I bought some new navy towelling tea towels a few weeks ago but they just won't absorb water and even worse, leave little bits of navy fluff over all the dishes.  I've washed them several times but it hasn't helped.  Anyone got any ideas please (other than taking them back or throwing them in the bin :-D)?

Sorry can't help, have always disliked towelling tea towels for all the same reasons. They are now used for drying the dogs!

Are you using conditioner in your washing?

Are you using conditioner in your washing?

No, know about that one!

You can't beat good, old-fashioned, linen IMO :) :) :)

Now thats odd I hate linen but love towelling (dishwashers even better though) I would take them back

Are you tumble drying them?

I air-dry my tea-towels (on radiator/airer or best of all on the washing line), otherwise they tend to just wipe water around rather than actully soaking it up!

I had the same problem with my new ones, i am finding the more i wash them the better they are, and 'work' properly now.

Are you tumble drying them?

No :-)

I had the same problem with my new ones, i am finding the more i wash them the better they are, and 'work' properly now.

There is hope yet then :-D  Perhaps I'll just keep washing a couple of then to see how long it takes for them to improve.  I have 8 so it is a bit annoying to keep washing all of them when they haven't been used!

I do tumble dry mine, i also have 8 :)

Did you soak them in cold water before use?
I've always, always soaked all towels, facecloths, tea towels in cold water for a couple of hours before actually putting them in the washing machine and it seems to help.

Thanks for the tip TT.  No, haven't tried the cold water soak - I'll give that a go.