Keeping towels soft

[sakira]

Keeping towels soft

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Hi Everyone

I am new to this website, though have been reading and exploring for a while!

We are *mostly* chemical free in our household and LOVE it!

My query is regarding washing of bath towels. Currently we use a home made soap powder of bicarb soda, washing soda, grated soap and drops of lavender oil in rinse cycle. I was using white vinegar in the rinse cycle, but have stopped using it (as I ran out and haven't bought anymore!).

We only line dry, do not own a dryer (and don't plan on getting one) but find the bath towels are so crunchy, hard and stiff, they are not only uncomfortable to use, but they even hurt!

Has anyone got a solution for keeping towels soft - using natural home made washing powder and line drying?

I have my stash of tots bots cloth nappies ready and waiting for our future new arrival, and would hate for them to go the same way as the towels.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Di

[Purly]

Re: Keeping towels soft

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Have you tried handing the towels out at night or perhaps indoors on an airing rack? That used to help with our crunchy hemp nappies.

[stepmumand1]

Re: Keeping towels soft

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We use white vinegar in rinse cycle, minimum 1/2 teaspoon of washing powder, towels only wash, cold wash only (we have a front loader that heats water for warm/hot wash), and also change the spin speed to 800rpm instead of the normal 1200rpm. I line dry in the shade, usually overnight or inside cause the birds poo on them. Have you tried any of these?

[Craig&Kel]

Re: Keeping towels soft

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Give them a really good shake out before you hang them, and the again as you pull them off the line, This seems to soften up the pile.
We use home made washing powder and vinegar too, and ours dry a lot softer if I do this

[sakira]

Re: Keeping towels soft

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Thanks for the replies girls - yep - have tried all these!

We lined dried inside and they were worse! Maybe reducing the spin cycle might help! I did try a strange thing the other night and brushed the towels with a slicker brush to loosen the pile - and they came up alot fluffier (as do the dogs when they get brushed!) as it had really flattened - but I don't fancing brushing the towels regularly- I have enough to worry about lol!

craig and kel - what is in your homemade washing powder?

[emd]

Re: Keeping towels soft

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Put all the crunchy towels in a big washing basket (unfolded) and get the toddler to stomp on them.
Leave them on the line until you get a really windy day - being whipped around in the wind softens them up.
An extra rinse cycle might wash out any residue from the washing powder, or you might find you still get a clean wash with less powder. I used to use the same DIY washing powder and found I didn't need to use much.

[bubly]

Re: Keeping towels soft

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Can I ask a few questions about the homemade washing powder please? Is it gentle on clothes? How much do you need to use? Do you get a build up in the washing machine? Is it suitable to use on PUL nappy covers? Can someone give me the recipe to make it?? Must be heaps cheaper than buying from supermarket.
Thanks very much

[allycam]

Re: Keeping towels soft

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I had the same question as bubly - what is your recipe/ proprtions for your home-made washing powder Di? We've done lots of experimenting but haven't yet found anything that is quite right...

Cheers

[marchbean]

Re: Keeping towels soft

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I wonder if the towels have a build up of detergent? That can make them scratchy. We do what the other girls have suggested... half detergent, dry in the shade, and while vinegar in final rinse.

[sakira]

Re: Keeping towels soft

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Hi allycam

We too have made various concotions but what we are using now is:

2 x box bi card soda (not sure of weight - blue and white box McKenzie brand)

1 x packets of washing soda (green and red label)

1 x grated sunlight soap

I usually do a lrage quantity and mix it in a large container.

I have a small scoop that I use to put in the wash - have no idea what quantity it is, but it is only a small scoop.

Sometimes I add a small scoop of borax for really dirty clothes - but DO NOT use borax on silk or wool.

I just slurp white vinegar with a few drops of lavender oil into the rinse drawer.

We have a front loader machine and usually wash on cold or 30 degrees.

Unfortunately it rained yesterday, so will have to report back in on the towles I washed on the weekend!

Di