Think of cotton fibers like tiny, curly little hairs. When they’re new or dried with too much heat, those hairs get all tangled and flat. That’s the stiff, prickly feeling you get against your skin.
Also, detergent residue and minerals in hard water can cling to the fabric, making it feel crusty. It’s like when you forget to rinse a glass, and it leaves a white film—except it’s on your pajamas.
So softening isn’t about magic; it’s about re-fluffing those fibers and washing away the gunk. Once you know the trick, you’ll never suffer through a rough towel again.
