. Thanks again.

[barender]

Well chaps - I don't have anywhere to hang washing outside and no room for a tumble drier, so have to dry all my washing indoors on an airer.

Now, to the towels - it doesn't matter what combination of powders or softeners I use, they always dry stiff and hard. I even use washing soda to soften the water in the drum! Oh how I'd love to be able to hang them out in the wind, but as this isn't possible, how can I get soft towels?

[Kay]

Hi chazza, You could also iron your towels. I know its a bit of a bummer but they go really soft.

[smurfchops]

This might help:

http://www.theanswerbank.co.uk/Home-and-Garden/Question197695.html

[Poglet]

If you dont want to actually iron the towels, put them under your other items of ironing and just move them every now and then whilst ironing the stuff on top... softens them a little and makes a nice soft surface for your other ironing...

[Poglet]

p.s. i hung my first lot out this weekend (ridiculous isnt it, first outside dry in late March!) and the difference was amazing, although I use comfort and 2 in 1 powder! they smelled so fresh and yummy....

[charliebaps]

Hi Chazza, just thought I'd update as I now have the eco balls and my towels came out as soft as the day they were bought. Brilliant!