I’ve been thinking about writing this post for a long time but it’s such a random topic that I wasn’t sure if I should. But I finally decided that because I like to keep my clothes, blankets, socks, etc. soft, that I’m sure there are others out there that might want to know how to keep their things soft too.
For years I hated when I’d buy a super soft pair of socks and then a few months later they wouldn’t be soft and cozy anymore. I mean the reason you buy them in the first place is because they are super-dooper soft, like walking on a cloud, right? And my daughter’s baby blanket, I bought it for her because it was the softest, coziest thing I’d ever felt but now she calls it her “scratchy blanket”.
After years of getting fed up with soft things turning “scratchy”, I decided to experiment. Last year my mother-in-law got me a pair of soft white socks for Christmas and I was determined to keep them soft, I did. So how did I do it?
I didn’t put them in the dryer. I know socks seem like a silly thing to not put in the dryer, but I have found that anything super soft, will stay soft if you don’t put it in the dryer, and hang it on a dry rack instead.
Since trying my little experiment with my socks I have also tested a few other things. My daughter received a super soft blanket for Christmas last year, and even after multiple washings it is still very soft, I’ve also kept soft the inside of a sweatshirt, my daughter’s fuzzy PJ bottoms, fuzzy slippers, other pairs of socks soft, and more!
As silly as it may seem, this is one of my favorite tricks because I’ll be honest, I like soft and cozy things. 🙂 With Christmas, and all the fuzzy things that come out this time of year, make sure you pin this to remember how to keep them soft and cozy!
Does this have to do with the acrylic content?
If I was and dried a soft throw and lost its softness would it be soft again if I only was and hang dry??
No, unfortunately, once the dryer “melts” the soft fibers you can’t undo that. 🙁
The best way is to add a cup of white vinegar into the washing water (it won’t smell when you take it out), only use a wash suitable for woollens and delicates, and then hang it outside to air dry in a breeze. Nothing fluffs up towels, blankets (and socks!) like flapping in the breeze 🙂
I like the advice of not putting soft, fuzzy things in the dryer. I have a queen size blanket needing to be cleaned. After I wash it, how would I dry it. I live in an apartment. (not a whole lot of room).
Love your blog.
Mariann
When I lived in a small apartment, I’d line up my dining chairs and hang my blankets, comforters, etc. over them. It will probably take a full day for it to dry, depending on how warm your home is. 🙂
I have two throw blankets that are fluffy and soft and the washing directions said to dry them only on air dry and they are still fluffy and no static. I have towels that were once fluffy and now scratchy, can’t imagine hang drying my towels.
If you do put fuzzy things in the drier, you can use a gentle pet brush to help get the bunches out of the fuzz and keep it soft. This works too on air dried fuzzy things and stuffed animals!
This article did help me confirm my suspicions of why my clothes were becoming less soft, so thank you!
ya but how do you make the fluffy after they lost their fluffyness
There’s no cure for that. 🙁 Sorry.
Omg I dried my blanked in the dryer and it was like not fuzzy anymore I mean like so parts were but the other parts were like hard! My parents going to kill me when they find out! Does anyone know how to reverse this?
Hi, Andrew. I’m Anna’s assistant, Bethany. Unfortunately, when those fuzzy blankets “melt” like that, there is no way to reverse the damage. I’m so sorry! I hope you can find a similar replacement blanket.
Flippin hilarious.
Try using soap in the laundry rather than detergent. Since I’ve been using Dr Bronner’s SalSuds I’ve noticed all my clothes are significantly softer. I mean, VERY noticeably softer. Bonus – you need MUCH less soap than detergent. I use no more than ¼ cup for a large load. Just a tablespoon or two with smaller loads. Soap rinses cleaner and faster than detergent as well.
Another thing that works to keep things soft is NOT washing them with laundry detergent, BUT WITH SOAP. I’ve noticed a significant change in the softness of my tee shirts, flannel sheets, towels etc since I began using Dr Bronner’s Sal Suds instead of a standard laundry detergent. Bonus – you use MUCH LESS when using soap – for a large load I need only ¼ cup of Sal Suds. PS – liquid castile soap provides the same effect and again, you need much less soap than laundry detergent, so you save $$ too. I always add a ½ cup of vinegar to the load to ensure that every bit of soap is thoroughly rinsed out too, and haven’t used fabric softeners for over 10 years. Another saving.
I have recently washed a blanket in the washer on a hot wash 90 Deg and its come out all matted a alot thinner than meant to be it was a fluffy blanket- is there ANY way of getting fluffy again as it was from my childhood and quite important to me… I do not have a tumble dryer would a wire brush help? I dont know what to do help!
I would think you could carefully brush the blanket with a fine wire brush, like those used for pets. I’m not sure what your blanket looks like but that’s what I would try. It works on my faux fur lining. Also, if it’s too frizzy afterwards maybe try conditioning it.
Towels would come out rock hard if I hung them to dry and I thought fabric softener puts a coating on the towels which makes them not as absorbent. Please help me get soft fluffy absorbent rowels again.
When I had a backyard I loved to put my towels out on the clothesline. At first they were crunchy, too. Turns out the crunch comes from leftover detergent. I used half the cap instead of the whole, and washed the towels with just vinegar a few times. No more crunch!
Wow, that’s a great tip, thank you Jenny! 🙂
Hi Anna! Question – I have a new pair of sweatpants and the inside of them is fuzzy/soft. Do I wash them inside out with the fuzzy side OUT? Or do I keep the fleece/fuzzy/soft side IN and not wash them inside out? Thanks!!! 🙂
Don’t wash them inside out, that will make it worse. I recommend just not putting them in the dryer, that’s where the fuzzy stuff gets too hot and “melts”.
I always hang dry my clothes, but they still lose their softness. Help?
I’ve heard that using too much detergent can also make them not as soft. Also over time they’ll just wear out. :/
Thank you! I have an amazing blanket that is everything. But I’ve been so worried about the day I have to wash it. I would be devastated if it lost its extreme softness!
I was wondering I got a super soft blanket and I got it washed today because I had a few stains and all but it was super soft and when we washed it and put it in the dryer it came out not as soft and we put lots of fabric softener what happened