It is very pleasant to dry all over the body using new towels, but often, even if they are soft, they seem only to displace the water instead of absorbing it. It happens because they are treated with softening substances, which contain water repellent agents. It will probably take some time to increase their absorbency, but by doing some washing in hot water before using them and improving your laundry techniques, you will get super absorbent towels.
Steps
Method 1 of 2: Remove the Softener Chemical Treatment from New Towels
Step 1. Put them in the washing machine
Do not fill the basket. To avoid overloading the machine, try to cut the amount of clothes to be washed in half.
- Do not put anything else on as they could fade.
- If they have various shades, separate them by color so that dark fabrics don't stain light ones.
Step 2. Start with a hot water program and let the machine fill completely
Hot water breaks down and eliminates the softening substances used by the manufacturer to make them soft to the touch at the time of purchase. So, you need to make sure they get completely wet.
Step 3. Add 240ml of white vinegar
Vinegar helps hot water break down softening agents. It also helps make towels soft without leaving oily residue on the surface.
If you have a top-loading washing machine, be careful not to burn yourself with hot water
Step 4. Run a complete wash cycle
Normally this includes rinsing and spinning. When finished, there should be no water left in the drum. The towels will probably smell like vinegar, but don't worry! The smell will disappear with the next wash.
Step 5. Wash them right away again
Do not take them out of the washing machine to put them to dry! Instead, leave them in the drum and start another wash cycle with hot water. Select the same program you used the first time.
Step 6. Add 120g of baking soda
Pour it when the basket is full of water. Combining with the small amount of vinegar still present between the fibers, it will produce a chemical reaction, neutralizing any vinegar residue and eliminating the softeners that inhibit absorbency.
Do not mix vinegar and baking soda in the same wash cycle! Otherwise, you will unleash a strong chemical reaction that will create a huge foam mass that can damage the washing machine
Step 7. Remove the towels from the washer and dry them
Proceed as usual. You can use any method: the dryer, the clothesline or hang them outside on the balcony so that they get sun and air.
Method 2 of 2: Preserving the Absorbency of Towels
Step 1. Avoid fabric softener when washing
While everyone likes fluffy towels, the fabric softener used to soften the fibers is likely to leave behind substances that repel water instead of absorbing it. It is therefore preferable not to use it.
- However, if you wish to have extra-fluffy towels, there are other ways to soften them without using this product.
- If you want to use fabric softener for the rest of your laundry, wash the towels separately.
Step 2. Cut the amount of detergent in half when loading towels
Like fabric softener, laundry detergent can leave oily substances on the sponge that can repel water. If you only use half of what you normally use, you will dilute it just a little more, but you will have more absorbent towels and the laundry will still be clean.
Decreasing the use of detergent is also a great way to save money
Step 3. Fill the basket halfway when you need to wash the towels
If you overload the washing machine, the detergent will not be distributed evenly throughout the laundry. Take the laundry you plan to wash in one load and divide it into two equal parts so that it is washed twice. Consider doing a separate wash of towels from everything else.
