How to Make New Towels Absorbent

We have not bought new towels in AGES. When I say that our towels are absolutely old and worn I mean it. I’m really bad about just grabbing a towel and using it for everything.  So our towels have hair dye, paint, bleach and more all over them. They were all completely stained.   On a whim my husband… yes my husband… decided he wanted to buy a bunch of new towels. I am always excited when my hubby gets a wild hair and buys stuff for the house. Our new towels are lovely however I noticed one little issue. When I would dry myself the towels did not absorb any water. So what did I do? I went back to using my old towels. Then I decided ok I have to figure something out. What a waste of beautiful new towels. So I went to my friends on Facebook…. and you guys were able to tell me exactly….

How to Make New Towels Absorbent     I know typically we are the ones giving you ideas but our friends on Facebook are  always there with great answers when we need help.  See what I mean below.  The other day I asked…. How can I make my towels absorbent? And look at the awesome answers.

• Donna  Try oxy clean maybe? That may strip the film off that’s keeping them from being absorbent.
  •  Chaotically Creative ok thanks this gives me a couple of options
  • Jennifer  Add 2 T of vinegar in the basin and wash as usual!
•  Yvonne  Yes, usually the fabric softener causes that problem. Avoid using it on towels in the future.
  • Chaotically Creative I’m not using fabric softener. I think may be it’s already on them like a coating or something. I just use unscented detergent. I’m thinking it’s something the manufacturer has put on the towels
  • Terri I always wash mine on hot when I first get them… you could use borax or vinegar in the wash to help strip the softener off. but i gotta say, i always use fabric softener with mine (the older ones) and they absorb great.
• Mary New towels come coated in fabric softener, which reduces the absorbency. I’d try washing them a couple of times in hot water, adding a cup of white vinegar to the rinse water. Should do the trick for you. 
  • Marie  Mary beat me to it. That’s exactly the advice I was going to send. Use the vinegar instead of softener,
  • Dana  Mary and Marie beat me to it 
•  Janet  I wash all of our towels with a 1/4 cup vinegar keeps the musty smell out that towels get sometimes.
•  Bev  Thanks for posting this my new towels just ended up as dogs towels but not anymore!!! Vinegar old friend!
•  Bobbie I use vinegar in my first rinse. No need for softener.
• Julie Put the vinegar in the fabric softener dispenser.
• Katie  Vinegar or baking soda helps!!
• Rhonda I put the vinegar in my front load where the bleach goes, it has three hole soap , bleach , softener.
•   Denise Fabric softener puts a film on towels that keeps it from being absorbent
• Maryse They’re full of sizing and fabric softener, so wash first without anything, just hot water. 2nd time, add a cup of white vinegar. By the way you can also do this with older towels that have been washed every time with fabric softener and have stopped being absorbent.
•  Kimberly I use vinegar and baking soda in every wash and never use fabric softener. Never have this problem.
•  Lindsay It might be the towel. I have bought some that no matter what will not absorb 

Needless to say, I added a little bit of vinegar to my wash and guess what…..    It worked!    My towels are now absorbent and fluffier than ever thanks to a little vinegar and a little help from our friends.

If you have a front loading washer simply pour the vinegar into the softener cup/section in you detergent drawer.  I would say you only put about 1/4 cup in there and that’s it.

You can also do some awesome things with Epsom Salt and Vinegar. Check out those cleaning tips here.

Tell us, what’s your little housekeeping secret that you are keeping from us! Please share…