5 ms·
I find my towels get stiff and dense when I let them air dry (as opposed to soft and fluffy when I machine dry.) Am I doing something wrong or is this something
by bottle_roket 5y ago
I find my towels get stiff and dense when I let them air dry (as opposed to soft and fluffy when I machine dry.) Am I doing something wrong or is this something people just get used to?
- frabbit 5y agoSame for me. I really dislike it.
- jjoonathan 5y agoI believe agitation is what gets rid of the stiffness and that's why dryers tumble.
- deleted 5y ago[deleted]
- lugoues 5y agoGet used to it or toss them in the dryer for a couple of minutes after they dry to soften them up.
- ginko 5y agoI guess fluffy towels would be nicer, but I generally prefer the stiffness of air-dried clothing to machine dried. Shirts in particular.
- hansthehorse 5y agoMy mom used a dryer (I'm in the US) but my dad insisted that the sheets be air dried on the line outside. If he was home for wash time he would do that for her. After she figured that out wash day was always on a Sunday.
- __d 5y agoIf you've always air-dried, there's nothing to get used to ... I guess I can see the appeal of soft fluffy towels, but I actually prefer mine stiff. I can't justify or explain it, but ... I do. Sheets as well .. thick linen sheets, air-dried so they're kinda hard ... mmmm.
- cpach 5y agoI’m used to it and I actually like it. I’ve heard that one can add white vinegar in the washing machine to soften the fabric, but so far I haven’t tried it.
- sylvain_kerkour 5y agoTowels get stiff after air drying because they were too soaked with water. You should try "spin wash cycle" for 10 mins after washing (not sure about the translation, essorage in French - dewatering). So you have the best of both worlds: Your towels air dry quickly, and are fluffy, you use far less energy than drying machine, and your towels / clothes are preserved.
- ectopod 5y agoI don't, but isn't this what people buy fabric conditioner for?
- orev 5y agoFabric softener is just oil, which is very much the opposite of what you want your towels coated with, as their main purpose is to absorb water.
- elzbardico 5y agoMost probably you're using too much soap.
- ThePadawan 5y agoSomehow, I want to answer "neither". I find air dried towels much more absorbent and pleasant to use after a shower. They give that nice feeling of "OK and now I'm dry.", much like a bar of soap leaves that feeling of "OK and now my hands are clean" (especially compared to a very oil-rich liquid soap). But I didn't have to get used to this, I just immediately preferred it.
- jmrm 5y agoRemoving them from the rack a little bit before they are fully dry works for me.