If you’ve ever had towels that feel crunchy after washing or clothes that have gone stiff, you aren’t alone.
It’s a common washing mistake that most of us make. And no, it has nothing to do with how you are drying your clothes.
Why are my clothes stiff after washing?
Nicole Gibson is a laundry expert and founder of Soka Australia. She says it all comes down to how much detergent you use when washing your clothes.
“Less is more with detergent”, she says. “People think using more detergent will give you a better clean, but it does the opposite.”
Nicole explains when there’s too much detergent in the washing machine, the rinse cycle can’t wash it out as efficiently, and you’re left with a lot of residue on your clothes.
“That’s why your clothes are crunchy and hard,” she says.
Additionally, your washing machine may not have an excellent rinse cycle, making it even harder to rinse the detergent.
Another issue is that some store-bought detergents contain a lot of fillers, like cardboard and potato skins, says Nicole.
“These fillers clog up the fibres of your clothes and make your machine dirty. They’re harder to flush away and, over time, can make your clothes heavier.”
How to make your clothes soft again
If your clothes are crunchy or stiff when they dry, you’ll need to wash them again before they’ll really soften up. If they haven’t dried yet and you suspect they’ll end up stiff, another option is to rinse them again.
“You may need two lots of rinse cycles so the water can rinse through your clothes,” says Nicole.
Before your next load of laundry, you could also check your laundry detergent packaging to make sure you’re using the suggested amount. As a general guide, you may need as little as 20mls (a tablespoon’s worth) or as much as 100mls depending on the detergent, washing machine and size of the load. If in doubt, remember that putting less in will at least mean your clothes aren’t crunchy when they dry.
It’s also a good idea to make sure you’re putting it in the right compartment in your washing machine – as that’s another common mistake that can lead to stiff clothes.
How to cut back on laundry detergent
If people are using regular store-bought detergent, Nicole recommends using less and adding bi-carb soda.
- Top loader washing machine: 1/4 of the recommended detergent, plus 2 Tbsp of bi-carb soda.
- Front loader washing machine: 1/8 of the recommended detergent, plus 2 Tbsp of bi-carb soda.
It also helps to look for a low-sud laundry detergent.
If you have a stubborn stains you need help removing, Nicole is also happy to help. Contact her via the @sokaaustalia Instagram page.
You might also like:
- How to clean shoes in the washing machine
- How to clean your front load washing machine properly
- Unlikely spot mould is growing in your washing machine
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