The Softness Trap: How Fabric Softeners Are Ruining Your Towels Bath towels that were once plush and absorbent have turned into sandpaper like abominations, leaving users wondering what happened to their erstwhile softness.
This common complaint affects both outdoor enthusiasts and home cooks. The culprit behind this phenomenon is the interaction between laundry detergent and water hardness.
When too much detergent or fabric softeners are used, they leave behind a waxy coating on cotton fibers.