| Peregrine |
| (member) |
| 27/03/2008 21:30 |
Sand paper towels
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Last year I bought some expensive egytian cotton towels. Oooohhh how lovely and soft I thought. I was told never to use conditioner when washing them because it breaks down the fibres. That's ok because I use a washing liquid that has Aloe Vera in it, and keeps all my clothes all lovely and soft. After a few washes my towels felt like sandpaper. I started to use conditioner to see if they would go soft again, but they haven't. I've tumbled, line dried, used radiators to dry and like sandpaper they have stayed. Does anyone know how to get them soft and fluffy again?
| Foxie |
| (member) |
| 27/03/2008 21:31 |
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Re: Sand paper towels
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Sorry I can't help, but I would be very interested in the answer!
| Fiomar |
| (member) |
| 27/03/2008 22:59 |
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Re: Sand paper towels
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Could be your water, is it hard? Or it could be that your washing liquid in fact contains conditioner. It could be worth trying to add some white vinegar to the rinsing cycle or try soaking them in fabric softener or borax solution and then wash perhaps with some gentle washing powder or liquid but do check the pack carefully.
It might be best to tumble dry just briefly to try and fluff the fibres up and then dry naturally.
Good luck
| BEL |
| (member) |
| 28/03/2008 01:06 |
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Re: Sand paper towels
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Also have some Egptian towels
that are as stiff as boards!!
I have never used fabric soft;
told to use White vinegar,
that has not worked.
Could it be the Egyption cotton?
that is the problem.
| blossom97 |
| (member) |
| 28/03/2008 01:15 |
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Re: Sand paper towels
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Maybe there is Egyptian sand in them.....!!
| Peregrine |
| (member) |
| 28/03/2008 08:32 |
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Re: Sand paper towels
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Thanks for the tips girls. Hopefully they work.
You are probably right about the sand blossom97
| poppygalore |
| (member) |
| 28/03/2008 12:58 |
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Re: Sand paper towels
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I have just bought some not sure i want to use them now might keep for special guests. has anyone tried washing nuts instead of powder eco friendly so they say, or washing balls like the drying balls. would love to stop using powder but not sure. plus i am in a hard water area
| jillinspain |
| (member) |
| 28/03/2008 18:03 |
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Re: Sand paper towels
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I hate soft fluffy towels - you could always let me have your rough Egyptian cotton ones - they sound perfect
| Peregrine |
| (member) |
| 28/03/2008 19:23 |
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Re: Sand paper towels
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It's a deal jillinspain. Please tell me you have soft fluffy towels to swap though.
| dbverycherry |
| (member) |
| 28/03/2008 19:34 |
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Re: Sand paper towels
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Hi there DKB
First I suggest try washing your towels at 40-60 degrees, using just a little fabric conditioner (too much can cause the towel to become less absorbent).
To make sure your towels stay fluffy and plump, it’s important to reactivate the fibres after washing. If you own a tumble dryer, put your towels in for 5 - 10 minutes (the heat and motion will plump up the towel pile), and then simply hang them out to dry as normal.
I don't own a tumble dryer so I put the towels on an extra fast spin after they have finished washing.
I to save my best posh Egyptian cotton towels and sheets for guests and when my in laws come to stay.
Best wishes for fluffy towels from me DBVC
P.S My Oh and I once stayed in a place that starched their towels and sheets so much they were stiff and worse than sand paper.
| Berengaria |
| (member) |
| 29/03/2008 23:48 |
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Re: Sand paper towels
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I have Egyptian cotton towels (Christy's) and they're still lovely and fluffy after many many washes. I just use a standard laundry liquid and tumble them on a cool (not hot) setting.
I wonder if you've got a build-up of detergent in your towels that your washer is not rinsing out?
Check first that you're not overloading your washing machine - if there isn't enough room for the water to circulate properly the rinsing won't be so efficient. (For a towel wash you need to leave plenty of 'headroom' in the drum.)
Then try putting the towels (clean) in a wash cycle without any detergent, so that they get a really good rinse.
| Peregrine |
| (member) |
| 30/03/2008 18:37 |
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Re: Sand paper towels
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Thanks again girls. I'm listening to all what you are saying, and will give everything a go.
| Peregrine |
| (member) |
| 28/04/2008 12:56 |
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Re: Sand paper towels
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Thanks again girls for all your helpful tips.
My towels have now gone back to being soft again.
perry
| Bally67 |
| (member) |
| 28/04/2008 13:48 |
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Re: Sand paper towels
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Perry, what actually worked for you in the end?
Bally XxX
| Peregrine |
| (member) |
| 28/04/2008 15:32 |
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Re: Sand paper towels
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Hi Bally,
I stopped cramming the washing machine with towels, so they could rinse properly (Thanks Berengaria) I washed them on 40 degrees ( Thanks dbverycherry), then I tumbled them for a few mins (again dbverycherry), then hung them out to dry. I think making sure all the soap was rinsed out of them really really helped.
perry
| Bally67 |
| (member) |
| 29/04/2008 09:05 |
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Re: Sand paper towels
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Thanks Perry for replying and thank you to everyone for your suggestions,
I will go and try that,
Bally XxX