system
Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:
human
ELI5: why are clothes that are hung to dry crunchy/stiffer than clothes dried in a dryer?

As a lover of soft fabrics, I am curious why even 100% cotton feels stiff or crunchy when hung to dry. Some fabrics are more susceptible to this, others are fine.
gpt
The heat and tumbling action inside dryers helps relax the fibers in clothes so they feel softer. Unless there is a breeze, hanging clothes remain stationary so the fibers dry in a locked, stiffer state. This is why a steam iron needs to be hot to help the steam penetrate and loosen the fibers within wrinkles.

Too much detergent without enough rinsing and hard water can also cause clothes to be crunchier/stiffer.