How to Make Towels More Absorbent
Posted by The Canningvale Team on 23rd Jan 2023
We often get asked 'How do I get my towels to dry better or improve their absorbency?
Here at Canningvale, one of the most common questions we get asked is “How do I get my towels to dry better or improve their absorbency?”
If you’re looking to get the most out of your towels, we’ve got the low down.
First, check your laundry powder or liquid. If it has built-in fabric softeners, avoid using it on your towels. Softeners create a coating on the towel’s fibres that actually REPELS water and impairs absorbency and drying power.
To remove any existing softening agents from your towels and get them back to max drying power, try the following steps:
📸 by @nirvana.haus featuring Royal Splendour Towels
First Step
📸 by @nirvana.haus featuring Royal Splendour Towels
First wash with warm water and vinegar
Add 1 cup of plain white vinegar (not wine vinegar - cheap home brand vinegar is perfect!) to the rinse cycle. If you have a top loading washer, dilute the vinegar first in a small bucket of water, or wait until the water level is high enough to dilute it instantly. Otherwise you run the risk of discolouring your towels. If you have a front loader, add the vinegar to your fabric softener pull out compartment and your machine will automatically add it during the rinse cycle.
Wash your towels separately from other household items or clothes*
Don’t dry your towels yet!! Move onto Step 2 immediately.
Second step
Second wash with warm water and bicarb
Add ½ cup of Bicarb Soda to the rinse cycle, following the same directions as above.
After the second wash, you can dry your towels as normal (we recommend tumble drying if you’re looking for extra fluffiness!).
Important
Do not add both the vinegar & bicarb to the same wash at the same time as they do different jobs. The vinegar is an acid whereas the bicarb is alkaline.
Washing towels with vinegar can help to freshen them up, remove any build-up of detergent or fabric softener residue, and restore their absorbency. Bicarb can help to soften towels and remove any stains that may be present. Bicarb also has natural deodorising properties, which makes it a great option for removing any odours that may be lingering on your towels.
*We always recommend washing your towels separately. This is on our care instructions for ALL towels.
📸 by @nirvana.haus featuring Alessia Cotton Bamboo Rib Towels
So if you want to amp up the absorbency factor on your towels, don’t forget - skip the fabric softener and always wash your towels separately. And if you find them losing their drying power over time, repeat the steps above as needed. Happy drying.