Cardboard clothes after washing

[spotsandstripes]

I have no idea why my clothes keep coming out of the machine like cardboard. I use Bold and a fabric softner (comfort) & my towels are like sandpaper. Just awful. Didn't realise how bad my towels were until me and my mates went swimming today and they all laughed at how hard mines are. How do you get normal fluffy towels.

[woofgang]

Never use a fabric softener on towels, it makes them less absorbent. Is your water hard? This can make towels rough.

[smurfchops]

There have been a few threads about this spots :

Here;s mine : http://www.theanswerb.../Question1091313.html

[boxtops]

Stop using Bold, it's harsh, and don't use a softener - we never use one, it puts a nasty coating on the fabric. Tumble dry your towels. My sister dries all her towels on the radiator and they take the skin off your back. Tumble dry.

[spotsandstripes]

I've no idea how to tell if my water is hard or not. I'll switch my powder, which is the best though? Comfort fabric softner (strawberry & lily) smells amazing though. I'll stop using this and see if I notice a difference.

[askyourgran]

I use a tumble drier for towels and sheets at this time of year, I use tumble drier sheets as well. Are you in a hard water area?

[boxtops]

I'm just said on the towels thread, I use Aldi Non Bio washing tablets, they work well. Never use a fabric softener. Why wash clothes then pour goop over them?

[boxtops]

You'd know if your water is hard if you suffer with limescale, or if your kettle furrs up quickly. Our water is so hard here on the White Cliffs, I have to use a limescale tablet every time I use the washing machine.

[spotsandstripes]

i live in a city, if that helps?

You have a point boxtops. I shall stop the fabric softner, or maybe just use it on my gym clothes so they smell extra nice. I do love the smell. I actually thought that fabric softner does what it states on the tin. I stand corrected. I also do not have a tumble dryer nor can I afford one at that, if I could that would be great.

[rowanwitch]

Is your machine rinsing properly? next time you take a load out take a bowl or bucket of clean hand hot water and rinse a small hand towl in it see if it leaves a lather or makes the water cloudy if it does try reducing the amount of detergent you use and give towels an extra rinse cycle

[EDDIE51]

Get some washing soda ,very cheap, and use half the normal detergent with some washing soda and no fabric conditioner. Put the detergent and soda straight into the wash at the beginning. Gives a better clean and acts as a water softener.