Keeping towels soft and fluffy

Hi

Dont know about you but I like my Towels soft, What do you use to keep your towels really soft and fluffy ?

Thanks MG

Moving from the States to here, "dryers are bad" land, was an act of giving up soft and fluffy towels (and socks).

Weichspüler

http://www.ciao.de/weitere_Weichspuler_282776_6

Use fabric softener. I've also heard that occasionally soaking the towels in a vinegar solution will help to get rid of any soap residue that might be making the fibres hard. Though it's probably best to soak them in the bath, rather than putting vinegar in the washing machine.

I put vinegar in the wash for various reasons, colorfastness, cat smells on bath mats, the list goes on.
Sometimes it's also good to wash the towels without soap - most people use too much anyway - to get the soap residue out.

I would advise against using fabric softener (Weichspüler). It makes the towels unabsorbent (is that even a word?). I always put in vinegar in the rinse cycle. The towels smell faintly like vinegar, but aren't so stiff when they dry.

Yeah Foxglove is right about the fabric softener making towels less absorbent, but mine are still fine, I just use a little, and I also put them in the dryer. The dryer really makes a big difference.

Intersting on the Fabric softner we have tried all sorts, softlan, lenor and and they come out like cardboard ... Can stand them u on there own...

I will have a go with the vinegar and see how that goes...

Thanks

MG

get a dryer. just don't tell them that you have it!

I live in a hard water area, so I always add Calgon to my washing. It not only helps protect the machine from limescale, but gets your clothes cleaner/whiter/brighter. Also, try a second rinse cycle directly after the first full wash/rinse cycle is finished.

Don't tell who that you have one? My neighbors have one too (that's the one I use), no one cares!

that's nice. some people (like my inlaws) think i'm ridiculous and wasteful for wanting a dryer. they of course have never dried off with one of our towels.

My parents don't have one either, so I know how it is. While I do prefer the dryer-dried ones, I do not care when they are not. I would never buy a dryer just for that (but generally it is nice if you can do all your laundry in one day and be done with folding at the end of the day).
I think you should just not care what your in-laws say, they are just your in-laws, you have your own family who you and your spouse make the decisions for. It's just a freakin' dryer, and other people (even in Germany) have one too! They need to get over themselves.

ja.

My German Sister-in-law has both a washer and a dryer. To avoid getting hassled about wasting money, she convinced the old auntie in the family that she actually had two washers!

For space reasons, and since there's just two of us so not a huge pile to wash, I got myself a combo washer/dryer in one machine from Miele. Kinda like having a magic hidden dryer.

Is this issue with a dryer a Bavarian thing? One of the first things we bought when we moved from a small flat into our Doppelhaushälfte was a dryer & a deep freeze (they do not stand next to each other). Raising two small children (now big teenagers) we need that dryer plus the two washing machines. Its a "normal" dryer that blows its exhaust outside the building (not a condensing dryer that uses more energy).

HEM, I think it is an issue that people have when they care too much about what other people think. My parents would probably also find a dryer a waste of money, but if I had the money, and could afford one without cutting down on more important things, then I would get one regardless of their opinion. Of course it still makes sense to get an energy efficient etc one.

If it comes to that my (late) parents probably thought that many things I did/do are a waste of money...

There's nothing wrong with a dryer in itself. if your household gets through a fair bit of laundry you need one in winter
as it will simply NOT get dry in time. In summer though it is totally not necessary, even in a tiny flat.

one trick is to put your towels in the dryer for a bit and then to line dry them. they'll be soft & you'll have spent less energy too.

by the way, one of the reasons why we bought a condensing dryer instead of an exahust model is because energy-wise it was rated "B" instead of the exhaust dryer that was rated "C". maybe the technology has changed...

OK, back to work everybody!

it has taken so long to get herer |I don't know quite what to say. But I do have some severe issues with my towels. And I am requiring urgent assistance on this matter. No matter what I do, |I have tried the vinegar, and the Uber softnerm, which I purchased at die Uber Fluffy Market. NOW I am in SEVERERE need of UBER FLUFF for my towels. Bitte Seher , I am poised by my washing machine. Please...release me from this turmoil. (is there really no word for 'fluffy'?)

Get a dryer, it saves your energy and time as less stuff needs ironing. Also, remember that irons use electricity too.

Or use fabric conditioner and a steam iron and steam the crunchy towels until they go soft.

And don't put too much washing powder in.