What Is the Secret to Fluffy Bathtowels?

[ramama]

We're moving into a new place and our only bathroom will be on the main floor. All of our bath towels are ratty and embarrassing. If I were to buy new towels, what kind should I buy (must be available at Target, BB&B, Kohls, Linens n Things, etc) and how do I keep them fluffy? Or is that not even possible?

[homemademom]

The only person I've known to have fluffy bath towels is my mil, lol! And she gets/keeps them that way because 1) they're not 100% cotton (which sucks because they don't dry the water off very well) and 2) she uses fabric softener. Both of those things are gross to me, so I just opt for non-fluffy towels I do like thicker towels, though, and I got mine from Target.

[angelcollector1]

The best towels I ever bought and still have them 8 years later - are egyptian cotton bathsheets - they come in other sizes but that's the only size I buy.. I'm a big girl and use big towels.
I bought them from www.brylanehome.com and am still thrilled. They are soft and fluffy - I wash them with my regular detergent and throw them in the dryer. I don't use fabric softener or dryer sheets.
You can check online and they always have coupons.. just do a coupon search and you will find them. They are very reasonably priced.

[ChristyMarie]

I love love love LOVE the ones by Laura Ashley at Kohl's. On sale they are awesomely priced. I have replaced all of my previous towels (Ralph Lauren and some modal cotton pricey things from Carson's) with these:

http://www.kohls.com/kohlsStore/beda...ath+Towels.jsp

I will say that I think these are going to need to be replaced more often. The RL ones I have are still perfectly fine after 7 years but aren't as soft. These seem to be wearing just a bit morebut seem to stay slightly softer --- but for the price you can't beat them.

[MusicianDad]

We only have fluffy towels when guests are over. I keep them stored away most of the time. The only towel that never gets switched for a fluffy counter part is DD's because she uses a beach towel.

[MaerynPearl]

The secret to fluffy bath towels = don't use them.

We got some VERY nice ones for a wedding present. We hung them up in our bathroom to make it look nice but they don't get used.

[journeymom]

I got some "Contemporary Home" towels from Target. They're nicely fluffy, considering they get used a lot.


I was trying to deodorize the toilet rug and the dog's blanket once, so I put them through a short wash cycle with vinegar instead of detergent. Then I did a regular cycle with detergent. They came out cleaner and fluffier than they'd been in ages, and there was no lint on them. I don't think I knew how linty they were until it was all gone. Pretty amazing.

So if you've got old bath towels you can probably restore them a bit by washing them in some vinegar. I add a quart or more to a large load of rugs/towels/rags.

[Poddi]

My towels are all decently fluffy. I think the trick is soft water. Whenever I do laundry during travel I can't believe how stiff and awful they look after washing them in hard water. Our water here is very soft and clean things very nicely. I also use a few wool dryer balls (you can find those on Etsy) in the dryer. They help to fluff up towels. I think those plastic ones in local stores should work, too but I don't know if they're non-toxic or not.

[SaraC]

Vinegar rinse works well to fluff them.

[lonegirl]

I use dryer sheets, and dryer balls. I still have the towels we received as a wedding gift (17years ago on the 28th).

[Jaxinator]

I'm huge fan of vinegar in the wash, but it doesn't fluff my towels anywhere close to what fabric softener does, I have extremely hard water. I bought the Martha Stewart line of towels that are sold at Macy's and I absolutely love them. The vinegar gets them soft enough for sure, but I found some old Seventh Generation fabric softener and used it once on the towels, and omg, I am missing out. I still won't go out and buy any more when it runs out, but dang, it works well.

[redvlagrl]

I think the secret is getting good towels to start with. All of mine are fluffy if I put them in teh dryer and decently so even line dried. I esp love the ones I have with the micro-cotton loops. Everyone comments on my towels when they stay!

[dbsam]

I think much of it depends upon the towel you buy. Our towels are used often and washed (too often) every use. They are years old and I think they are still fluffy. They are 100% cotton, washed on warm not hot, no fabric softener or sheets. I think the key is not to over dry them. I dry them on low and take them out as soon as they are dry. I think when the heat is too high the threads pull together making them less soft.

[Katie T]

I have towels that were purchased at Kohls and they are still fluffy. Granted they are only 4 yrs old but they get used every day and washed every to every other use. I have very hard water and use just charlies soap and dry on high in the drier. They are my favorite over some of my walmart and dollar general towels that are over 10yrs old so I grab these first.

[goldfinches]

I was always taught that using dryer sheets or fabric softener on towels lowers their absorbancy?

[Mrs-Mama]

Originally Posted by goldfinches

I was always taught that using dryer sheets or fabric softener on towels lowers their absorbancy?

I agree. My MIL uses fabric softener on her towels and they do not work well at all. It's like I'm using them to push the water off me instead of them working to absorb the water.