How to soften rough laundry and clothes ?

Introduction

Softening the laundry is essential to obtain optimal results when washing your clothes. Unfortunately, it often happens that the laundry comes out too rough and itchy after drying. Stiff fabrics can sometimes even become scratchy and hurt sensitive skin.

Several causes can explain this problem of rough laundry:

• The quality of the water used, hard or limestone
• Wrong detergent dosage
• An unsuitable washing program

This article will explain how to effectively soften your laundry, using tips and natural products that will help you find clothes that are soft and pleasant to wear.

Also read: How to Recover a Rough Sweater ?

Causes of Rough Laundry

Water Quality

Hard or limestone water can leave deposits on textile fibers and make them rough. Soft water will always be preferable for softer laundry.

If you don't have the choice of water, you can opt for more powerful softeners.

I live in a region with a lot of limescale in the water and my clothes always came out rough after washing. I finally opted for a special softener which solved the problem!
— Geoffrey, Founder of The Oversized Hoodie®

Laundry Dosage

An overdose of detergent can harden clothing fibers and make them rough. Be sure to follow the recommended dosages.

Similarly, choose a liquid detergent special for delicate laundry for your fragile fabrics, and avoid detergents containing bleaching agents which can abrade the fibers.

Grandma's tip: add 2 tablespoons of vegetable glycerin to your laundry to naturally soften the fibers.

Wash Program

Some high temperature wash programs can alter the elasticity of fabrics.

Prefer short cycles at moderate temperatures (30-40°C), and finish with a good rinse.

Caution: avoid washing fragile and robust laundry together, distribute the colors and textures well in the machine .
— Geoffrey, Founder of The Oversized Hoodie®

Also read: what pilling material ?

Use Fabric Softener

When Washing

textile softener is the reference product for making your clothes soft. Integrate liquid fabric softener into the wash cycle for optimal effect.

Respect the recommended dosages, generally one cap per machine.

Tip: You can also use a fabric softener ball directly in the drum for easy dosing.

By Foulardage

If you forget fabric softener, or to refresh dry clothes, spray fabric softener directly on the clothes and leave for a few minutes before putting them in the dryer. Your clothes will instantly regain softness and suppleness.

Caution: avoid any contact between the softener and the face, the vapors can irritate the eyes.
— Geoffrey, Founder of

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Also read: How to wash and clean a throw ?

Soften by Hand

If you prefer natural solutions, it is easy to soften laundry by hand.

White Vinegar

white vinegar is an excellent natural softener which will soften the fibers.

Add 1 coffee cup of vinegar to the fabric softener drawer for optimal effect.

Bonus: white vinegar sanitizes laundry and eliminates bad odors.

Baking Soda

baking soda is also an excellent natural softener which will fight against the roughness of fabrics.

Mix 3 tablespoons of baking soda in your laundry detergent for a softening effect.

Caution: avoid using pure bicarbonate on dark laundry, it can discolor.

Aloe Vera

The Aloe Vera gel has soothing and softening properties for the skin and linen.

Add 2 tablespoons of gel directly into your laundry for a natural softening effect.

Also read: Tumble dryer throw, good or bad idea ?

Mechanically Soften

Soft Fabric Softener Ball

The softener balls diffuse the product gradually during washing and drying for perfectly soft laundry.

Choose plastic-free balls, made of pure cotton or wool, for more ecology.

Drying Balls

Add wool dryer balls to the washer and dryer to air out clothes and soften them naturally during the cycle.

Steam Ironing

steam ironing mechanically softens fibers and makes clothes soft and supple. Prefer this ironing for delicate fabrics.

Ensure the correct steam flow depending on the fabrics, and always steam inside out to preserve the fragile fibers.

Also read: how to wash a Hoodie Blanket ?

Practical Tips

Thorough rinsing

Be sure to always carry out at least 2 complete rinses at the end of washing to remove any detergent residue, a source of roughness.

Bonus: Add 2 mustard glasses of white vinegar to the rinse water to soften and sanitize.

Using the Dryer

Set your dryer on a delicate cycle, at a moderate temperature, to avoid excessive drying of the textile fibers.

To prevent static electricity, add a softener sheet to the lint filter.

Steam Ironing

Steam ironing softens the fibers while providing a wrinkle-removing effect. This is ideal for delicate fabrics.

Remember to regularly empty the water tank of your household appliance to avoid limescale.

Also read: how to remove pilling from a fluffy sweater ?

Conclusion

With these tips and natural products like white vinegar or bicarbonate, you will now obtain perfectly softened laundry and rediscover the pleasure of wearing soft clothes.

For maximum efficiency, combine the right actions:

• Use a suitable softener in the dispenser compartment of domestic appliances.
• Ensure a complete rinsing with 2 cycles minimum.
• Add natural softeners such as aloe vera or vegetable glycerin in liquid laundry detergent.
• Distribute the baby linen and the colors in the machine at the same time.
• Dry in the air condition or at moderate temperature in the tumble dryer.
• Remove with steam with a good flow rate to restore flexibility to the fibres.
• Use eco-friendly balls or washing balls.

Thanks to this winning combination, you will find laundry that is perfectly soft and softened, without using commercial chemical softeners
— Geoffrey, Founder of The Oversized Hoodie®

Don't hesitate to share in comments your best recipes and solutions for soft laundry!

Also read: how to perfume your laundry in the dryer ?

FAQ

Wanted laundry: what to do ?

Use a suitable fabric softener and rinse thoroughly to remove detergent residue. White vinegar is also very effective.

How to have soft towels ?

Wash towels with softener every time you wash them. Dry them in the air rather than in the dryer. Iron them with steam to make the fibers soft again.

How to make laundry less rough ?

Use a suitable softener and ensure thorough rinsing to remove detergent residue.

How to soften a fabric that is too stiff ?

white vinegar or baking soda are excellent natural softeners effective on stiff fabrics.

How much vinegar to soften laundry ?

Count 1 cup of white vinegar to add to the fabric softener drawer for optimal effect.

How to soften laundry with white vinegar ?

Pour 1 cup of pure white vinegar into the fabric softener compartment of the washing machine when washing to naturally soften the laundry.

Why is my laundry not soft ?

Possible causes: hard water, unsuitable detergent, poor rinsing, dryer too hot. Use a powerful softener and favor short cycles at low temperatures.

What natural product to soften laundry ?

white vinegar and baking soda are excellent natural fabric softeners that will make your clothes soft without chemicals.

How to soften fabric that is too stiff ?

Soak stiff fabric in a mixture of warm water and white vinegar for 15 minutes before washing to soften it naturally.

Why soften laundry with bicarbonate ?

Baking soda is an excellent natural softener which will soften textile fibers and provide more softness to your laundry. It has many advantages:

• Bicarbonate is very effective in dislodging limescale and softening rough laundry caused by hard water.

• Mixed with detergent, it deeply eliminates bad odors that permeate linen and towels.

• Bicarbonate is a very economical product, which costs less than commercial chemical softeners.

• It is also an ecological choice, with a limited impact on the environment.

• Finally, bicarbonate has sanitizing properties which will sanitize your laundry while softening it.

Simply add 2 to 3 tablespoons of baking soda to your machine with the detergent for maximum effectiveness. Your laundry will be perfectly soft and softened!

Updated April 3  2024