Why are my microfiber towels not absorbing?

Author: Kurt Conn  |  Last update: Saturday, March 15, 2025

In fact if it seems like microfiber towels are not as absorbent as before, says Sweeney, they might have melted. The most common causes for melted microfiber are drying on high heat and placing in a dryer that wasn't fully cooled down.

Why are my microfiber towels not absorbent?

Microfiber towels are made of very fine plastic threads, too much heat will cause these threads to melt together and reduce the towels ability to absorb water.

Why are my towels not absorbent anymore?

The cause: Using liquid fabric softener, which is oil- and petroleum-based and leaves a slick coating on towel fibers, making them less absorbent. The fix: Skip the softener.

Why do my microfiber towels leave lint after?

Most of the time when a towel leaves micro linting it is because there is a static charge between the surface and towel. This will pull the fibers from the towel and they stick. I have noticed this with many towels when wiping my phone screen. These fiber are harmless, yet can be bothersome to most.

What ruins microfiber towels?

The number one rule for microfiber is to only wash with cold water. Hot water can damage, shrink, and melt the synthetic polymer fibers causing the towels to lose their softness and absorbency. Warm or hot water can also loosen excess dye leading to discoloration issues over time.

OH NO!! I Washed My Microfiber Towels Wrong...Are They RUINED?!? | The Rag Company FAQ

Why do my towels leave fuzz all over me?

Fabric softener is the main reason why towels shed so much lint in the first place.

Does vinegar make towels more absorbent?

The hot water helps break down chemicals and contaminants on the towels. Add about a cup of white vinegar to the mix, which will further help break down any chemicals that have made your towels less absorbent.

How do hotels get their towels so absorbent?

Hotels typically use towels made from 100% cotton, which is highly absorbent and quick-drying. Additionally, they follow strict laundering practices, such as using the right amount of detergent and avoiding fabric softeners that can leave a residue, ensuring the towels remain absorbent.

Why are my towels still wet after drying?

A good airflow is the key for a dryer to work properly. If your clothes are still wet after a drying cycle it could mean that the Air Vent is clogged. To fix this problem, you will have to unplug the dryer and disconnect it from the vent. Once everything is disconnected, it's time to vacuum the vent.

How do you revive microfiber towels?

Use a trash bag or take the towels outside and shake out any excess dirt. Fill a sink or other water basin with warm water (not too warm). Mix in a gentle microfiber cleaning soap and agitate by hand, scrubbing any heavily stained areas. Soak the towels for 15 to 20 minutes, then scrub them out again.

What is more absorbent than microfiber?

Cotton is softer and gentler than microfiber. It holds its shape after washing and drying, and provides the best absorbency out of any other towel material. While cotton is a natural fiber, microfiber is made from synthetic materials, typically a polyester-nylon blend.

Why is microfiber not absorbing?

Weave and Texture

The way a towel is woven affects its absorbency. A tightly woven microfiber towel may not absorb as quickly as a loosely woven cotton terry towel but might dry faster.

Do microfiber towels stop working?

Now that you know why microfibers work, caring for them properly makes more sense. The key takeaways here are to wash them as gently as you possibly can and help preserve the positive charge the towels have. Once the towels lose their charge and fibers get coated with perfumes/dyes/etc, they stop working as well.

Why aren t towels absorbent anymore?

Over time, even the highest quality terry towel can develop a musty smell, lose absorbency, and appear dingy. This is to be expected with regular use and is typically caused by the effects of hard water and detergent build-up.

How to restore absorbency to towels?

Baking Soda

Start by washing the towels in your washing machine using hot water and your usual detergent. Pause the rinse cycle and add between half a cup and one cup of baking soda to the water. The baking soda will act as a natural fabric softener and break down residues that might be impeding towel absorbency.

Do dryer sheets make towels less absorbent?

Yes, using fabric softener and/or dryer sheets causes a waxy build-up on your cotton towels. This makes them less absorbent and, over time, attracts a buildup (see below for guidance on how to restore and revive dingy, smelly towels).

How to make a microfiber towel more absorbent?

On my last microfiber wash, I decided to add a teaspoon of vinegar in the rinse cycle. I've read from some threads here that it makes the microfiber towels more absorbent and fluffier.

Where do you put vinegar in washing machine towels?

Using vinegar in laundry is simple. You can add it to the fabric softener dispenser in your washing machine or pour it in during the final rinse cycle.

Should you cut tags off towels?

You'll want to launder your towels before using them for the first time. Carefully remove any plastic tags using scissors prior to laundering to avoid snags.

How do I stop my towels from leaving fluff everywhere?

Tips to Reduce Lint Shedding
  1. Pre-Soak New Towels with Baking Soda or Salt. One of the simplest ways to minimize lint from new towels is by pre-soaking them. ...
  2. Wash New Towels with Vinegar. ...
  3. Avoid Dryer Sheets and Fabric Softeners. ...
  4. Eco-Friendly Line Drying.

How to break in new towels?

“It's worth 'breaking towels in' before using them,” says Patterson. “This process is super simple and involves washing them once with no detergent and only a little white vinegar straight in the drum. Once they're dry, repeat with a sprinkling of baking soda in the drum instead of vinegar.

How do you wash towels so they remain fluffy?

For super soft towels, add fabric conditioner to your load of laundry. Pouring a bit of liquid fabric conditioner like Lenor into your machine's dispenser drawer will prevent your towels from fading, stretching and bobbling during the wash, acting as a lubricant and helping to make them feel soft.

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