Washing White Towels Again

smurfchops | 20:30 Sun 01st Jan 2012 | Home & Garden

22 Answers

I have been given some beautiful white Egyptian cotton towels for christmas. I know this has been asked before, but how to keep them soft and white please ?

water not hot enough ?

can you suggest a good hoover that can pick all hairs off the floor?

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hc4361

Do not use fabric conditioner. Never ever

annadomino

The softest, whitest things I ever washed was nappies, and in those days we did not have conditioner, OR tumble driers.

DSJ

Add Vanish to your wash & tumble dry for a fluffy finish.

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DSJ

I do & I do.

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heathfield

With our climate, how can anyone be without a tumble-dryer?!!

hc4361

Some people live in flats with no outside space at all.

boxtops

I don't know why people are so anti tumble-drying. It doesn't cost much extra, it really doesn't, and it keeps towels lovely and fluffy, just with normal detergent and drying. Don't ever use fabric conditioner - it's a complete con - just wash and tumble.

mrs.chappie

I care for the environment but use a tumble dryer (sparingly). Think it's a false economy not to use one in cold, wet weather.

jno

I'd just hang mine out to dry under the palm trees in the gentle tropical breezes if I could... but if you can't, then tumble drying seems a reasonable alternative.

gingejbee

I have a neighbour who *never* puts washing outside despite having a huge back garden. She always tumble dries even at the height of summer!

smurfchops

Question Author

I usually tumble dry when items are almost dry, only for five minutes. Would towels stay soft without tumble drying ? If I put dry towels in the tumble dryer, first of all they feel like cardboard (my old ones) and I have to put in a wet tea towel to humidify the drying ... does that make sense? Anyway it fluffs up the towels. But I want to look after my new ones and I won't use fabric conditioner. Thanks all ! By the way what keeps them looking white instead of turning grey ??

gingejbee

Use one of the best-performing washing-powders (not liquids or gels) that Which? has given full-marks to, for keeping whites really white. The cheapest top-performer was lidl's Formil Bio powder.

mrs.chappie

I make my own laundry gloop (lots of instructions on the internet) and add Borax (or substitute) and/or washing soda crystals. Works well for me.

grasscarp

Smurf, I used to have a friend who only washed whites with whites, and that is the secret to not turning grey.

rowanwitch

agree with grass carp only wash white with white Also its detergent build up that makes them hard a lot of the time extra rinse cycle before spinning.... live in a flat no room for a tumble dryer manage with an airer...