Crissy Posted July 1, 2008 Share Posted July 1, 2008 When I machine dry I never use fabric softener. Hunter's skin is sensitive, and so is my nose. He breaks out; I get a headache. But my line-dried towels are crunchy. And the under-things don't look like they will be terribly comfortable. Is there a way to prevent the starched feel and appearance of my laundry when I hang them outside? Or do I have another summer of scratchy towels and stiff jeans ahead of me? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sdWTMer Posted July 1, 2008 Share Posted July 1, 2008 I think I've heard off adding vinegar to the rinse cycle that it would alleviate that problem. HTH Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doran Posted July 1, 2008 Share Posted July 1, 2008 ...is a few minutes in the dryer before you hang them out. You can also do it after they're dry. You won't see quite the same savings on energy, but those few minutes will soften up your clothes. Mind you, we don't dislike the crunchy feel of our undies. I did not just type that! :lol: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crissy Posted July 1, 2008 Author Share Posted July 1, 2008 Mind you, we don't dislike the crunchy feel of our undies. :001_huh: You are too funny. I imagine someone with cruchy underwear *must* develop a good sense of humor, eh? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Amy loves Bud Posted July 1, 2008 Share Posted July 1, 2008 Mind you, we don't dislike the crunchy feel of our undies. I did not just type that! :lol: There is a really funny response trying to come out of me here, but I just can't get it out. It's one of those, "I should have said..." situations. Anyway, I feel a little closer to you now, Doran. :rofl: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sahamamama Posted July 1, 2008 Share Posted July 1, 2008 Hope this helps! http://homeparents.about.com/od/laundryandclothingcosts/qt/clothes_soft.htm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sahamamama Posted July 1, 2008 Share Posted July 1, 2008 Hope this one is better! http://www.stretcher.com/stories/06/06jun19a.cfm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cin Posted July 1, 2008 Share Posted July 1, 2008 Vinegar. I put it in the softener cup in my washer and it is great. DH hasn't even noticed ;). I actually got the tip here. It is SO. MUCH. CHEAPER!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crissy Posted July 1, 2008 Author Share Posted July 1, 2008 Hope this one is better! http://www.stretcher.com/stories/06/06jun19a.cfm Excellent! Thank you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crissy Posted July 1, 2008 Author Share Posted July 1, 2008 I think I've heard off adding vinegar to the rinse cycle that it would alleviate that problem. HTH Hope this one is better! http://www.stretcher.com/stories/06/06jun19a.cfm Vinegar. I put it in the softener cup in my washer and it is great. DH hasn't even noticed ;). I actually got the tip here. It is SO. MUCH. CHEAPER!!!! Vinegar it is! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sharon H in IL Posted July 1, 2008 Share Posted July 1, 2008 I hope the vinegar works for you. My laundry is still crunchy; might be our extra-hard water. I use the vinegar as a rinse aid to get all the detergent out, otherwise DH's skin breaks out in hives. We too, don't really mind the crunch factor.:D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crissy Posted July 1, 2008 Author Share Posted July 1, 2008 I hope the vinegar works for you. My laundry is still crunchy; might be our extra-hard water. I use the vinegar as a rinse aid to get all the detergent out, otherwise DH's skin breaks out in hives. We too, don't really mind the crunch factor.:D Take a look at the second link Sahamamama left. Some of the suggestions include using half the amount of detergent and not extracting as much water from the clothes. I will be giving both suggestions (in addition to the vinegar) a try as I'm trying to completely avoid using my dryer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lucy in Australia Posted July 1, 2008 Share Posted July 1, 2008 My laundry is still crunchy; might be our extra-hard water Crunchy laundry can sometimes be helped by making sure the final spin cycle is strong enough to squeeze as much water out of the clothes as possible. I noticed that if I use the gentler cycle on things like towels, they dry stiffer. However, it could also be due to hard water. And for that I have no advice, just sympathy :grouphug: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quiver0f10 Posted July 1, 2008 Share Posted July 1, 2008 I second adding vinegar tothe rinse cycle. Also, give each peice a good snap before you hang it out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snickerdoodle Posted July 1, 2008 Share Posted July 1, 2008 We like crunchy laundry. Towels just don't seem clean to me unless they are crunchy. I love the feel of jeans when they are crunchy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doran Posted July 1, 2008 Share Posted July 1, 2008 We like crunchy laundry. Towels just don't seem clean to me unless they are crunchy. I love the feel of jeans when they are crunchy. You can be a member of the Crunchy Undie Club! :001_rolleyes: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snickerdoodle Posted July 1, 2008 Share Posted July 1, 2008 I think of my crunchy towels as part of my exfoliating skincare program. :lol: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doran Posted July 1, 2008 Share Posted July 1, 2008 For wrinkle free and softer laundry, leave it out in a thunderstorm! This works especially well when you don't get Sunday's laundry out until late afternoon, so you leave it on the line overnight. It rains that night, hard, so you leave Sunday's stuff out all day Monday. Late Monday afternoon, when the Sunday clothes are dry, you take them in and hang out Monday's laundry. It rains that night, hard, so your Monday clothes are still hanging there all day Tuesday. And now those clothes are also soft and wrinkle free. I'm so smart, aren't I? ;) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colleen Posted July 1, 2008 Share Posted July 1, 2008 You don't have to wait until this kind of weather to line dry clothes here. Might sound unbelievable, but you really can line dry much of the year. Yeah!:) I'm no help re "crunchy" towels, etc though. I love 'em that way. Seems somehow more real to me. Unlike the soft, perfumey-ness (can you tell I made that word up?;)) of stuff washed with Downey and tumbled. Maybe the vinegar will do the trick for you, though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crissy Posted July 1, 2008 Author Share Posted July 1, 2008 You don't have to wait until this kind of weather to line dry clothes here. Might sound unbelievable, but you really can line dry much of the year. Yeah!:) But...but...that just doesn't seem right. Hanging laudry when the sun isn't shining? :001_huh: I do have to get a better line. The one Corky strung yesterday was nearly dragging the ground by the time my towels were dry. Then maybe I'll give off-weather-line-drying a chance. ;) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HRAAB Posted July 1, 2008 Share Posted July 1, 2008 Do you dilute the vinegar or use full strength? I always line dry clothes. Hubby grew up with crunchy towels (my mil never owned a dryer - with 14 kids:tongue_smilie:) I thought they were rough when I started line drying but don't even notice it now. My expectations have lowered somewhat.... Janet Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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