Tablecloths

I just put them through the washing machine. Same with table cloths unless they are oilcloth

Sorry, I meant to put teatowels as a title.

It was suggested that doing the vinegar thing before washing them increases absorbency?

Rarely use tea towels now I have a dishwasher, but when I used them a lot it never occurred to me to do anythng to them before using them.

Surely the vinegar would wash out as soon as you washed the cloths a second time, so you would need to resoak them every time you washed them.

I doubt the increase of absorbency, if any, would be worth the extra effort.

Monica like you I ve never done anything to a tea towel before using it why would you ?
My pots drip dry anyway

I checked AI.

"Washing your new tea towels with vinegar before their first use is a great practice. Manufacturers often treat fabrics with chemical softeners or waxes that make the towels water-resistant. Vinegar breaks down this residue, allowing the cotton fibers to reach maximum absorbency immediately."

My new ones say they're 100% cotton.
They feel a bit shiny.

tabbie

I checked AI.

"Washing your new tea towels with vinegar before their first use is a great practice. Manufacturers often treat fabrics with chemical softeners or waxes that make the towels water-resistant. Vinegar breaks down this residue, allowing the cotton fibers to reach maximum absorbency immediately."

My new ones say they're 100% cotton.
They feel a bit shiny.

Fabric manufacturers do often apply what sewists call ‘dressing’ to materials. Naturally, this would be present on new towels and tea towels - try drying yourself on a new bath towel that hasn’t been through the washing machine!
Personally, I don’t think there’s any need to use vinegar to remove this ‘dressing’ …….just put the new tea towels through a normal, colour appropriate, wash programme.

As a side note……vinegar is great for removing the buildup of soap in facecloths. I just put about 100ml in with the normal detergent.

I have done this but only with my French “torchons” they need to be soaked for 24 hours in a vinegar solution then washed.

You should never use a fabric softener on tea towels, it reduces their absorbency.

Thank you @Sago.
Mine are Made in Portugal.
Instructions say an hour but I will do it for half a day then.

And thank you @astitchintime