How do I make stiff washcloths soft again?

Arthur, I have found that using vinegar in the softener dispenser of my washer when laundering my towels keep them soft and absorbent. Also, make sure you are not using too much soap, my daughter worked for a dermatologist for a while, and his advise to a lot of patients with body rashes was to check for too much soap in the laundry by putting a garment in a bowl of water and moving it around, if you have cloudy water or soap in the water after wringing out the item, then you are putting too much soap in the wash.

The problem may be that the soap is not completely rinsing from clothes.... take your washcloths and soak them in white vinegar, 1 cup and hot water, 1 gallon... for at least 1 hour.... wash with out soap... and dry with out fabric softener or fabric sheets.... see if that helps.

I put vinegar in the bleach and softener cups on my washer when I do towels... and I do an extra long rinse... to get out soap residues....

Stop using fabric softener. Forever. There are natural (and cheaper) ways to soften your laundry. All the fabric softeners leave a chemical residue which builds up and makes your towels less absorbent and stiff. Here is what I do. Low suds clear and free detergent, use less than manufacturer recommends. Add 2 heaping tablespoons of baking soda per load. Place plain old white vinegar in the softener cup. Wash! In the dryer, use "felted wool dryer balls" - your laundry will come out soft, supple and oh so fresh! For your existing linens it make take several washings to get all the chemical crud out of them. If you want to do it in one shot, just soak all your towels in a tub over night with a couple cups of vinegar, then wash as normal.

Soak in Milton fluid and was in washing machine

Wash