This makes hard and stiff towels naturally soft

Cause of dry stiffness in towels

The phenomenon of dryness sets in when you let your towels dry in still air. At the Wash get caught in the drum the cotton fibers of the towel in disarray. The individual loops lie in different directions, get caught together and are pressed flat. Now become the fibers not moved or moved too little during drying, This disorder is fixed and the material feels rough and stiff. But a high lime content in the water or using too much detergent can also cause the fibers to stick together and no longer line up properly.

Why is fabric softener not a good solution?

Fabric softener becomes added to the machine wash in the final rinse cycle. It contains cationic surfactants, which... lay like a film on the surface of the fibers and thus prevent the laundry from becoming hard. But: Because of this water-repellent effect, the towels dry more slowly and can do less humidity to record. She so they lose their suction power. You'll notice this when you dry off after bathing or showering. A k

Using conventional fabric softener is also problematic from a health perspective. The solvents and fragrances contained therein can cause allergic reactions.

Fluffy towels with home remedies

There are some environmentally friendly alternatives to classic fabric softener. This home remedies are suitable as a replacement:

• Vinegar: You can achieve a fabric softener effect with a dash of white household vinegar. It softens the water, which means that the towels come out of the machine softer. Simply add 50 ml of vinegar to the fabric softener compartment. If that doesn't help, your towels probably already have stubborn limescale deposits. Then you should soak them in a mixture of one part vinegar and two parts hot water for about two hours before washing. Then wash the towels as usual.
• citric acid: For white or light-colored towels, you can also replace your fabric softener with citric acid. Dissolve two to three tablespoons of citric acid granules in a liter of lukewarm water and add about 50 ml of it to the fabric softener compartment per wash load. Alternatively, you can simply sprinkle a teaspoon of citric acid powder into the drawer. For liquid citric acid, dissolve six tablespoons in one liter of water.
• Baking soda: Ensures soft laundry with hard water. Dissolve two teaspoons of baking soda powder in 100 ml of water and add the solution to the fabric softener compartment.
• DIY fabric softener: For a homemade, ecological fabric softener you need 150 g baking soda, 100 g citric acid powder, 100 g curd soap flakes and 150 g pure washing soda. Put on rubber gloves, mix all the ingredients together and pour the homemade fabric softener into a sealable container. Now you can add about two to three tablespoons to the fabric softener compartment per wash cycle.
• Shake out and knead: If you shake your towels vigorously before hanging them up, the flattened fibers will straighten up again. After dry Rubbing back and forth between your hands helps to loosen the fibers.

No more scratchy towels! With a few simple tricks you can get your towels cozy and soft without using chemical fabric softener. If you are looking for natural home remedies You not only protect the environment, but also save money. A few splashes of vinegar or a few teaspoons of baking soda cost next to nothing and are still very effective. To avoid dry stiffness caused by soap residue, you should also make sure to use the correct dosage of detergent.