How to Soften Bandanas

Narragansett · Mar 5, 2025

You know those 22"sq paisley bandanas that you buy that are made from raw cotton? How do you soften them quickly?

I put 2 to soak in fabric softener and baking soda. Hardly phased them. Got to get some white vinegar, I heard that softens

Proven suggestions?

Mule Packer · Mar 5, 2025

Believe me, I know exactly what you are going through. I've been carrying the Hav-A-Hank brand for literally decades. They're 100% cotton and made in the USA. Sadly, about the only thing I've found is to wash them, then throw 'em in the dryer with a fabric softener sheet. After about the third or fourth wash, they seem to soften up.

Sorry I don't have a quicker solution. Maybe someone else has some better ideas.

Golddollar · Mar 5, 2025

My reading glasses must have been dirty. I thought this thread said "How to Soften Bananas." I figured all I'd have to do was sit on them.

Ματθιας · Mar 5, 2025

Borax or epsom salts soak before wash.

The other recipe is:
1 cup of baking soda on a hot wash cycle (instead of detergent)
Then, 1/2 cup of vinegar on a cold rinse cycle (instead of fabric softener). I've found that letting them soak works best and washing twice.

Then tennis balls in the dryer.

dben002 · Mar 5, 2025

Golddollar said:
My reading glasses must have been dirty. I thought this thread said "How to Soften Bananas." I figured all I'd have to do was sit on them.

I learned log ago that a steak tenderizer mallet does quite well.

dben002 · Mar 5, 2025

dben002 said:
I learned log ago that a steak tenderizer mallet does quite well.

My apology....I also thought it said banana.

Alk8944 · Mar 5, 2025

There is no way to "soften" them quickly, they are treated just like "permanent press" shirts. The only thing you can do is use them and wash them, the fibers will wear and soften naturally with time!

That said, I too wish there was a way to accelerate the process, I recently bought a half dozen new ones myself.

boykinlp · Mar 6, 2025

Alk8944 said:
There is no way to "soften" them quickly, they are treated just like "permanent press" shirts. The only thing you can do is use them and wash them, the fibers will wear and soften naturally with time!

That said, I too wish there was a way to accelerate the process, I recently bought a half dozen new ones myself.

Now you got my curiosity up…….what are you going to do with a half dozen of them? If you lived in Los Angeles or Chicago, I could guess!

Larry

Tom S. · Mar 6, 2025

I wonder if you stuck them in a tumbler used to wet clean brass. Not the vibratory type but the tumbler type. Filled with hot water, a double dose of fabric softener and stainless steel pins, and let it run for at least an hour.

Maddog 521 · Mar 6, 2025

Wear them and your sweat will do the job.

boykinlp · Mar 6, 2025

I believe that I would just throw them in every load of wash I did for a while.
Larry

How to Soften Bandanas

Narragansett

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Mule Packer

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Golddollar

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Ματθιας

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dben002

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dben002

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Alk8944

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boykinlp

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Tom S.

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Maddog 521

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boykinlp

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