How to make terry towels soft and fluffy after washing? How to make terry towels soft after washing: tips and rules

Many choose exclusively terry towels for the reason that they are very soft and very pleasant to the touch. It is very convenient and comfortable to use this product after taking a warm bath. But over time, all these pleasant qualities of towels disappear. What is the reason and how to return your favorite product to its former softness? All the answers are in this material.

Reasons for rigidity

Before thinking about how to make towels soft again and what product to use to make them soft after washing, let's look at the reasons why they become hard. When you know exactly what the cause of a particular problem is, it becomes easier to deal with it.

Often, the quality of the pile is adversely affected by cheap and low-quality powder. If a low-quality detergent is not completely washed out of the fabric fibers, the item will definitely become hard after washing. Hard water can also negatively affect the softness of the product.

If you washed terry cloth products in a washing machine without observing the recommended temperature conditions, then due to the water temperature being too high, the softness of the fabric may also decrease. In addition, the original quality of such a product can be spoiled due to improper drying or if the towels are ironed without steam.

We figured out the reasons. What to do with those towels that have already become hard? Is it really impossible to restore their softness and make them fluffy again? It is quite possible to cope with the task even at home. We have useful tips, which will help restore softness to towels.

How to restore softness

You can easily and simply restore the softness of your favorite towels if you know some secrets. Let's start with the most common and simple way. To begin, the products should be immersed in clean, almost ice-cold water. They must be left in such water for at least twelve hours. Therefore, it is best to soak them overnight.

After this, the product should be rinsed thoroughly. This should also be done in cold water. After this procedure, lightly wring out each towel, shake it and dry it with room temperature. Ideally, you need to dry them in a room with high humidity, then the fibers will definitely be soft again. You can use a regular humidifier for this.

Regular salt and ammonia often help many women in the household. It is these two components that will help restore softness and brightness to towels. For one liter of warm water you will need one large spoon of salt and a small spoon ammonia. As soon as the salt has dissolved, immerse the product in the solution and leave it there for three hours. Afterwards, rinse thoroughly with cool water and dry. When drying, follow the same recommendations that we discussed above.

If the towel becomes stiff after washing, you can immediately soak it in a salty solution for about forty minutes. And then wash it, taking into account all the rules and recommendations. For five liters of water, you should use two large spoons of any salt.

If the product has become hard after improper drying, an iron with a steamer will help restore the softness of the fibers. Iron the fabric thoroughly using hot steam, and it will again become fluffy and pleasant to the touch.

How to wash properly

The main reason towels become stiff is improper washing. For this reason, it is worth studying all the intricacies of this issue in order to know exactly how to properly wash terry towels.

First of all, you need to choose the right detergent. Avoid traditional powders and opt for liquid laundry detergents. Such products should not contain phosphates or chlorine. It is these components that have a detrimental effect on the original softness of the towel. As an addition, you can use a special fabric softener that contains silicone. This product perfectly helps to maintain the softness of products.

If you add a little ordinary table vinegar during washing, this will prevent the product from becoming hard. Nine percent vinegar - only 100 milliliters - should be poured into the compartment intended for conditioner or rinse aid. And if you add a spoonful of sea salt along with the powder, this will help soften the water, which will have a positive effect on the quality of the washed towels. If there is no sea salt, then you can add a small spoonful of ordinary baking soda.

Be sure to wash your towels using a special program. The temperature should not exceed 40 degrees. Spin should not exceed more than four hundred revolutions. Also, never fill the drum completely. The laundry should move freely in the drum.

When washing in a machine, it is recommended to use special “spiky” balls, which help fluff up the towels and keep them soft. Such special balls can be found in any store; they are often used for washing down jackets or woolen products.

If you wash your clothes by hand, you need to follow other recommendations. Before the main washing process, be sure to soak the item in cold water for an hour or two. For hand washing, it is also better to use gel or any other liquid detergent. When washing, do not rub the terry towel too much. It should be washed with smooth and light movements.

After this, you can soak the product for half an hour in water with salt, and then start rinsing it. During rinsing, you should change the water at least three times to ensure that no particles remain. detergent. During the last rinse, add a little table vinegar to the water - this will help soften the fibers. When wringing out the towel, do not twist the product too much.

We have a few more tips that will come in handy if you have new towels that have not yet lost their softness. Our recommendations will help you maintain their softness for a long time.

Never put a used towel in the laundry basket if it is slightly damp. If crumpled, damp fabric will definitely lose its fluffiness. Be sure to dry the towel after each use, straightening it thoroughly.
Sending towels into the drum washing machine, make sure that there are no items with zippers, metal buttons or rivets among the items. Such metal products will ruin terry fabric.
Before you start drying these types of towels, be sure to shake them several times and only then hang them up.
Do not dry such products in the hot sun or hot radiator. From high temperatures the fabric loses its fluffiness and becomes stiff.
Do not fold towels more than four times for storage in the closet. It is best to store terry products on closed shelves or in wicker baskets.

During use and after repeated washing, terry towels lose their softness, fluffiness and tenderness. They are losing attractive appearance and they are no longer as pleasant to the touch as before. However, there are several ways to return the material to its previous properties. Let's look at how to make terry towels soft and fluffy.

Why did the terry towel become stiff?

The most common cause of stiffness is improper washing, drying and storing towels. For such fabric you need to choose gentle detergents liquid formulations. Particles of washing powder do not wash well, clog the fibers of the fabric and worsen the properties of the material.

Washing in hot water, insufficient rinsing and high spin speeds, dry ironing with high heating of the iron also damages the fibers. The material is negatively affected by drying near electrical appliances, radiators and heaters, as well as boiling or boiling.

Poor-quality terry towels lose their softness and fluffiness after the first wash, sometimes fade and fade, becoming hard and unpleasant. Therefore, it is important to choose high-quality and durable products from a reliable and trusted manufacturer.

Hardness and poor quality tap water is another reason why towels and other things become hard and fade, lose their attractive appearance and physical properties. Tap water contains various impurities, which during the washing process settle in the fibers of the material and deteriorate the quality of the latter.

In this case it is recommended to use special means for washing, which soften the water. You can also soften and purify your tap water yourself. How to do this, see. And then we’ll find out how to restore the softness and fluffiness of terry towels.

Seven ways to restore softness to terry towels

Old, hard terry towels can be softened with table salt. To do this, dissolve two tablespoons in a liter of water. Soak the items for forty minutes, rinse in clean water and leave to dry in the fresh air. And to keep them soft, when washing along with the washing powder, add one or two tablespoons of salt or add salt to the conditioner compartment;
If your terry towels have become stiff due to washing powder, soak them in large quantities cool water and leave for six to ten hours. After this, rinse the fabric in clean water and dry. Water will wash away the remaining powdered product from the fibers, no small particles will remain in the fabric, and the material will become softer;
Take the crushed sea salt and mix with washing powder and add during washing. This product will soften the water and “massage” the fibers, which will restore the softness of the fabric;
Instead of sea or standard salt, you can use baking soda. The product is mixed in a small volume with washing powder and used during the washing process. Soda reduces water hardness and softens terry fibers, removes unpleasant odors, stains and dirt;
If tap water is very hard, add a weak vinegar solution when rinsing. To do this, add half a glass of table vinegar 9% to cold water and thoroughly rinse the washed items;
To make towels soft after washing, take a glass of vinegar and half a glass of baking soda. In the compartment for liquid products Pour vinegar into the washing machine and wash the items without rinsing or spinning at maximum temperature. After this, pour soda into the powder compartment and wash again, but with rinsing and spinning;
Cooling - extreme and unusual method, which will help restore the softness and former attractive appearance of towels. To do this, you need to wash the items in cold spring water, and then place them in a container with snow and leave for several hours. After this, the towel is rinsed and dried. As a result of this procedure, the texture of the fibers softens and improves.

How to wash towels to keep them soft

Proper care will maintain softness and hygiene, cleanliness and freshness for a long time, original color and aesthetic appearance of terry towels. Experts advise changing Bath towels after three to five uses, products for the kitchen, hands and face - at least every other day, and for feet - once every three days.

Before washing, drying or ironing towels, be sure to read the label. Follow the recommendations to avoid damaging the fabric. Such products are washed in a large volume of water, at a high number of revolutions (up to 800) and with long, thorough rinsing.

For washing, choose a temperature of 40-60 degrees. To ensure that terry towels remain soft after washing, place special items in the drum of the washing machine along with the product. plastic balls for washing. Products must be washed separately from other items. There should be room in the machine, so fill the drum only half or three-quarters full.

To keep your towels soft and fluffy, it is best to hand wash them. Choose only, since the powder is poorly washed out and remains in the fibers of the fabric, which makes the material hard. Sometimes you can use fabric softener. But do not overuse the product, as it impairs the absorbency of materials.

Caring for terry towels

Care involves not only washing, but also drying, ironing, and storage. After washing, do not wring out the fabric too much! If you do not use salt in the process, before drying, keep the product in salted water for 20-30 minutes, then rinse well, first in salted water and then in clean water.

You need to dry the fabric unfolded, preferably in the fresh air, but not under the influence of direct sun rays, or in a well-ventilated area. Dry terry towels only natural method away from batteries and electrical appliances. Ironing of products is not recommended. If necessary, you can iron the material at temperatures up to 150 degrees with steam.

Not all housewives can boast of the softness of terry towels. Terry fabrics quickly lose their “fluffiness” under improper washing and even storage conditions, so hard towels are a problem that requires a special approach.

Is it possible to revive old hard terry towels, and how to care for new ones - we study and remember!

The main reasons and mistakes of housewives that cause towels to become hard

There are many reasons for the appearance of stiffness in terry towels, and the very first is the deformation and compaction of the pile in the washing machine during washing.

In addition, towels become stiff due to...

Low-quality cheap washing powder , which is difficult to rinse out of fabric fibers. Phosphate-based powders spoil terry towels especially quickly.
Increased water hardness . The more calcium and magnesium in the water, the faster the terry towel becomes unusable.
Incorrect washing mode . Usually, softness disappears when the temperature is set incorrectly (too high) and the spin power is high.
Too dry air . At low humidity (approx. - below 20 percent) towels dry out and lose their fluffiness.
Regular ironing. Alas, ironing terry towels in the classic way Not recommended.
Low quality fabric. The lower the quality, the faster the towel loses its attractiveness.

Video: How to wash terry towels. Odor removal, softness - all the secrets

How to make towels soft and fluffy when washing by machine and hand - 8 ways

Among the most popular and effective ways to return fluffiness and softness to your favorite textiles are the following:

Salt. Experts advise choosing “extra” salt, which dissolves faster than others. It also makes sense to use tools that are created specifically for automatic machines– it is enough to pour it along with regular powder, or dissolve it in water first and pour it directly into the tank.
Soda. We use both regular baking soda and calcined soda. The method of use is also simple: pour the product directly into the drum to soften the water during the washing process.
Vinegar. This product not only restores softness to towels, but also completely eliminates even stubborn old odors. We use 9% table vinegar, no more than ½ cup.
Vinegar with soda. You can use these products at the same time: pour the vinegar into a special compartment for the air conditioner, and pour the baking soda directly into the drum. Next, add the usual detergent and turn on the desired program.
Soak. After machine washing, soak terry towels for 12 hours in cold (!) water. Then we rinse and hang to dry in a room with high air humidity.
Homemade mouthwash. Mix vinegar, soda, plain water, and after foaming - water again. To add flavor to the conditioner, add essential oil. Now we pour the product into a regular bottle and use it like a regular mouthwash.
Ammonia and salt. Dissolve a teaspoon of ammonia and 1 tablespoon of salt in 1 liter of water. Soak a towel in this solution (cold) for a couple of hours, then rinse and dry in a room with high humidity.
Balls/balls. For perfect washing and keeping the pile in its original state of fluffiness, you can use tennis balls when washing. Throw 2-3 classic yellow balls into the drum washing machine— and you don’t have to worry about the hardness of the towels.

Video: 12 life hacks for soft terry towels. Secrets of fluffy towels from the hostess

How to properly wash, dry and store towels, including terry ones, so that they always remain soft and fluffy - 7 secrets of housewives

When washed by hand, terry towels remain softer than when washed by machine. The secret is that the textiles are soaked with more by gentle means for washing, and do not wring out as hard as it happens in the drum of a machine.

On the other hand, it is much more difficult to rinse towels by hand, and the powder remaining in the fibers will certainly affect the softness of the fabric.

Video: Conditioner for terry towels and linen - softness in every lint! 2 Recipes

The following rules for washing and drying towels will help maintain fluffiness:

We use only for washing terry towels soft gel products, and be sure to add a softening agent - salt, soda or vinegar. Don't forget about water softeners! We buy detergent without sophosphate and without chlorine in the composition. When choosing a conditioner, pay attention to a product with silicone, which helps maintain the fluffiness of towels.
Always turn on an extra rinse so that no trace of detergent remains in the fabric. For manual rinsing, change the water 3-4 times.
Do not dry towels in rooms with dry air – this fabric needs high humidity when drying! It is recommended to hang it to dry horizontally.
Towel washing mode : set the temperature to no more than 40 degrees.
Spin speed – no more than 400 revolutions. When manually squeezing, don’t get carried away!
Don't push towels into the drum – leave 1/3 of the drum space free from things. And add tennis balls before washing to “fluff up the lint.”

Video: How to keep towels soft after washing - 10 rules

Iron towels using steam. Simple classic ironing presses down the pile and the fabric loses its fluffiness. If you have one in your house, use it instead of an iron.

Reading time: 4 minutes

How to make terry towels soft and fluffy after washing? Yes it is possible. The transformation process is reversible, but quite lengthy and painstaking. It is unlikely that it will be possible to restore the softness of the tissue in one session. A set of actions is needed to restore former comfort. To ensure that terry products do not lose their original attractiveness and charm, you should know the reasons that cause this condition.

“Taboo” for terry towels

An invigorating shower or warm bath with aroma oils. Everyone dreams of this, especially after a hard day’s work. Gentle touches, soft movements, a fluffy wave of terry loops after a shower, bath or sauna gives its owner a towel. But this is provided that it is really tender and fluffy. But very often, a new terry cloth ceases to please and relax, but, on the contrary, stresses and irritates.

Why are terry towels hard after washing? A question that worries everyone: both those who look after their fluffy hairs, and those whose bodies are accustomed to gentle touches piles. Housewives, administrators of hotels, hotels, saunas and sports complexes are daily looking for ways (both improvised and professional) to fill personal hygiene items with fluffiness and tenderness. The towels have become hard because the washing and rinsing process is disrupted, inappropriate products are used, and poor quality water is used for washing.

Enemies of fleecy fabric

There are a number of obstacles (many are not even aware of them) that significantly affect the external condition, the level of pile, and the quality of the threads.

Terry towels do not accept powder. Contact of terry with powdery grains has the opposite effect: the product becomes clean, but the softness of the threads is lost. This indicator does not depend on the quality and price category washing powder.

A quick rinse will affect the softness.

Don't have any liquid laundry detergent on hand? No problem. Additional rinsing will allow the fabric to become softer. The rule is simple: by increasing the number of rinses, the degree of neutralization of the detergent increases, and, therefore, the level of softness of the fabric increases. Water saving mode is a death sentence for a terry towel.

High speed at machine washable have a detrimental effect on hairiness.

If possible, when washing towels, you should avoid spinning during the washing process. It is the rapid rotation of the washing machine drum that provokes abrasion of the threads. How thinner thread, the lower the softness of the fiber. To protect terry loops from abrasion, you can use a special laundry bag.

Wash at temperatures above 60 degrees– one of the main pests of soft fabric. Boiling is “slow death.”

Most optimal temperature for washing the indicator is 40 degrees.

Fresh air- an enemy for terry. Oddly enough, but Fresh air has a bad effect on these fibers and dries them out. They lose their natural softness and freshness. Recommended for drying dryer. But if there is none, humid climate a bathroom with good ventilation is an ideal place.

They will help restore terry products to their former tenderness. practical advice. By adhering to them, you can quickly, effectively, and, most importantly, inexpensively “give away” what is sometimes so lacking.

Products should be washed with a special ball designed to break up terry threads and fluff. Using it, you can completely refuse chemicals, purchased specifically for fluffing terry.
Fabric softener must contain silicone. It is this substance that keeps the pile soft.
Be sure to follow the recommendations from the manufacturer. The information on the tag is a signal to select the temperature and speed of the washing machine.
Do not iron towels. Under the influence of heat, the terry threads become tangled and the product becomes stiff. An alternative would be desoldering. Steam, on the contrary, “raises” the villi, and the towel is not only soft and fluffy, but also looks very voluminous.
After washing, it is recommended to shake the fabrics so that each of the loops, pressed during the washing process, can return to its original state.

New life for terry

Are your terry towels getting stiff? It is not easy to return them to their former attractiveness and softness, but it is still possible. The means at hand cope well with this task.

Table vinegar will return softness to the towel, make the water less hard, and give the fibers of the material fluffiness and tenderness.

The ideal proportion is a quarter glass of vinegar for every 5 liters of water. Important! The vinegar should be white, but in no case should it be apple vinegar (it is dark), since there is a high probability of the product darkening.

If machine washable, you can add acetic acid(9% acid solution in water - vinegar) into the rinsing compartment.

Kitchen salt– source of softness of products. There are several ways to use salt.

Option one. It is enough to place the salt in the compartment intended for detergent. Only the washing mode with this approach must be delicate.

Option two. It is very effective to rinse the terry cloth in salt water. Ratio 1:1. This means that for every liter of water you need 1 tablespoon of kitchen salt. The rinsing algorithm is simple: prepare a saline solution, rinse the item in it, rinse the item in clean water, and then dry it.

Option three. It is enough to mix washing powder with salt powder to increase the softness of the products. For better effect You can replace kitchen salt with natural sea salt.

If terry towels have become stiff, you can use a very simple, but effective way– leave the products in a container with cool water. This approach ensures the purification of terry fibers from impurities of hard water and powdery grains. One rinse and the fabric is like new.

Afterword

Tap water, washing powders, and violation of product care rules - all this affects the condition of the fabric. How to restore softness to terry towels simply, quickly, and inexpensively? This is real if you know what factors adversely affect the quality of threads, which should not be allowed when washing towels. And little tricks and improvised means will help extend the life of your favorite products. Fluffy, tender and cozy, just like on the first day, they will delight their owners, gently relaxing them after a busy day.

How to make a towel soft after washing is a rhetorical question for most housewives. Very often, terry fabrics become hard after washing, especially if the powder and washing mode are incorrectly selected. How to avoid this and keep them soft and fluffy, like when in its original form– we’ll talk about this in our article.

The main reasons why towels lose softness

Before talking about the softness of terry products, let's first find out the main reasons why they can lose it, and there can be many of them. Any one of them in itself can make them tough, and even more so in combination.

Low quality powder, especially phosphate based ones.
Severely hard water, with a high content of salts and calcium, and refusal of special water softeners.
Spin and rinse in economy mode, with a small amount of water. In such cases, the powder or other product is poorly rinsed and remains in the tissues.
Ironing without using steam.
Low air humidity during drying.
Incorrectly selected washing temperature mode.

What to do to keep towels soft

Terry towels, although not an item of clothing, also require careful attitude and compliance with the operating rules, no matter how strange it may sound, because, it would seem, this is just some kind of towel. Follow the recommendations that you are about to read, and everything will be fine with them for a long time, and they will be soft, tender and fluffy.

Try to choose liquid detergents as an alternative to dry powders. They have a softer effect on the fabric, and also wash out faster and better.
If you still washed with regular powder, then set the machine to an additional rinse mode in order to wash it out of the fabric as much as possible.
Try not to use bleaches and conditioners - they are difficult to wash out and spoil the terry. If you still don’t want to give up the conditioner, then use one that contains silicone - it will soften the villi.
There are special balls for fluffing up fluff and lint during washing. Add a couple of these to the drum of the machine, or tennis balls, and they will significantly soften the fabric.
Do not use temperature conditions above 40⁰С.
Fill the drum no more than a third so that water can circulate freely and thoroughly wash out the fabric fibers when rinsing.
Do not set the spin mode too hard. 400 -500 rpm is quite enough.
It is recommended to add a teaspoon of soda or a tablespoon of salt, preferably sea salt, to the detergent.
You can add 150 ml of 9% vinegar to the conditioner compartment.
Do not use detergents containing phosphates or chlorine.
Use water softeners.
Do not wash with items that have metal components, such as zippers or metal buttons. It’s better to wash them separately from other things.

Handwash

Nowadays, few people remember that you can also wash things by hand in a basin, without using any bourgeois automatic machines. Nowadays, rarely anyone will go to such an extreme, but if you still decide to shake off the old days, then here are some tips for you:

In this case, it is better to abandon powders altogether and use liquid, or even better, regular detergent. laundry soap. It will retain its pomp and wash it off with a bang.
Pre-soak your textile product in cold water.
Dilute the soap in warm water and add a couple of tablespoons of soda or table salt. Immerse the towels in this solution and leave them there for half an hour.
Wash carefully, without sudden movements. Do not rub the fabric too hard with your hands - this will deform the terry and deprive it of fluffiness. Only light and smooth movements.
Rinse in at least three waters, adding 1 tablespoon of vinegar to the last one.

To make your towels soft, here are a few additional tips and life hacks.

Read the information on the tag and do not ignore it.
Shake well before hanging to dry.
Do not dry near open sources of high temperatures and do not dry them outside in extreme heat.
Iron using steam only.
If you have a water filter at home, it would be a good idea to pass the water intended for washing through it.

Is it possible to bring old hard towels back to life?

Yes, you can, so don’t rush to throw them away, unless, of course, the shashel has completely finished them off. For resuscitation, do the following:

For 5 liters warm water, add 3 tablespoons of salt and dissolve it.
Soak the textiles in this solution for half an hour.
Take it out and wash it in the machine as usual, not forgetting to add a softener. Don't add any more powders or other nasty stuff.

If the fabric has become very faded over the years or has old stains, a mixture of salt, ammonia (ammonia) and water will help. For 1 liter of warm water, add a teaspoon of ammonia and a tablespoon of salt. Soak for 10-12 hours and wash as in the previous method.

How to determine the water hardness in your tap water

At first glance, it may seem that the question is supposedly off-topic. But, if you consider that this property water directly affects the quality of washing, then it no longer seems so inappropriate. If anyone didn’t know, the water that flows through the pipes is by no means the same for everyone, and its quality in different regions, and even districts or villages, differs significantly.

If you are wondering how your tap water suitable for washing your terry products, and whether you should use softening agents, then you will just need to find out the hardness of your tap liquid. Let's try to do this at home, without resorting to official data, which, as a rule, is distorted and untrue.

Using soap

Finely crumble the soap into the water. If it is almost all dissolved, then it is soft. If there are a lot of floating particles left, then, alas, its quality leaves much to be desired.
Wet your hands under the tap and lather. If your hands wash quickly and easily, then everything is fine. If it’s difficult, then you have a very hard liquid flowing in your pipes.

With tea

Brew black tea, preferably loose leaf, and after a few minutes notice its color. If it is light and bright, then everything is fine, if it is dark and cloudy, then this indicates hard water.

Please note: when using liquid detergents, you should not blindly believe what is written on the packaging, especially if it concerns the amount that you are recommended to use once. Any manufacturer of household chemicals is interested in you using up as much of their product as possible, so that you run out of it faster and come back tomorrow to buy a new one. Always use slightly less than the recommended amount, by at least a quarter. Believe me, nothing bad will happen.

We hope that you learned a lot from this article and that it was useful to you. Wishing you soft terry products and home comfort!