How to soften towels when line drying
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I volunteer at our local cat shelter and bring home the towels and bedding. Our dryer is vented inside so cannot use it in the summer. I use liquid fabric softener when washing but they still feel rough and not soft at all. Any suggestions on how to soften towels and the bedding when hanging on a line would be appreciated.
15 answers
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I use less detergent and snap them good before hanging them. The best thing is a breezy day but you can't always count on that. Hope this helps and I think it's wonderful you dedicate your time to such a worthy cause.
Dee W
on Jun 20, 2012
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Dee, ditto on all of that. Kudos to you Susan for your volunteer work. We don't own a dryer, which is fine for most everything except the towels, which are very scratchy straight out of the wash, but snapping them a couple of times really seems to make a difference. Still not dryer-soft, but better.
3po3
on Jun 20, 2012
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They really should vent the dryer outside. Hopefully at least its an electrical one. In any case, you can dry them outside then put them in the dryer and just use cool air with fabric cloth. That should do the trick for you. My wife does this with our Jeans. This way they do not shrink. I keep telling her that is not why the do not fit, but she ignores me. lol But it does work. Taking that cardboard feel out of them.
Woodbridge Environmental Tiptophouse.com
on Jun 21, 2012
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Hey guys, crunchie towels exfoliate the skin!!!
Culpepper Carpets and Interiors, Inc.
on Jun 21, 2012
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LeeAnne. that they do....it's folding them that can be a fight. Wait...does that build muscle?
Dee W
on Jun 21, 2012
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It's all good Dee, you have not lived a full life if you have never hung laundry on a close line!! LOL I know I sure have & the lent is another annoyance.
Culpepper Carpets and Interiors, Inc.
on Jun 21, 2012
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Leaving them on the line overnight sometimes helps. Good for you helping the kitties!
Marjean K
on Jun 21, 2012
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Thankyou all for you help... I live in a small town and we started this shelter about 5 years ago.. we do not have alot of room so can only handle cats.. we have been fortunate to have placed many in loving homes, but there are still many homeless cats and we try to take in as many as we can...
Susan L Bascom
on Jul 04, 2012
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I was thinking the other day now that it is so hot and the clothes dry so much faster, I do put 1/4c. of white or apple cider vinegar in with the towels. Just like on your hair it helps to break down the detergent so it rinses out better. Maybe try that.
Dee W
on Jul 04, 2012
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Thankyou Dee... I will try the vinegar...
Susan L Bascom
on Jul 04, 2012
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Dee, I did use the white vinegar along with fabric softener and it did the trick.. I hung them out and they smelled nice and were soft.. So now am using it with all the towels and sheets...
Susan L Bascom
on Jul 20, 2012
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I am so glad, Susan-thank you for letting me know. Hope you're having a good day, Dee
Dee W
on Jul 20, 2012
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I hang towels on the clothes line, and when I bring them in I fluff them in the dryer for a few minutes. I agree that they are a "free exfoliater" for the summer months.
Becky P
on Jan 13, 2013
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using fabric softeners on towels cuts down their drying ability.It cuts down on what towel manufacturers call the wicking effect.
Pamela Smith
on Jul 07, 2015
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Can you just not tumble the DRY towels on no heat a few minutes to soften?
Brenda Cole
on Jan 18, 2016
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