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