Can hard towels be made soft again.

Oh me too, my towels are so hard the DGC are complaining about them. I’d heard it’s white vinegar and soda crystals but not sure how much to use . Hoping someone else does.

A hot wash, 60deg without soap powder as this is what is sitting in the fabric - yes vinegar or soda crystals, either way you will be astonished at the amount of washing foam released, then this weather, double spin, into the drier.
Fabric conditioner inhibits absorbency in towels.

I was going to say just that, FrankandEarnest
You may need to do it twice!

I never use fabric conditioner instead in the fabric conditioner drawer. I put white vinegar and a splash of floral disinfectant. (I use that for everything, not just towels)

NotSpaghetti

I was going to say just that, FrankandEarnest
You may need to do it twice!

Yes! I am actually doing just that! thin newish towels
washed, cannot rid the bubbles, now spun and washing again, because, numerous rinses on cold does not work, but as soon
as heat is applied, out come the bubbles to play, now as you say, on the second wash.

FrankandEarnest

A hot wash, 60deg without soap powder as this is what is sitting in the fabric - yes vinegar or soda crystals, either way you will be astonished at the amount of washing foam released, then this weather, double spin, into the drier.
Fabric conditioner inhibits absorbency in towels.

I realised that soap had been left in the towels last week and did five (yes 5!) more rinses before the water looked clear.
These were large bath sheets.

Never use fabric conditioner with towels.

I'll try that tip if I notice it again, FrankandEarnest

Then I do think a bashing around in a tumble dryer softens them, even if it's only for the first 15 minutes.

Yes, ditch the conditioner, a hot wash with just soda crystals. You may be amazed at the amount of dirty grey foam that appears, and may well need to do it twice.
If you have a tumble drier, that certainly helps with softness, too.

Don't use fabric softener. Just you usual washing detergent with a tablespoon of soda crystals. Dry outside. Run the iron over them if you want to make them a bit softer. Don't use too much detergent. Many people put extra in thinking it makes the clothes cleaner, smell nicer etc. You don't need scent boosters, either.

FrankandEarnest

A hot wash, 60deg without soap powder as this is what is sitting in the fabric - yes vinegar or soda crystals, either way you will be astonished at the amount of washing foam released, then this weather, double spin, into the drier.
Fabric conditioner inhibits absorbency in towels.

This. Works a treat. So much so that I only use soda crystals for most washes (and not much at that) and vinegar as a 'softener' only for synthetic fibres. Natural fibres are naturally soft if you don't gunge them up with artifical soaps, perfumes, etc.

I have tried all the previous suggestions with good quality towels and they still end up stiff, especially when dried outside (which I prefer) The only way I can soften them for visitors is tumble drying, which is wasteful and wears towels quicker.
(Evidenced by the fluff which remains in the drier) Any chemical perfumed “product” is the work of the devil.

In Nancy Birtwhistle's book Clean and Green she recommends after spinning the towel hold it in 2 hands at one end and give it a strong shake, then repeat for the other end. Then if possible dry outdoors.This fluffs up the fibres that get flattened in the machine. I find this makes a big difference - though it is a bit tricky with very large towels

I would steep the towels in a warm water and vinegar - a tablespoon per pint of water, overnight. Then wash them at thirty or forty degrees centigrade without soap powder, as it most likely is a residue of soap in the towels t hat has made them hard.

Unless, of course, you live in an area with hard water, in which case you will need far more vinegar to get limescale out of the cloth.

I consistently use less laundry soap than the makers of it recommend and my towels are never harsh to the touch, irrespective of whether they are dried outside or indoors.

Never use conditioner on towels, my understanding is that it makes them less absorbent and therefore difficult to get dried with. I always put towels in the tumble drier whatever the weather and this keeps them soft, drying outside makes them hard as does hanging them inside the house somewhere to dry.

I have used Nancy Birtwhistle’s “shake,shake,SHAKE” method for several years!! Always with great results and it’s a great workout too !

Only a tumble dryer. I put them in for just a minimal time and then turn it off and leave them in the drum for a bit. They’re always soft.

Doesn’t it shake the towels if it’s windy when they are on the line a la Bitwhistle?

Stop using softener. Unless you use Lakeland one just for towels.
To soften hard towels, soak overnight in a bath with calgon. Then wash as hot as label allows with white vinegar as softener. Then either tumble dry or give them a really good shake before hanging out. Have a look at Nancy Birthwhistle’s green tips on line

I must be the only person in the world who likes hard crispy towels. They seem to dry better than soft fluffy ones. Each to their own I guess.

stonehaven48

I do use fabric conditioner and have a water softener but my fave towels are getting really hard. Weather permitting I dry them outside, otherwise in the boiler cupboard or over the banister. Not a great fan of using tumble dryer. I have heard of using white vinegar in the wash together with detergent but no conditioner. The towels in question must be between 5 and 10 years old. Anyone got any advice.

I use white vinegar instead of fabric softener. Softener lessens the absorbency of towels, tea towels etc, and eventually builds up on the fabric

I have towels a lot older than 10 - 15 years. I actually prefer towels especially bath towels to be hard. When drying indoor I give them a good shake, almost like a whipping action, and they soften up. Otherwise and rarely I use the tumble dryer.

stonehaven48

I do use fabric conditioner and have a water softener but my fave towels are getting really hard. Weather permitting I dry them outside, otherwise in the boiler cupboard or over the banister. Not a great fan of using tumble dryer. I have heard of using white vinegar in the wash together with detergent but no conditioner. The towels in question must be between 5 and 10 years old. Anyone got any advice.

Towels have to be washed when brand new before use. That way they stay soft all their lives.

Fabric softener certainly helps. Those expensive granules give a nice smell, but I don't use them. My towels are soft, and smell fresh without extra granules.

Farzanah

I have tried all the previous suggestions with good quality towels and they still end up stiff, especially when dried outside (which I prefer) The only way I can soften them for visitors is tumble drying, which is wasteful and wears towels quicker.
(Evidenced by the fluff which remains in the drier) Any chemical perfumed “product” is the work of the devil.

Tend to agree with this. Tumble drying them keeps them soft and don't use fabric conditioner (or use it only rarely). Drying outside tends to make them like cardboard whenever I've done it so I just collect a full load of towels so it's efficient use of the tumble dryer.

Just finish slightly damp towels in the tumble dryer
We have no real problems but could be a case of we have really soft water

Your problem is two-fold. First, you don't get really fluffy towels unless you dry them in a tumbler (add 2-3 cheap tennis balls to the drum to reduce tumbling time by around 5 minutes - it really does work!). Second, you should never add softener when washing towels. The chemicals leave a residue which affects the fibres and reduces absorbency - in my experience, they don't do much to soften the fabric, they just smell of chemical perfume (another non-essential which advertising has convinced us we really really need!). Hope this helps.