Why new towels absorb poorly

Short answer: New towels have a finish from manufacturing that makes them look full. It is water repellent and has to be washed out before the towel works.

Finish from the factory

The treatment makes the fabric look and feel full in the shop. It sits on the outside of the fibres and stops the water getting in. See bamboo towels.

Two washes before use

Wash new towels twice without detergent or with very little. Then the finish is out. See washing and care.

No fabric softener

Fabric softener lays exactly the same kind of film back on. That cancels the wash you just did.

Wash them separately

New towels release a lot of lint the first few times. Wash them together and not with clothing. See home and homewear in bamboo.

After that they get better

The absorbency rises over the first ten washes as the fibres open up. See bamboo bedding.

Frequently asked questions

Why do new towels absorb poorly?

Because of a finish from manufacturing that is water repellent.

What do I do about it?

Wash them twice without, or with very little, detergent before use.

Do they get better over time?

Yes. The absorbency rises over the first ten washes.