Washed towels in the sun and now like sandpaper.

Soak towels in a Calgon solution to remove detergent, then wash without detergent. When nearly dry, finish off in tumble dryer for approx 15 mins.

I normally tumble dry my towels too, but I mainly use small ones which dry much more quickly. If I've had a bath or a shower I use a towelling dressing gown and wash it less often than the towels.
I do have a couple of bath sheets but would much rather use a smaller towel to dry myself off - I keep a pile of them folded in the bathroom so there is always a dry one waiting.
I've always understood that it is the calcium from hard water which gets into the fabric of towels and eventually makes them rougher, presumably that is why vinegar is often recommended? Others use washing soda which has a similar action. We have a water softener so don't have this problem.

Love rough towels 😂

I got so fed up of towels drying like sandpaper. I tried all the google remedies- none worked! I asked at a posh hotel - and their solution- tumble drying them. I saved and bought a condenser tumble dryer and I line dry them till damp then tumble them. Softer towels!

My towels line-dry, not soft, but OK. But face flannels! Even after ironing they're like cardboard.

This reminded me of the towelling nappies we used, no alternative being available. Poor babies! I’ve since found out that a hot steam iron softens towels if you can be bothered and no tumble dryer is available

I hope some of the answers help in the quest for a softer towel. I can understand why you need them.
I also prefer a hard towel. They seem much more efficient.
I have to sneak a hard towel into my case when we stay with lovely friends. Their luxurious bath sheets are so soft, fluffy and heavy it's like having to dry yourself with a rug. I'm exhausted when I've finished in the bathroom!

Love crispy towels!

Iam64

I agree, a brief spin in the drier solves the problem. I do mine ten mins they then dry soft

Me too, if they get too bad

I use very little liquid detergent for washing towels maybe a teaspoon. They tend to hold the soap so I do an extra rinse cycle HTH

Stick them in your dryer for 10minswith a tumble dryer sheet. Why vinegar? Never heard of that apart to run an empty cycle through machine. My towels are always fine line dried.

I too like a rough towel but mine always come out soft, maybe because I use fabric conditioner?
I don't own a tumble dryer either,.... so maybe I need to ditch the fabric softener