Why are my towels crunchy after air drying? (2023)

How do I keep my towels from getting crispy?

Towels are hard after washing because they build up soapy residue and are over-dried. Here's the good news: With a few simple tricks, you can restore your towels to their original softness and help ensure that they never go scratchy again. Use warm water.

Beth Harper said: “Wash them with not much detergent, and no conditioner. “When they're done, give them a really good shake and dry on an airer. Shake them a few times whilst they are drying. We don't have a tumble dryer either and this works perfectly on my towels, they'll go crisp on a radiator.”

The main reason is that they wash their towels in hot water 40-50c with commercial detergent and no fabric softener. Fabric softener can really reduce the absorbency of your towels,which leave a waxy residue on towels, for example. Also, cotton gets more absorbent with use, and hotel towels are well-used.

You can use a dryer for your luxury towels, or you can choose to let them air-dry. To use your home dryer, simply choose the regular or automatic cycle to maximize fluffiness, as over-drying can damage delicate fibers. When cycle is complete, remove towels promptly and fold immediately for less wrinkles.

Nick said: “The reason why your towels may have become stiff and crunchy is due to their interaction with fabric softener. “Overtime, the oils and ingredients in the fabric softener coats the fibres in the towels and makes them not as absorbent.” Instead, Nick suggests using white vinegar to clean towels.

Should you tumble dry towels? It is definitely worth your while popping your towels into the dryer if you have one. Not only will it leave your towels soft a fluffy, but a tumble dryer can actually kill more germs than the wash itself.

The towels have likely become stiff and scratchy because of the use of fabric softener. While adding this to the wash might seem like a sound idea, it actually has an adverse effect on towels. 'The fabric softener can actually build up residue over time.

For super-soft towels, add fabric softener to your load of laundry. Pouring a bit of liquid fabric conditioner like Lenor into your machine's dispenser drawer will prevent your towels from fading, stretching and bobbling during the wash, acting as a lubricant.

Thicker, heavier towels are usually more absorbent than thinner, lighter towels, but take longer to dry, of course. Towels made of Egyptian or Pima cotton, premium cotton brands, are super absorbent, and towels made with rayon absorb even a bit more water than cotton.

Should you use fabric softener on towels?

Use fabric softener according to directions, but add it only every three or four washes. Waxy buildup from softeners can deteriorate the towel fibers over time and reduce their absorbency. No one wants a towel that's not fluffy, so be careful when using fabric softener with towels.

First, I read that the leading cause of stiff towels is often leftover detergent residue. However, while cutting back on detergent will prevent towels from growing scratchy, it may not revive the softness.

There's no denying that towels can be harsh on your skin. This can lead to unwanted redness and can especially irritate those with sensitive skin. Air-drying your face allows you to ditch the rough, irritating towel and give your skin a much-needed breather with no rubbing required.

A 2011 study supports that assertion. It found that, though hair dried with increasing levels of heat showed surface damage, hair that was air-dried showed more damage to its cortex.

FACT: Using a traditional towel to dry your soaking hair is the worst thing ever. The coarse texture and dryness of a cotton or towel can cause damage to the hair. Wait what! Yep it's true, cotton towels can worsen split ends and cause small craters along the hair shaft, weakening the hair and creating frizz.

There are two common things which can warm up the hanging clothes and thus make them dry quicker: ambient hot air, and light. All else being equally, wet clothes hanging on a hot day will dry much quicker than wet clothes hanging on a cold day.

(Inside Science) -- The stiff, crunchy feel of an air-dried cotton towel is caused by a small amount of residual water “gluing” the fibers together, new research shows. Even in the driest climates, cotton naturally retains water because its main component -- cellulose -- attracts water molecules.

Baking soda is another naturally effective way to soften your bath towels. Just add 1/2 cup of baking soda along with your normal amount of detergent in the wash. Like vinegar, baking soda will also help remove build up from your towels, making your towels softer.