# Does anyone else NOT like fluffy towels? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [May 12, 2010, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-else-not-like-fluffy-towels/539175 "2010-05-12T15:20:12Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2010, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-else-not-like-fluffy-towels/539175/1 "2010-05-12T15:20:12Z")
I know, I’m weird. But I prefer my towels to be more like beach towels, thin, maybe even a little bit rough, and long enough and large enough to wrap myself in completely. Those fluffy towels that my SO loves are just too thick and annoying for me. I’ll use them, but if I had my way I’d have none of it. Am I alone? ---
**Author:** ![Student\_Driver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3da27b/32.png) [@Student\_Driver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Student_Driver)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2010, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-else-not-like-fluffy-towels/539175/2 "2010-05-12T15:41:30Z")
I’m there with you. I like large-area, thinner (but not threadbare), less fluffy towels. Fluffy thick towels are usually heavily-laden with fabric softener, and don’t absorb water well. My thinner, scratchier towels may be less comfy at first touch, but they dry me off fast, dry themselves out quickly. Thick towels feel like I’m wrapping myself up in the bathroom rug. ---
**Author:** ![moldybread](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ea924/32.png) [@moldybread](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/moldybread)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2010, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-else-not-like-fluffy-towels/539175/3 "2010-05-12T15:43:13Z")
Fluffy towels give me goose bumps for some reason. I loathe them. Give me an old ripped up rag anyday. ---
**Author:** ![Hampshire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hampshire/32/4887_2.png) [@Hampshire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hampshire)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2010, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-else-not-like-fluffy-towels/539175/4 "2010-05-12T15:48:58Z")
Yep, a new big fluffy towel just isn’t that absorbent. And they usually leave a lot of lint behind which is annoying. Drying my unshaved face with one leaves it covered in lint. And you really have to make sure your hands are completely lint free before handling contact lenses. ---
**Author:** ![Philster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/13edae/32.png) [@Philster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Philster)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2010, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-else-not-like-fluffy-towels/539175/5 "2010-05-12T15:58:32Z")
On a scale of hard/dry/crusty to super-fluffy soft, wherein hard/dry/crusty is a 0 and super-fluffy sift is a 10, I will take my towels somewhere around a 3 or 4 please. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2010, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-else-not-like-fluffy-towels/539175/6 "2010-05-12T16:01:47Z")
In an ideal world, I’d prefer to air dry. ---
**Author:** ![elmwood](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmwood/32/3060_2.png) [@elmwood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elmwood)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2010, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-else-not-like-fluffy-towels/539175/7 "2010-05-12T16:06:39Z")
I prefer rough burlap, like what we used in the Marines. Any man who uses anything softer should just get it over with and turn in their penis, or pack it up and move to France. OORAH! ---
**Author:** ![dangermom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e274bd/32.png) [@dangermom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dangermom)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2010, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-else-not-like-fluffy-towels/539175/8 "2010-05-12T16:13:10Z")
Hee hee. I like a little bit of roughness, but not too thin. I don’t use fabric softener ever, but I agree that too much fluff = that softener feeling where you can’t really get dry. ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2010, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-else-not-like-fluffy-towels/539175/9 "2010-05-12T16:23:43Z")
Heh @ elmwood. I am glad to see I am not alone. My SO thinks I am crazy…I also use two towels each time, one just to wrap my hair in, and if that towel is too thick I can’t wrap my hair right. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2010, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-else-not-like-fluffy-towels/539175/10 "2010-05-12T16:28:11Z")
I’m about a five in the fluffy towel continuum, I guess. Probably about a three on the fluffy washcloth continuum - those big fluffy washcloths don’t scrub at all, and I like a little scrubbing in my washing. ---
**Author:** ![Rushgeekgirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rushgeekgirl/32/3715_2.png) [@Rushgeekgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rushgeekgirl)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2010, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-else-not-like-fluffy-towels/539175/11 "2010-05-12T17:06:46Z")
I have two beach towels. The rest of the family gets the nice fluffy ones. The beach towels are not to be TOUCHED by others. I like how they wrap around and tuck. Fluffy towels become untucked quickly. I really need one of those towel wrap things but the beach towels is fine. I do use a smaller one to cover my head if I wash my hair that day. ---
**Author:** ![FloatyGimpy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/floatygimpy/32/7750_2.png) [@FloatyGimpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FloatyGimpy)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2010, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-else-not-like-fluffy-towels/539175/12 "2010-05-12T17:43:11Z")
I despise fluffy towels. They seem dusty and greasy and just smear the water around rather than absorb it. I also can’t stand fluffy bathmats. I’m convinced they’re filthy. I use a fresh, non-fluffy hand towel instead of a bathmat. I have issues. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![TreacherousCretin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treacherouscretin/32/476_2.png) [@TreacherousCretin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TreacherousCretin)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2010, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-else-not-like-fluffy-towels/539175/13 "2010-05-12T17:54:43Z")
> [@Anaamika](#): > > I know, I’m weird. But I prefer my towels to be more like beach towels, thin, maybe even a little bit rough, and long enough and large enough to wrap myself in completely. > > Those fluffy towels that my SO loves are just too thick and annoying for me. I’ll use them, but if I had my way I’d have none of it. > > Am I alone? You are not alone. I can’t stand the way fluffy towels “slide” over wet skin. I too prefer thin and a little rough. . ---
**Author:** ![umop\_ap\_sdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/dbc845/32.png) [@umop\_ap\_sdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/umop_ap_sdn)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2010, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-else-not-like-fluffy-towels/539175/14 "2010-05-12T17:57:39Z")
I don’t know that I have a preference for towels per se but I definitely prefer rough facecloths. The fluffy kind are absolutely useless for scrubbing with. ---
**Author:** ![Chicken\_Fingers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/51bf81/32.png) [@Chicken\_Fingers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chicken_Fingers)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2010, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-else-not-like-fluffy-towels/539175/15 "2010-05-12T18:14:21Z")
I prefer thin towels too, mainly because of the head-wrapping issue. I hate feeling like I’ve got a 40-lb cat on my head. ---
**Author:** ![Teacake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Teacake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Teacake)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2010, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-else-not-like-fluffy-towels/539175/16 "2010-05-12T19:21:15Z")
Thinner and rougher for me too, please. Scrubbing myself dry with a slightly scratchy towel is a very satisfying sensation. ---
**Author:** ![Omar\_Little](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omar_little/32/269_2.png) [@Omar\_Little](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omar_Little)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2010, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-else-not-like-fluffy-towels/539175/17 "2010-05-12T19:36:09Z")
It’s not necessarily the fluffliness, it’s the type of fabric. I prefer my towels to be fluffy 100% cotton. No polyblends. The synthetic blend towels tend to not be as absorbent. ---
**Author:** ![Stealth\_Potato](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Stealth\_Potato](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stealth_Potato)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2010, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-else-not-like-fluffy-towels/539175/18 "2010-05-12T19:38:47Z")
Oh yes, absolutely. I _detest_ fluffy towels. On the continuum of unpleasant sensory experiences, fluffy towels are the counterpart in bathroom textiles of a puking bird hitting a blackboard. I like 'em rough and absorbent. ---
**Author:** ![YamatoTwinkie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/cc9497/32.png) [@YamatoTwinkie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/YamatoTwinkie)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2010, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-else-not-like-fluffy-towels/539175/19 "2010-05-12T20:00:14Z")
My wife recently purchased a set of new fluffy towels to replace our old, scratchy ones. After using the new ones for a week, I went back to using the old ones. ---
**Author:** ![elmwood](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmwood/32/3060_2.png) [@elmwood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elmwood)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2010, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-else-not-like-fluffy-towels/539175/20 "2010-05-12T20:09:40Z")
> [@Anaamika](#): > > Heh @ elmwood. Did I mention that when I can’t find any burlap, I use sheets of 24 grit sandpaper from a floor sander. Removes moisture, and also exfoliates. If you aren’t tough enough to towel off with some 24 grit, you’re probably the type of girly-boy that patronies bars with names like “The Back Door” or “Garland’s”. OORAH! Seriously, I love fluffy towels, as long as they’re 100% cotton. What I can’t stand are fluffy towels with all sorts of embroidery patterns on them. My ex loved basic Ikea Saxan towels, though. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-else-not-like-fluffy-towels/539175.md?page=2)