How to Make Stiff Washcloths Soft Again

When washcloths become stiff and too rough for comfort, many people use them for rags, but it isn't necessary to get rid of stiff washcloths or use them for cleaning purposes. Stiff washcloths become harsh and unusable because of soap and mineral buildup, but it is possible to soften stiff washcloths and make them usable once again. This can be accomplished in a few different ways, and once stiff washcloths are soft and supple, you can take the necessary steps to prevent them from becoming stiff and unusable in the future. Save yourself money and soften your stiff washcloths. You won't believe how soft they can be!

How Soft is Your Water?

Hard water can contribute to the problem of stiff washcloths and turn once soft material into rough material that's too harsh to use. Minerals build up in washcloth material, especially if they're not properly rung out after using, and when they're hung inside the shower where they're soaked with hard water each and every time someone else takes a shower.

In the past I've had hard water, and I also had a problem with stiff washcloths, but now that my water is soft, all of my newer washcloths have remained soft and completely pliable. Consider investing in a water softener, not only to keep your fabrics soft and supple, but to also keep mineral buildup to a minimum in your shower, bathtub, and throughout the plumbing in your home. Hard water ruins much more than washcloths!

Wash in Borax

Borax works to condition hard water, and even if your water isn't hard, borax can give your usual laundry detergent the extra boost it needs to soften stiff washcloths and remove all traces of leftover soaps and soap products in towels. Add ½ cup of Borax to your washing machine along with your usual laundry detergent. Allow the machine to fill with warm water and begin agitating for a few minutes before lifting the lid. Let the stiff washcloths and similar items soak for approximately one hour before continuing the wash cycle. Add vinegar to the rinse cycle instead of liquid fabric softener, and your washcloths and all of your other laundry should come out soft and supple.

Vinegar Soak

Soaking stiff washcloths in vinegar and water can also help soften the material and remove hard water deposits and soap residue embedded into the fabric. Fill a container with 1 part white vinegar and 2 parts warm water. Allow the stiff washcloths to soak in the vinegar and water for at least 2 hours. Wash and dry them as usual, and hopefully all traces of minerals and soap residue will be gone.

Still Stiff? Make New Washcloths!

If stiff washcloths are beyond repair, turn them into rags, and make new washcloths from old towels. I had a set of name brand towels that I thought were high in quality, but the 1-inch wide seam about 3 inches from the end shrunk after drying. This caused the end of the towel to pucker and become misshapen. Instead of turning the otherwise perfectly good towel into a rag I turned a single towel into 8 high-quality wash cloths to replace the wash cloths I was unable to save.

To make new wash cloths out of an old towel, cut out wash cloths by cutting around a store-bought washcloth. To keep edges from fraying, stitch around the edges in a zigzag pattern. This is a great way to replace stiff wash cloths that can't be saved and put an old towel to good use.