Towels

[lee666]

Probably a question for the ladies on the forum although gent may know the answer to my question.

What/how is the best way to keep towels soft, a lot of our towels are turning to sand paper. Is there something that you can put in the wash.

Thank you on advance.

[Maisiemoo]

The advice I was given is not to use fabric conditioner and dry in a tumble dryer. As I don't have a tumble dryer mine are put out on the line to dry!

[alphamike]

Try putting white vinegar (the cheap stuff that you can buy for around 8/9 TL for a 5 litre bottle) in the fabric conditioner dispenser. Use around the same as you would fabric conditioner in every wash. Probably will take a few washes before you notice any difference, but it should help.

[Soner]

Don't use fabric conditioner, too much will waterproof your towels. Don't leave in the sun too long.... So my wife advises.

[alphamike]

Totally agree with Soner's wife in not putting fabric conditioner in the wash with towels. It coats the fibres, making it less water absorbent. Fabric conditioner is never bought in this household, vinegar used instead for all washes. Removes soap residue and is also good for the problems we have here with pipes clogging up.
A member of our family who visits frequently, complained that towels were too soft! Too bad, bring your own scratchy towels.

Further to my earlier advice about using vinegar, I've been advised that adding bicarbonate of soda will also help to soften towels up, as well as using vinegar. So you should do the following first.

Put about 250 ml of vinegar in the detergent drawer, and a couple of sachets of bicarbonate of soda in the fabric conditioner drawer. Do not add detergent. Wash at 60C or at least 40C. Air dry outside. This should remove all of the build up of soap and whatever else is in the fibres of the towels. If towels are still really hard, repeat the process.

Thereafter, use your normal washing detergent and vinegar to keep towels soft. Should they become hard again, repeat with vinegar and bi-carb method.

[Navek]

The Turkish Towel Co

HOW DO I KEEP TOWELS SOFT?


Replace fabric softeners with vinegar.
Fabric softeners contain silicon that will make towels water repellent,
so they won’t get as good a wash.

Instead,
soften your towels by using one cup of white vinegar about every six weeks;
this will remove the soapy residue that makes towels feel rough,
bringing back softness while restoring them to full absorbency.
Simply run the towels through a regular washing cycle,
then redo them using vinegar instead of soap.

MORE...
https://turkishtowelcompany.com/

[slsgjc]

Alphamike ....where do you buy the cheap white vinegar from? I have been searching all the supermarkets in the west.

[alphamike]

Alphamike ....where do you buy the cheap white vinegar from? I have been searching all the supermarkets in the west.

Can't help with where to buy west side.

Have bought in various markets east and far east. Erdener in Catalkoy, Unimar at the City Mall in Famagusta, Erulku on Lefkosa/Famagusta road, as well as other random markets where the names escape me. Admittedly, not always in stock, so tend to pick one up whenever I see it.

It's not true vinegar as we know it. Comes in a clear plastic round 5 litre bottle, same as water, called turşu suyu (pickle juice is the google translation). Doesn't smell as strongly as vinegar, but does the job in washing machine and dish washer.

Also have bought vinegar south side, but been a while, was either Alpha Mega or Orphanides, and comes in an opaque container.

Have used the cheapest grape vinegar in 2.5 litre glass bottles, if can't get the turşu suyu. It's not clear, but it doesn't make any difference to the colour for a white wash.

[jen]

Tempo sell turşu suyu alongside all the other vinegars

[lee666]

Hey, thanks everyone for all the great advice.

Vinegar it is then and softer towels

[CatalkoyChris]

Might use a nice white wine vinegar on my posher towels