they feel so ‘chemical-y’ and their texture goes from soft to uncomfy idfk?

This feels like what you’re noticing is actually the removal of the “chemicals” (technically, the fibres are a chemical, too, even cotton - everything is chemical in nature, btw, there is no “natural”). There’s an oil on/in the fabric when you buy it to make it softer and to protect it during transport and storage, and over a few washing cycles this gets removed.

To re-apply this effect, use fabric softeners. That’s exactly what they exist to do.