Perhaps it is the amount of wind/breeze? We have lots of breezy days and my clothes are always soft, even the towels. I don't use fabric softeners except in the winter.

The windier the better. Hot days with no wind the clothes just hang there.

I use the homemade liquid laundry detergent and my clothes are always soft. I often use vinegar in the rinse as well, and that also helps.

Don't use more softener - it just builds up in your clothes.

I like the stiffness of the line dried clothes - seems like my t-shirts are ironed - :)

A windy day does help - or you can toss them in the dryer for a few minutes to soften if you want.

I have been using the Purex crystals for my softener - love them! I don't know that my clothes are any softer off the line - but they smell wonderful!

Now if you don't like scents on your laundry, this is probably not the product for you.

I throw my clothes in the dryer for a few minutes to soften things up. I do it with towels in particular. The towels come out a bit rough, but much softer. My husband likes them that way. I know it uses a bit more electricity, but not nearly as much as if I dried them completely in the dryer.

I don't use any softener, and only use fragrance/dye-free detergent. My clothes are fine off the line. Yes, the towels are a little stiffer, but it's not something that bothers me--I love the savings of no running my electric (read more expensive than gas) dryer.

Wow I wish mine would come out soft and not stiff by using nothing. They seem a little better today. I added just normal amount of fabric softener and I always use vinegar so that was already added.

I will add them to the dryer for a few minutes just to soften them up.

We've gotten to much prefer the slight roughness of the towels off the line over dryer towels. Feels like we're being scrubbed dry. The smell can't be beat.

When I don't use the outdoor line, I use the folding clothes-rack year-round. Out on the balcony and bring them in to thaw (in the winter). By the next day they're perfectly dry.

I usually throw mine in the dryer for 5-10 minutes. I take a couple of the wash cloths or hand towels and dampen them a bit under the faucet and toss them in with the line-dried stuff and it all gets soft without losing the good outdoors smell. This also helps to shrink the knits back to their normal shape -- t-shirts and stuff -- so the clothes pin marks disappear. It's going to be sunny tomorrow, so I'm looking forward to getting the wash done and on the line!

I never use fabric softener. I also usually do laundry on windy days. The clothes dry faster and are softer than on calm days.

Moni

PS, yes, some people that visit remark on the fact that my towels are not soft. Hmmm they seem fine to me. :)

The more wind the better..........

I always hang out my laundry and love the fact that the towels are stiff. Way better absorbancy. I never use fabric softener.

Love love the stiff line dried towels, they absorb so much better!