New Towels Don't Absorb Water

I have washed new bath and kitchen towels repeatedly to remove whatever is in them to make them more absorbent but many of them are just as nonabsorbent as when I bought them. I do not use any liquid or paper fabric softener. I have washed them in hot water with lots of detergent, even adding Epsom Salts after I read that it helps. I hate to throw them away, but my hands are just as wet after drying them as they were before!

Mrs. J from Independence, KS

Answers:

New Towels Don't Absorb Water

Have you tried rinsing them in vinegar? (06/22/2006)

By Sonya

New Towels Don't Absorb Water

You didn't mention the color, but dark colors are not nearly as absorbent as light. Also, pure cotton is far more absorbent than material with synthetics. If you have light, pure cotton towels, and they don't absorb, then you will have to consider other uses. (06/23/2006)

By Carolyn C. Cooke

New Towels Don't Absorb Water

I also bought soft, beautiful bath towels that are almost worthless because they don't absorb water. I have washed them in warm water w/detergent, plus added borax to the wash cycle and vinegar in both the bleach and fabric softener dispensers (without bleach or fabric softener, of course). This has helped some, but I will not buy these kind of towels again. (06/20/2008)

By Laure Sullivan