topic Re: Towels and softener????? in Community Spirit

Towels and softener?????

crystal**flake — Thu, 05 Dec 2013 07:56:53 GMT

Whats the best.............the one I'm using doesn't do a thing and leaves the towels crunchy.

I want them soft and fluffy.

Re: Towels and softener?????

*mrgrizz* — Thu, 05 Dec 2013 08:00:33 GMT

they work better without fabric softener

Re: Towels and softener?????

freddie*rooster — Thu, 05 Dec 2013 08:01:01 GMT

Crystal, dry them for the last 10 minutes in the dryer.

Re: Towels and softener?????

purple_haize — Thu, 05 Dec 2013 08:11:51 GMT

Softener ruins your machine, I always use vinegar in with the towels and they come out soft.

or you can put them in the dryer.

Re: Towels and softener?????

debra9275 — Thu, 05 Dec 2013 08:34:43 GMT

Vinegar? Thanks PH.

I'll try that too

Re: Towels and softener?????

crystal**flake — Thu, 05 Dec 2013 09:19:51 GMT

Thanks Freddie and Purple x

Re: Towels and softener?????

purple_haize — Thu, 05 Dec 2013 09:22:33 GMT

@debra9275 wrote:
Vinegar? Thanks PH.

I'll try that too

Deb, I have read about putting vinegar in with the wash, so many times, I finally tried it & I have found it works, plus it also cleans the machine at the same time. I not only use it on the towels, but in all washes.

Softener really isnt good for towels either, as it builds up a layer of (cant think of the word), but does the towels no good, and it isnt good for the washing machine either.

I buy the cheapest white vinegar I can find, just use 1/2 cup.

Re: Towels and softener?????

kennedia_nigricans — Thu, 05 Dec 2013 09:26:01 GMT

vinegar like other acids will destroy cellulose fibres such as cotton, linen, ramie, rayon etc.

it will turn your towels into dust over time.

Re: Towels and softener?????

just_me_karen — Thu, 05 Dec 2013 09:33:14 GMT

I thought vinegar is an alkaloid? Maybe it acts the same way as an acid, over time.

Can you smell the vinegar on the washing? I once used it to wash my floors and my house ended up smelling like a fish n chip shop lol

Re: Towels and softener?????

purple_haize — Thu, 05 Dec 2013 09:56:12 GMT

@just_me_karen wrote:
I thought vinegar is an alkaloid? Maybe it acts the same way as an acid, over time.

Can you smell the vinegar on the washing? I once used it to wash my floors and my house ended up smelling like a fish n chip shop lol

No Karen, there is no smell left on clothing or towels.

It is just a natural thing to use, instead of harsh chemicals in fabric softeners.

Re: Towels and softener?????

purple_haize — Thu, 05 Dec 2013 09:58:00 GMT

@kennedia_nigricans wrote:
vinegar like other acids will destroy cellulose fibres such as cotton, linen, ramie, rayon etc.

it will turn your towels into dust over time.

A friend of mine has been using it for yrs. and her towels, sheets clothing are fine..........they dont turn to dust.

Re: Towels and softener?????

clair.de.lune — Thu, 05 Dec 2013 09:59:09 GMT

Hi crystal I'm back I was banned again hhhhh

Re: Towels and softener?????

azureline** — Thu, 05 Dec 2013 10:24:21 GMT

clair!!!

Re: Towels and softener?????

cherry*135 — Thu, 05 Dec 2013 10:25:55 GMT

This is from Choice au magazine, updated Nov 2013

Short of drying your towels for hours in an energy-guzzling clothes dryer to get them soft, you can try the following to help reduce their scratchy, flat effect.

Add an extra rinse to your towels wash.
Use a gentler program that uses more water.
Lower the spin speed. Higher spin speeds tend to flatten the fibres and line drying doesn't fluff them back up, making them feel hard.
Add half to one cup of white vinegar* to the fabric softener dispenser (don’t be tempted to use fabric softener, as this will lower the fabric’s ability to absorb water).
Shake your towels out vigorously, or putt them in the dryer on the cooling cycle for a few minutes before hanging them out to dry.
Take them off the line when still a little damp and dry them off in the dryer.

* Miele doesn't recommend the use of vinegar in the final rinse as its acidic nature can damage rubber components in the washing machine over time

Re: Towels and softener?????

debra9275 — Thu, 05 Dec 2013 10:29:58 GMT

Thanks PH, I will try it. I've only used vinegar for cleaning windows so far & that works really well

Re: Towels and softener?????

just_me_karen — Thu, 05 Dec 2013 10:43:49 GMT

I'll try it too, thanks for the info. I don't like using chemicals, I much prefer natural things...I even make my own mozzie cream 😄

Re: Towels and softener?????

icyfroth — Thu, 05 Dec 2013 10:49:33 GMT

I might give it a go as well.

You're right Karen, vinegar is an alkaline, not acid.

Re: Towels and softener?????

purple_haize — Thu, 05 Dec 2013 11:15:57 GMT

@am*3 wrote:
This is from Choice au magazine, updated Nov 2013

Short of drying your towels for hours in an energy-guzzling clothes dryer to get them soft, you can try the following to help reduce their scratchy, flat effect.
Add an extra rinse to your towels wash.
Use a gentler program that uses more water.
Lower the spin speed. Higher spin speeds tend to flatten the fibres and line drying doesn't fluff them back up, making them feel hard.
Add half to one cup of white vinegar* to the fabric softener dispenser (don’t be tempted to use fabric softener, as this will lower the fabric’s ability to absorb water).
Shake your towels out vigorously, or putt them in the dryer on the cooling cycle for a few minutes before hanging them out to dry.
Take them off the line when still a little damp and dry them off in the dryer.

* Miele doesn't recommend the use of vinegar in the final rinse as its acidic nature can damage rubber components in the washing machine over time

If you google vinegar and washing you will find what I have said in there..........I dont put vinegar in the final rinse, I have a front loader and when I put the detergent in, I put 1/2 cup on vinegar where the softener dispenser is.

Besides being good for the washing, it also rids the washing machine of any build up of soap scum....

Re: Towels and softener?????

purple_haize — Thu, 05 Dec 2013 11:19:02 GMT

@just_me_karen wrote:
I'll try it too, thanks for the info. I don't like using chemicals, I much prefer natural things...I even make my own mozzie cream 😄

Karen, if you dont mind me asking, what is in your mozzie cream and does it work?

My granddaughter is allergic to mozzie bites and my daughter has tried everything under the sun, both over the counter and from the dr.land nothing works

She comes out in really huge lumps, poor kid.

Re: Towels and softener?????

just_me_karen — Thu, 05 Dec 2013 11:23:05 GMT

I'm allergic too and I don't like using industrial chemicals.

It's a Northern Territory recipe and really works. Mix into a bottle...equal parts of

baby shampoo
Baby oil
Dettol
Metho
Citronella lamp oil

Then shake it up and it'll go all creamy. It also takes away the itch. It's the best stuff!