# What causes wash cloths to become stiff and hard? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [September 10, 2015, 1:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-causes-wash-cloths-to-become-stiff-and-hard/730486 "2015-09-10T01:47:39Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2015, 3:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-causes-wash-cloths-to-become-stiff-and-hard/730486/21 "2015-09-13T03:21:08Z")
> [@pool](#): > > Semen The first thing I thought of when I saw the thread title a couple of days ago (just now opened it) was [Chris’s blanket on _Family Guy_](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GtObF8fo2dQ). ---
**Author:** ![Arcite](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/67e7ee/32.png) [@Arcite](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arcite)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2015, 3:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-causes-wash-cloths-to-become-stiff-and-hard/730486/22 "2015-09-13T03:33:37Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > The first thing I thought of when I saw the thread title a couple of days ago (just now opened it) was [Chris’s blanket on _Family Guy_](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GtObF8fo2dQ). I am really sick of all the semen references in this thread. I created this thread looking for real answers and am disappointed the signal-to-noise ratio is as low is at is. It’s particularly frustrating to see that there’s another post to the thread, only to open it and find yet another useless, unoriginal, junior-high humor level post. Especially from the supposedly intelligent, sophisticated crowd around here. Pathetic. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2015, 3:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-causes-wash-cloths-to-become-stiff-and-hard/730486/23 "2015-09-13T03:52:13Z")
> [@Arcite](#): > > Pathetic. Welcome to Life, kid. ---
**Author:** ![Leaper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/4bbf92/32.png) [@Leaper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaper)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2015, 4:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-causes-wash-cloths-to-become-stiff-and-hard/730486/24 "2015-09-13T04:07:51Z")
> [@Arcite](#): > > I am really sick of all the semen references in this thread. I created this thread looking for real answers and am disappointed the signal-to-noise ratio is as low is at is. It’s particularly frustrating to see that there’s another post to the thread, only to open it and find yet another useless, unoriginal, junior-high humor level post. Especially from the supposedly intelligent, sophisticated crowd around here. Pathetic. 13 years here and you’re just now noticing this? ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2015, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-causes-wash-cloths-to-become-stiff-and-hard/730486/25 "2015-09-13T15:29:23Z")
> [@Arcite](#): > > I am really sick of all the semen references in this thread. I created this thread looking for real answers and am disappointed the signal-to-noise ratio is as low is at is. It’s particularly frustrating to see that there’s another post to the thread, only to open it and find yet another useless, unoriginal, junior-high humor level post. Especially from the supposedly intelligent, sophisticated crowd around here. Pathetic. Oh, boogers. ---
**Author:** ![billfish678](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7bcc69/32.png) [@billfish678](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/billfish678)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2015, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-causes-wash-cloths-to-become-stiff-and-hard/730486/26 "2015-09-13T15:53:13Z")
Does anybody here have a good recipe for pan fried wash clothes? ---
**Author:** ![Arcite](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/67e7ee/32.png) [@Arcite](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arcite)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2015, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-causes-wash-cloths-to-become-stiff-and-hard/730486/27 "2015-09-13T17:19:41Z")
> [@Leaper](#): > > 13 years here and you’re just now noticing this? No, I’m not just noticing it. I’m saying something because it bothers me. ---
**Author:** ![Don\_t\_Panic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/don_t_panic/32/398_2.png) [@Don\_t\_Panic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Don_t_Panic)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2015, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-causes-wash-cloths-to-become-stiff-and-hard/730486/28 "2015-09-13T17:22:32Z")
> [@Arcite](#): > > It’s particularly frustrating to see that there’s another post to the thread, only to open it and find yet another useless, unoriginal, junior-high humor level post. Especially from the supposedly intelligent, sophisticated crowd around here. Pathetic. Totally. > [@](#): > > What causes wash cloths to become stiff and hard? Viagra? ---
**Author:** ![GrumpyBunny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bc8723/32.png) [@GrumpyBunny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrumpyBunny)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2015, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-causes-wash-cloths-to-become-stiff-and-hard/730486/29 "2015-09-13T17:27:08Z")
I’ve never had this happen, so I’m interested. I use only white washcloths, and wash them in unscented, dye-free laundry soap, with bleach. Hot water. Dry them in the dryer using [wool dryer balls](http://www.amazon.com/Smart-Sheep-Premium-Reusable-Softener/dp/B00GA9P5P0/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1442165141&sr=8-1&keywords=laundry+balls) (speaking of juvenile jokes) instead of fabric softener sheets. ---
**Author:** ![pohjonen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pohjonen/32/423_2.png) [@pohjonen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pohjonen)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2015, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-causes-wash-cloths-to-become-stiff-and-hard/730486/30 "2015-09-13T18:41:54Z")
It’s the soap. The wash cloths I use bathing get stiff when they dry, but not the ones I use on my face. The skin on my face is too dry to use soap, so the wash cloths stay soft even after use. ---
**Author:** ![usedtobe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ec9cab/32.png) [@usedtobe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/usedtobe)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2015, 11:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-causes-wash-cloths-to-become-stiff-and-hard/730486/31 "2015-09-13T23:59:18Z")
Look up the ingredients on shaving cream. Water, soap, fragrance, and propellant. I stopped buying the stuff and keep the razor in the shower. Soap on face/neck? Razor time. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2015, 1:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-causes-wash-cloths-to-become-stiff-and-hard/730486/32 "2015-09-14T01:25:52Z")
> [@Arcite](#): > > No, I’m not just noticing it. I’m saying something because it bothers me. Well, to be fair, you _are_ the one who brought up “stiff and hard.” ---
**Author:** ![drdrizzy13](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c6cbf5/32.png) [@drdrizzy13](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drdrizzy13)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2015, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-causes-wash-cloths-to-become-stiff-and-hard/730486/33 "2015-09-14T20:56:40Z")
> [@Arcite](#): > > Inspired by this thread on [shirt underarms,](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=767177) I’ve decided to create a thread to ask about the _other_ laundry quagmire that’s been dogging me for years: stiff washcloths. I don’t remember this happening when I was growing up, but it’s possible my mother simply turned old washcloths into rags before they became stiff, or it’s possible she washed them more frequently than I wash mine and that makes the difference. Regardless, my wash cloths become hard and stiff over time, and laundering them, even with fabric softener, makes no difference. > > Just as with the hard shirt underarms, I’ve tried every remedy out there on the internet, to no avail. I would think the stiffness is caused by soap scum and/or hard water deposits, so it should come out with an acidic cleaner, like vinegar, right? But I have given these wash cloths the deluxe treatment–we’re talking boiling in a mixture of vinegar and distilled water, then soaking in CLR, then washing with Borax added to the washing machine–and they come out of the dryer maybe slightly softened, but once they’ve air-dried after literally the first shower, they’re back to being rocks. What gives? probably your teenage sons jizzum ---
**Author:** ![Don\_t\_Panic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/don_t_panic/32/398_2.png) [@Don\_t\_Panic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Don_t_Panic)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2015, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-causes-wash-cloths-to-become-stiff-and-hard/730486/34 "2015-09-14T21:15:50Z")
> [@usedtobe](#): > > Look up the ingredients on shaving cream. And if they include “teen boy jizzum”, change to a different brand. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2015, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-causes-wash-cloths-to-become-stiff-and-hard/730486/35 "2015-09-15T15:07:08Z")
True story: My best friend in junior high school back in West Texas told me he used to jerk off into the face towel that his little sister (one year behind us) would use on her face. So if your name is Carrie, and you have a brother named Robert, and you grew up in West Texas, that could have been you. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Rather\_a\_Vicious\_Gentleman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/919ad9/32.png) [@Rather\_a\_Vicious\_Gentleman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rather_a_Vicious_Gentleman)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2015, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-causes-wash-cloths-to-become-stiff-and-hard/730486/36 "2015-09-15T18:00:21Z")
When a mommy washcloth and a daddy washcloth love each other very much… ---
**Author:** ![Si\_Amigo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/si_amigo/32/2877_2.png) [@Si\_Amigo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Si_Amigo)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2015, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-causes-wash-cloths-to-become-stiff-and-hard/730486/37 "2015-09-15T19:10:19Z")
> [@Siam\_Sam](#): > > True story: My best friend in junior high school back in West Texas told me he used to jerk off into the face towel that his little sister (one year behind us) would use on her face. > > So if your name is Carrie, and you have a brother named Robert, and you grew up in West Texas, that could have been you. 😃 Did she ever develop pimples? Or did she take her clear skin as a sign of good inbreeding? ---
**Author:** ![eppack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ebca7d/32.png) [@eppack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eppack)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2018, 1:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-causes-wash-cloths-to-become-stiff-and-hard/730486/38 "2018-11-14T01:54:36Z")
Back to towels and washcloths! I have the same problem with stiff washcloths (towels are generally fine). However, I have noticed that almost without exception, the washcloths that get stiff are dyed a VERY dark color, and dark forest green seems to be the main culprit. I’ve bought two or 3 cloths of different colors, same brand, size, etc, and it’s always the dark green ones that get stiff after a few washings. Since the others, all washed in the same batches come out just fine, it can’t be the soap or the softener, etc, it has to be something about dark green dye, but what? I’m not a chemist, so I don’t know. I should also note that the same color in towels doesn’t do this, although I’ve also noted that while they are not stiff like the cloths, they do seem to be a bit less soft when they were purchased. elaine ---
**Author:** ![Sicks\_Ate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/258eb7/32.png) [@Sicks\_Ate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sicks_Ate)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2018, 2:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-causes-wash-cloths-to-become-stiff-and-hard/730486/39 "2018-11-14T02:15:46Z")
Nm ---
**Author:** ![naita](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/naita/32/5862_2.png) [@naita](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/naita)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2018, 2:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-causes-wash-cloths-to-become-stiff-and-hard/730486/40 "2018-11-14T02:52:00Z")
> [@eppack](#): > > Back to towels and washcloths! I have the same problem with stiff washcloths (towels are generally fine). However, I have noticed that almost without exception, the washcloths that get stiff are dyed a VERY dark color, and dark forest green seems to be the main culprit. I’ve bought two or 3 cloths of different colors, same brand, size, etc, and it’s always the dark green ones that get stiff after a few washings. Since the others, all washed in the same batches come out just fine, it can’t be the soap or the softener, etc, it has to be something about dark green dye, but what? I’m not a chemist, so I don’t know. I should also note that the same color in towels doesn’t do this, although I’ve also noted that while they are not stiff like the cloths, they do seem to be a bit less soft when they were purchased. > > elaine Since 2015 they have stopped making soap that makes wash cloths stiff. They’ve also solved the “air dried cloth gets stiff”-issue. But unfortunately the have started dying some wash cloths green with semen. Those still get rock hard. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-causes-wash-cloths-to-become-stiff-and-hard/730486.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-causes-wash-cloths-to-become-stiff-and-hard/730486.md?page=3)