16-06-2025
'Crispy' towels will be fluffy again by doing one thing after they dry
If your towels are like cardboard after washing and drying, there's a trick that can restore them to their fluffy and soft state
The majority of people want a soft and fluffy towel to dry themselves with after bathing or showering. But that can usually only be achieved by putting them in the tumble dryer and letting it work it's magic.
However, that is a costly way to dry laundry and especially for towels which are a heavy load. It's estimated that drying clothes in the appliance will cost about ten times more than it does to wash them, according to Get Energy Savvy!
And with energy prices still high and the country still in the grip of a cost of living crisis, using the tumble dryer, if you have one, will be a last resort when washing can be hung on a line or airer to dry for free.
But what do you do about crispy towels?
One householder posted this exact dilemma on Facebook group Mrs Hinch Cleaning Tips.
She said: "Flannels and towels all gone crispy. (I don't have a tumble dryer). Dried outside. Advice please to get them soft again."
And while some suggested using fabric softener while washing them, others said this was a bad idea.
One said: "Never use fabric softener on towels. They lose their absorbency. I have some towels with a label that says not to use softener."
And another agreed saying: "Which? magazine says never use fabric conditioner on towels. It destroys them."
Instead several commenters suggested ironing the dry towels on steam setting to bring them back to their soft state.
One said: 'Iron them," with another agreeing adding: "Steam iron them."
Another poster explained: "When mine do this I run the steam iron over one side and it solves it."
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And another agreed saying: 'Iron makes them softer."
Some people were less keen on the method as it would add to their pile with one commenting: "Who does this? I am a fanatic about having my clothes ironed and not wrinkled and there was a time I ironed pillowcases but not anymore, but towels?
"Please that is going a little too far."
But over on mumsnet on a similar thread the advice was the same with one saying: "Iron them with lots of I know ironing towels sounds like madness, but if you don't tumble them and you want them the only way."
Another way to get them soft and keep them absorbent is to add white vinegar to the rinse cycle of the wash.
And they won't smell. One poster on the Facebook thread stated: "Use white vinegar instead of fabric softener," with another adding: "White vinegar in rinse and give them a good shake when finished."
Some people were happy with their crispy towels though. And if you like them like that you're not alone.
One said: "I must be in the minority as I like my towels to have a bit of 'bite' to them," with another poster admitting: "Same here I don't think soft ones dry you properly."
