North Cyprus , Towel Softness Problem

simbas



Joined: 16/07/2007
Posts: 5943

Message Posted:
19/09/2010 14:35

Sorry for this silly question , did try to look for it in past topics . My towels dry really hard in NC even though i use lots of softener . Is there any tips you can give me to deal with this or do i really need to get a tumble drier

Many thanks , Simbas

Ballyboffin


Joined: 25/08/2007
Posts: 903

Message Posted:
19/09/2010 14:39

Hi Simbas,



I'm afraid that it to keep them soft you do really need a tumble dryer, or send them to a laundry.

simbas



Joined: 16/07/2007
Posts: 5943

Message Posted:
19/09/2010 14:45

Thanks Bally i thought i might .

Simbas

lovingcyprus


Joined: 02/03/2007
Posts: 1272

Message Posted:
19/09/2010 14:49

Buy better quality towels

oceana


Joined: 12/07/2010
Posts: 395

Message Posted:
19/09/2010 14:59

Just what I was going to say msg4. It depends on the quality of the towel too.

Washerman


Joined: 19/09/2008
Posts: 2301

Message Posted:
19/09/2010 15:00

Doesn't Turkey produce the finest towels that money can buy?

simbas



Joined: 16/07/2007
Posts: 5943

Message Posted:
19/09/2010 15:11

Yeh , you probably right i got them in the sale at John Lewis , probably sub standard for the sale . i have only used them for a total of 10 weeks since having them {last Oct } and they are hard and faded .

Many thanks for your replies , Simbas

Earlybird


Joined: 28/04/2009
Posts: 816

Message Posted:
19/09/2010 15:23

In the summer put all your washing out at night, as the locals do. I can't say it will make the towels softer but it limits fading.

simbas



Joined: 16/07/2007
Posts: 5943

Message Posted:
19/09/2010 15:30

Thanks Sue , iv'e tried that . But sometimes they are not dry by morning so i end leaving them there for awhile . I will get White the next time i think

Simbas

oceana


Joined: 12/07/2010
Posts: 395

Message Posted:
19/09/2010 15:34

That will be worse, it will turn cream in time

simbas



Joined: 16/07/2007
Posts: 5943

Message Posted:
19/09/2010 15:36

perhaps i will buy cream then

Simbas

Groucho



Joined: 26/04/2008
Posts: 7993

Message Posted:
19/09/2010 15:42

The problem is the water... it's hard here - and using softener only makes the towels more waterproof... i.e. less absorbent.



The only cure for hard water is a water softener but... that's expensive if you don't want to soften all the water.



Dishwashers have built in water softeners - that's why you put salt in to charge up the water softener...



Question is why don't they make washing machines with inbuilt softeners?

No1Doyen


Joined: 04/07/2008
Posts: 16617

Message Posted:
19/09/2010 15:43

I love soft towels

simbas



Joined: 16/07/2007
Posts: 5943

Message Posted:
19/09/2010 15:47

Thanks Groucho , i will get a tumble drier , that will be the easier option i think .

Simbas

deecyprus4


Joined: 27/07/2008
Posts: 3452

Message Posted:
19/09/2010 15:48

Simbas all of my towels are top quality and if I line dry they dry very rough..a tumble drier is the only answer.

Clarissa2


Joined: 12/06/2009
Posts: 1476

Message Posted:
19/09/2010 15:54

Re : Msg 9&10,



My white towels and bedding after only two washes acquired green tinge!

Is it because of chlorine in water?

Groucho



Joined: 26/04/2008
Posts: 7993

Message Posted:
19/09/2010 15:58

Simbas



I know it sounds daft but try this... iron your towels and see if that makes a difference... report back.



I have a sneaking suspicion that it will cure the problem.

Clarissa2


Joined: 12/06/2009
Posts: 1476

Message Posted:
19/09/2010 16:08

Re : Msg 17,



Groucho, it is not daft. Steam ironing does make towels softer and more fluffy.

Clarissa2


Joined: 12/06/2009
Posts: 1476

Message Posted:
19/09/2010 16:21

Groucho, perhaps you know what caused this green tinge in white linen?

Does anyone else have the same problem?

Is it chlorine? Or a detergent? Or combination of both?

simbas



Joined: 16/07/2007
Posts: 5943

Message Posted:
19/09/2010 16:23

Thanks all for your welcome replies , will definately try ironing first and report back , then resort to a Tumble Drier if necessary

Many thanks all , Simbas

scruff


Joined: 15/07/2008
Posts: 1070

Message Posted:
19/09/2010 16:23

I must be in a minority of one. I love hard towels. They are far more absorbent. I never user softening products for any washing because I don't like limp cotton. I have a nine year old Arcelik washing machine & it;s still working fine & has never needed repair.

I did used to own a softener in the UK. because the water was very hard where I lived & it ruined taps etc. The hardness stuck on to things & corroded them. From memory, the major problem was Manganese or Magnesium, I cannot remember which now.

Although the water is also hard here, it doesn't affect the tap surface. It's a different hardness, probably lime.

simbas



Joined: 16/07/2007
Posts: 5943

Message Posted:
19/09/2010 16:34

I must be honest , i don't use towels to dry myself , i use a damp flannel and ring it out at intervals by the time you finish flanneling , your body is dry , i find it easier in the heat , but i do it at home too .

Simbas

Groucho



Joined: 26/04/2008
Posts: 7993

Message Posted:
19/09/2010 16:45

Clarissa



You don't put Zerochlor in your water do you?

Clarissa2


Joined: 12/06/2009
Posts: 1476

Message Posted:
19/09/2010 18:21

Re : Msg23,



No, Groucho, not the man himself.



But please, please,please could anyone bring some light to this problem, as I don't want to ruin yet more of rather expensive linen. This green hue drives me mad!



Clarissa

deecyprus4


Joined: 27/07/2008
Posts: 3452

Message Posted:
19/09/2010 19:39

Ironing towels flattens the pile and destroys them.

Groucho



Joined: 26/04/2008
Posts: 7993

Message Posted:
19/09/2010 20:26

We'll see what Simbas experience is... votes cast both ways so far. proof of the pudding and all that...

Clarissa2


Joined: 12/06/2009
Posts: 1476

Message Posted:
19/09/2010 21:34

Re: Msg 25,



deecyprus4,



It doesn't destroy your towels if you steam-iron them on a max steam setting. I've been doing it for years when I did not have the tumble dryer and my towels are OK.

Apart from the towels in the NC with green hue, that's it!



Groucho, where are you? SOS!



Save me please from green towels and bed linen!



Clarissa

deecyprus4


Joined: 27/07/2008
Posts: 3452

Message Posted:
19/09/2010 21:38

clarrisa I do have to admit that ironing is just about the worst chore in the world and I iron very little lol, tumble dry and a good shake negates the need for an iron.

jfoggy


Joined: 23/12/2006
Posts: 260

Message Posted:
19/09/2010 23:19

Iron or just give them a good rubbing once dry, both softens them. Using softner makes towels less absormant when drying, especially in warm temperatures. Used to live is South Africa and had to iron everything not just to soften items but necessary to kill the little bugs that had laid eggs in washing whilst out drying, especially the towelling nappies for the baby, no such thing as disposable ones then...giving my age away now.

Julie

ozankoys


Joined: 20/06/2008
Posts: 905

Message Posted:
20/09/2010 09:38

Hi this year & last year we got lots of bright yellow blotchs on the white sheets & a few on the towels but we do have stone coloured not white towels. The blotches only appear after washing my conclusion was that is was a reaction with suntan lotion/sun as it was much worse when the family were here & they were using it far more frequently than we do. The yellow blotches have completely gone again now.

If you look on the internet there are several ideas for re-softening towels, the most successful one I tried was using only washing soda in the washing machine then hanging up at night until just damp then finishing off in the tumble drier, this is obviously not as expensive as wholly drying in the tumble drier.

girne


Joined: 14/01/2009
Posts: 438

Message Posted:
20/09/2010 09:45

Bought my towels from TRNC wash well and dry soft. You need to wash them at night and hang them out to dry in the evening heat. try it.