The first step in maximizing your towels efficiency starts as soon as
you bring them home. Be sure to wash
your towels before you use them, as this will open up the fibers. "If the fibers aren't open they won't be as absorbent," says the team from Garnet Hill. New towels are often coated in fabric softeners so they're nice and plush for shoppers, but these softeners prevent towels from soaking up water. To get rid of that buildup, add
half a cup of white vinegar to the rinse cycle during the initial wash. And, in general, skip fabric softeners and dryer sheets when washing and drying bath towels to ensure they remain as absorbent as possible.