How to fix stiff towels for soft and fluffy results without rewashing them

Aug 20, 2023

Line drying laundry is an excellent way of saving money, and it’s also greener too.

However, while this traditional drying method may be great for a lot of laundry, towels don’t like being line dried.

More often than not, they end up feeling rigid, scratchy and rough to the touch after being on the washing line.

To soften towels that have gone stiff out on the line, Mr Hinch fans have suggested a way that doesn’t involve having to rewash towels.

Taking to the Mrs Hinch Cleaning Tips Facebook page, Elaine Collins asked: “How do I fix my rough towels? I dried them on the line and they’ve ended up stiff and cardboard-like.”

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Group members in the comments section insisted that Elaine needs to add the towels to the tumble dryer after they have been line dried to avoid roughness.

Lizzie Miller wrote: “Tumble dry when you take them in off the line. It only needs 10 minutes.”

Tracy Webster commented: “Always tumble dry after line drying. Makes them feel amazing and soft.”

Colleen Mealing said: “The clothes dryer keeps ours soft I find if I hang them on line they are like sandpaper.”

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Sarah March said: “I tumble dry every other wash regardless of weathered coz it fluffs the towels up again.”

Jackie Brown replied: “Tumble dry. If you hang them on the line they won't be soft.”

Linda Wright said: “Fluff up for 10 minutes in the tumble dryer after line drying. You can even add dryer balls to make them extra fluffy.”

Dryer balls can act as a non-toxic, natural fabric softener. As dryer balls bounce around in the dryer, they soften the fibres of laundry - including towels.

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This tumbling around also helps prevent wrinkles because it keeps laundry from getting pinned to the side and creasing.

Compare that to liquid softener or dryer sheets which work by leaving a layer of chemicals. These build up over time and can degrade laundry and make towels less absorbent.

Towels should also be given a good shake as they are removed from the dryer before folding.