Machine Washing Towels

[trixilator]

I wash my towels in washing machine with mixed load setting using two tablets of Actilift in one compartment and Comfort liquid in the other. Towels are clean enough but are hard - not soft and fluffy like towels should be.
How should I wash them ?
Many thanks

[TonyV]

What machine do you have?

[EcclesCake]

I wouldn't use any conditioner on towels as it makes them less absorbent.

I suspect it is more to do with how you are drying them. Line drying is best, but none to easy at this time of year.

[ummmm]

Give them a blast in the tumble dryer.

I don't use softener on towels.

[dunnitall]

It is said you should not use softener on towels, I don't and they are fine.

[trixilator]

Is a Bosch 1200 S Express.

[dunnitall]

Don't think that the machine has a bearing on the finish IMO, just think that softener is the problem and proved it in our family at least. Depends what you want to hear.

[Old_Geezer]

Towels tend to get hard anyway. Adding conditioner, as folk have said, was a mistake. Try a few washes without soap. Might remove whatever is stiffening them up. Failing that, time for a new set.

[Fusion5]

Same as ummmm, give a go in the tumble dryer.

[237SJ]

I agree that it`s the tumble drying that makes towels fluffy. I like the hard and crusty feel though as I think they dry better but that`s just me.

[trixilator]

Duh! Whats a tumble dryer... I'm recently widowed and having to get into household chores that are new to me. Had no probs when my wife did the washing so wonder what I,m doing wrong...

[dunnitall]

I do too SJ.

[dunnitall]

Sorry to hear that trixi, just try washing without softener and see how that goes.

[ummmm]

237...same as.

Trix...sorry about your loss x

[EDDIE51]

To get soft fluffy towels you need top quality heavy weight towels in the first place. Towels come in different weights per sq metre, cheap towels will never be soft and fluffy. Top luxury Hotels use towels that are 800g per sq metre, cheap towels are as low as 175 g sq metre.They are ok to dry you but they will never 'soft and fluffy'

[EDDIE51]

Some information here
http://www.richardhaworth.co.uk/bath-linen-guide

[gingejbee]

I'm like 237SJ...I like towels to have some "texture" - I hate them "soft and fluffy".

[jourdain2]

Don't use conditioner. Buy a tumble-dryer (not one of the ones that needs to vent out of a window unless that is easy for you). It will make your life a lot easier and your towels fluffier. I don't have one now (live in France) but am going to buy one as soon as I get back to UK.

[jourdain2]

Trix, I'm also sorry about your loss, but you will be OK, just ask questions. My OH was widowed in 1993 and he was at a complete loss - now I have to force him out of the kitchen at times and he's talking about taking up baking again (I'm not a great baker). x

[smoneybags]

The quality of towels doesn't matter. Mine are Ikea and therefore cheap-ish. I wash without conditioner and usually tumble them - they come out nice and soft. If they are line dried and dry hard I just scrunch them up, and they become softer.

[trixilator]

Thanks to all of you for your suggestions. Much appreciated.