If washing conditions are not followed, even the best quality towels will become stiff over time.

When buying a bath towel, you want to be sure that the textile will retain its original softness and tenderness for a long time. Alas, in reality everything is different - after going through a series of machine washes, the terry fabric gradually wrinkles, becomes rougher, and after a month or two the new thing is no different from a dozen of the same washed towels hidden in the chest of drawers. Why are towels hard after washing in a machine and how to wash them so that they remain soft and fluffy?

It's not just about the quality of the material - such an embarrassment can happen even with an expensive product - but about improper care of it. However, little housekeeping secrets regarding textile care will help you correct the situation and bring your favorite towels back into proper shape.

Why do towels become stiff over time?

Over time, the pile of terry fabric begins to settle, becoming denser and deformed, resulting in the product loses its original splendor. Typically this is associated with the following errors:

    using regular washing powder instead of a gentle detergent;

    wash in hard water without softeners;

    rinsing and spinning with an overloaded drum or with a small amount of water in economy mode, as a result of which the detergent is not completely rinsed out;

    ironing terry products - manufacturers of high-quality textiles warn that this can only be done with hot steam.

How to keep towels soft and fluffy: machine washing rules

Use liquid products and rinse thoroughly

To ensure that your new towels stay that way for as long as possible, learn to care for them correctly, taking into account the structure of the fabric from which they are made - terry textiles are capricious and need special care.

    Use liquid detergents for delicate washing - this will preserve the lushness of the fabric.

    Wash towels in standard modes with maximum water at low temperatures (up to 60°C for whites, 40°C for colored ones). Run an additional rinse cycle at the end of the main program.

    Place special balls for washing down jackets in the drum - they fluff up the terry thread and prevent it from getting crushed.

    Avoid conditioners and bleaches - these products are difficult to wash out and deform the villi.

    Refrain from ironing or use hot steam on its own.

The water in which you wash towels should be soft. Unfortunately, the water flowing in the pipes is not of the best quality, and if you do not have a special cleaning filter installed at the inlet, you have to deal with the consequences. Sediment, scale, hard laundry after drying - this is not a complete list of what residents of different regions face.

Terry fabric in bad water it will not remain fluffy. However, there is a way out - soften it using home remedies: salt, soda ash or baking soda, table vinegar. In addition to the splendor of the textiles, this will also ensure color preservation - your towels will not fade over time.


Use your choice: lemon, baking soda, vinegar or a combination of the last two

Salt

It is better to use extra - it dissolves faster, but you can also purchase special salt for automatic machines. Add 3 tbsp. fine salt in a tray, along with washing powder, or, after dissolving it in a glass of warm water, pour it directly into the tank.

Vinegar

Pour half a glass of 9% vinegar solution into the conditioner tray, and after washing the towels will be soft and fluffy. In addition, the product perfectly eliminates unpleasant odors.

Soda

If there is no calcined one in the house, then regular food grade one will do. Pour 3-4 tbsp into the drum of the machine. soda - it will soften the water during the washing process.

Soda + vinegar

You can use baking soda and vinegar at the same time:

    Pour half a glass of vinegar into the conditioner tray, half a glass of soda into the washing machine tub. Add detergent and start the program. At the end of the cycle, you will receive clean and soft laundry - the product also whitens perfectly.

    Make home conditioner according to a folk recipe. Pour a glass of water, a glass of soda and 6 glasses of vinegar (9%) into a deep container. Wait for the foaming to finish and add 6 glasses of water. You can add a little essential oil for aroma. Pour the mixture into an empty bottle and use as needed. One wash will require half a glass of product.

Any of these products can be used as a rinse to soften the item after washing - add it to the conditioner compartment, or to the water if you wash by hand, in the same proportion.

How to wash terry cloth by hand

If you are going to wash your towels by hand, keep in mind that the procedure must be very gentle. Rubbing the fabric is strictly prohibited, because This can deform it - you will need to pre-soak it to remove dirt. As in the case of machine washing, it is better to avoid powder altogether, replacing it with a delicate gel or liquid soap.

Laundry soap can be used as a natural bleaching agent - it copes well with stains while maintaining the lushness of the terry fabric fibers.

Dilute the detergent in warm water, add salt (1-2 tbsp per bowl) or soda (2 tbsp) to soften, immerse the towels in the solution and leave for 30-40 minutes. After the specified time has passed, carefully wash them with light whisking movements and rinse in clean water. Terry cloth absorbs soap solution intensively, so at least three rinses will be required.. Add vinegar to the “last” water - it will neutralize traces of the soap solution and make the fabric even softer.

Old hard towels: how to restore fabric

How to soften terry towels after washing?

Don’t rush to get rid of old towels - they can be gradually revived and the lost softness and freshness of the shade can be restored. To do this you will need wash them several times, pre-soaking them in salted water.

Dissolve salt in a bowl of warm water at the rate of 2-3 tbsp. l. 5 liters, and soak the towels. After 30-40 minutes, wash the items as usual with the addition of a softening agent.

If the textile has faded, acquired a gray tint, or there are stubborn stains on it, but due to the fleecy nature of the fabric, synthetic bleach cannot be used, soak it for 8-10 hours in a water-salt solution with the addition of ammonia:

1 liter of water at room temperature + 1 tbsp. salt + 1 tsp. ammonia.

The secret to proper care of terry towels is simple: give preference to delicate detergents, avoid high-temperature spin cycles, use more water for rinsing and soften it with natural products so that your towels are always fresh, fluffy and soft.

If you've splurged on new fluffy, fluffy, soft towels, there's nothing more frustrating than seeing them turn rough and scratchy after two washes.

But if you think that adding extra conditioner will help restore the beauty and shape of your towels, then you are wasting your time and money.

How often should you wash towels?

According to USA.one, there are 7 things in every home dirtier than the toilet, and one of those things is your favorite fluffy towel. Since bacteria love a damp environment, almost 90% of the towels you use after a shower or to dry your hands may contain E. coli. And no matter how often you shower or wash your hands, they will be dirtier than you would like, and every time you use a towel, you remove a layer of dead cells from your skin, which means it acts somewhat similar to a scrub. For this reason, towels should be washed every two days. And in order to improve the smell of your towels, do not forget to add half a cup of soda to the washing machine.

Plus, interiors and design expert Rachel Cohen says when it comes to caring for your towels, it's best not to overdo it, and that includes both tumble dryer time, laundry detergent, and rinse aid.

As Rachel explains, washing in cool water, using just the right amount of liquid or dry laundry detergent, no rinse aid, and minimal time in the dryer is the key to perfectly washed, fluffy towels.

Wash in cold water

You may be tempted to throw towels at hot water, especially if they have not been washed for several days. But Rachel recommends washing towels in cold water. “Cold temperatures prevent fibers from shrinking, help keep colors vibrant, and work better on many stains,” she explains.

Skip the air conditioner

The chemicals in fabric softeners can damage fabric fibers, causing towels to become stiffer with each wash. "Toss a tennis ball in the dryer instead to perk up your towels and make them fluffier," Rachel advised. Plus, towels will last much longer if you wash them separately from other items.

Don't guess how much powder to put in

If you add liquid or dry powder at random and end up adding too much, it will prevent the washing machine from cleaning them perfectly and you will end up with rough rags instead of fluffy towels.

Therefore, strictly follow the instructions regarding the proportion of powder for the amount of laundry that you put in the washing machine.

Don't overdry

Quickly absorbent towels dry quickly, so they should be left in the dryer for as little time as possible.

Additionally, to avoid excessive damage to the fabric, you can remove the towels a little earlier and allow them to finally air dry.

By the way, do not use dryer sheets, which will negatively affect the towels' ability to absorb moisture over time.

You've been washing towels incorrectly your whole life. Here's what you need to give up to keep them fluffy updated: May 10, 2019 by: Elena Abdulaeva

For those who often go on business trips due to their duties, staying in a hotel is a common thing. This kind of life is quite difficult: you need to clearly plan your time in order to be on time at the airport or train.

For those on vacation, arriving at your hotel room means the end of the trip and the start of the fun. But many people don’t like living in a hotel, and there are even more who don’t like being away from their own home and away from loved ones.

Have you ever had to do laundry on the go? Sometimes your best shirt gets dirty or maybe you spill something on your pants. If this happens, you have to spend money on cleaning clothes. But these costs can be avoided if you carefully read the text below.

If you want to know more about the amazing hotel tricks that will allow you to enjoy your travel more, be patient and read the entire article. You'll likely make discoveries you've never thought of or solved your problems in this way.

If you're staying at a hotel that charges for internet use, you can use your phone as a personal internet hotspot. Just check with your provider before you go

Don't forget to put a clothespin in your suitcase: it can be used to protect your toothbrush from potential germs. This is a great way to stay healthy and avoid illness while traveling.

Anyone on vacation tries to avoid doing laundry. But sometimes it's simply necessary. If you need to wash something, place a plastic bag in the sink and weigh it down with coins. When there is enough water, you can wash

If you don't have enough space to charge your phone or you forgot your charger - no need to spend money to charge your phone. Most modern hotel TVs have a spare USB port on the back that works great!

If you need a place to change baby's clothes and don't want to get the bedding dirty, you can easily turn the table into hotel room into the perfect changing table for your baby

Another life hack for those traveling with a child. Dirty diapers add up very quickly. Therefore they can be stored in plastic bag, in which laundry items are stored. Just remember to throw them away before you leave.

If you're bothered by unpleasant odors while traveling, packing dryer sheets in your suitcase is a smart way to get rid of those awful odors once and for all.

If you are a light sleeper, staying at a hotel may be difficult for you. Place a folded towel under your room door to help block out annoying sounds that disturb your sleep.

While curtains in hotel rooms mostly block out light, there are bound to be gaps at the edges where sunlight can leak through. Use a regular hanger to hold curtains together

If you need to feed your baby in a hotel room and there is no table, pay attention to the ironing board. This is the perfect solution and the kids will love it!