# Does Bath Towel Color Affect Absorbancy? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [February 15, 2001, 12:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-bath-towel-color-affect-absorbancy/54526 "2001-02-15T00:27:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![TwoBuyFour](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/76d3ee/32.png) [@TwoBuyFour](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TwoBuyFour)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2001, 12:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-bath-towel-color-affect-absorbancy/54526/1 "2001-02-15T00:27:56Z")
Recently a friend of mine made a comment that I found hard to swallow. She stated that white towels are much more absorbant than towels of other colors. Now, just as I was coming to a conclusion in my little brain as to whether to laugh hysterically or calmly refute her comment, another person chimed in with a ringing endorsement of truth. The second person uttered the inarguable proof that her “mother told her this years ago, so it must be true.” Then the first friend stated that “of course it’s true. A white towel has more room to absorb moisture because it hasn’t absorbed all that color dye.” Now, leaving aside the question about whether I should get more intelligent friends or not, is there any truth to this? My hunch is that a towel with the fabric dyed one color or another (including white) will be no more or less absorbant than any other color. Please tell me I’m not insane (in regards to this matter). ---
**Author:** ![Gunslinger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/4491bb/32.png) [@Gunslinger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gunslinger)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2001, 2:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-bath-towel-color-affect-absorbancy/54526/2 "2001-02-15T02:04:14Z")
If there is a difference, it’s not enough to notice under normal (non-laboratory) conditions. Time to get smarter friends. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![thinksnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thinksnow/32/2849_2.png) [@thinksnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thinksnow)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2001, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-bath-towel-color-affect-absorbancy/54526/3 "2001-02-15T02:13:21Z")
I heard something about the use of dryer sheets affecting absorbtion. Something about the coating of oil or fragrance or something. ---
**Author:** ![Green\_Bean](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/green_bean/32/1760_2.png) [@Green\_Bean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Green_Bean)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2001, 2:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-bath-towel-color-affect-absorbancy/54526/4 "2001-02-15T02:28:11Z")
Hmmm…I have towels of several different colors. I find my white ones are more absorbent, but I always thought that had something to do with the fact that I bleach them. Interesting question. ---
**Author:** ![Cartooniverse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cartooniverse/32/3084_2.png) [@Cartooniverse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cartooniverse)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2001, 3:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-bath-towel-color-affect-absorbancy/54526/5 "2001-02-15T03:12:51Z")
I’ve got white towels, and towels of color. The towels of color ( T.O.C. ) tend to be more absorbent, gathering in moisture in a gentle and accepting way. The white towels, they stay to themselves in the linen closet, and rarely absorb anything but bleach. I think I need to do some selective removal. Whooops, look at the time, back to my planet I go !! 😛 Cartooniverse ---
**Author:** ![Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/50afbb/32.png) [@Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duck_Duck_Goose)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2001, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-bath-towel-color-affect-absorbancy/54526/6 "2001-02-15T14:43:13Z")
[slowly recovering from head injury incurred by smacking self in forehead after _finally_ figuring out Cartooniverse’s post] Err, still a little groggy here. This is a car detailing website–hey, when you want the Straight Dope, ask an expert. 😃 [http://www.avalonracing.net/towels.htm](http://www.avalonracing.net/towels.htm) > [@](#): > > COTTON TOWEL: > ADVANTAGE? Absorbent soft terry loops provide cushioning. 100% cotton is the most absorbent and safest choice. DISADVANTAGE? Polyester blending compromises absorbent and softness… So if the colored towel in question is a polyester blend, it will be less absorbent. However, on to the question of the OP. This car detailing guy also says: > [@](#): > > Keep in mind that colored towels, because of the chemical penetration into the fiber, are less absorbent than white towels. He’s backed up by another expert, no less than the august body of the International Society of Hospitality Purchasers, Inc. (read: Hotel Purchasing Agents) [http://www.ishp.org/linenbuyersguide.html](http://www.ishp.org/linenbuyersguide.html) > [@](#): > > Lastly, the darker and deeper the color a towel is dyed, the less absorbent that towel will be, as the dye stuffs permanently clog a portion of the pores of the cotton that absorb water. So, huh. I didn’t know that. And yes, fabric softener does hinder the absorbency of towels. Mr. Car Detail again: > [@](#): > > Water softeners and fabric softeners added to the washing also reduces a towel’s absorbency. And from All About Bath Towels: [http://www.ohio.com/home\_garden/news/docs/032495.htm](http://www.ohio.com/home_garden/news/docs/032495.htm) > [@](#): > > To keep your towels and towel sets absorbent, never use fabric softener sheets in the dryer. Fabric softener sheets coat the towels, making them less absorbent. ---
**Author:** ![Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9de053/32.png) [@Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackknifed_Juggernaut)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2001, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-bath-towel-color-affect-absorbancy/54526/7 "2001-02-15T15:21:47Z")
I believe without a doubt that white towels are more absorbant than darker colors. In fact, I’ve even noticed that the light color such as beige are also more absorbant. It must have something to do with the dyes being used. This is also the case with clothes. I recently purchased 2 pairs of Banana Republic khakis (chinos). They are the exact same model. The beige-colored pants are lighter and softer than the black ones. And this isn’t an isolated example. Light-colored clothes always seem to be softer and lighter than dark-colored clothes. ---
**Author:** ![north-is-not-up](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/cc9497/32.png) [@north-is-not-up](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/north-is-not-up)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2026, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-bath-towel-color-affect-absorbancy/54526/8 "2026-10-01T20:22:46Z")
I’m in total agreement with Duck Duck Goose - the darker and deeper the color a towel is dyed, the less absorbent that towel will be, as the dye stuffs permanently clog a portion of the pores of the cotton that absorb water… it’s simple physics kids - when the fiber absorbs the dye, it uses up some of the fiber’s absorbency… same with ‘fabric softener’ that simply absorbs into the fibers and uses up even more of the fiber’s absorbency… ---
**Author:** ![markn\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@markn\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/markn_1)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2026, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-bath-towel-color-affect-absorbancy/54526/9 "2026-10-01T21:10:51Z")
From [https://www.bathtowel.com.cn/bath-towel-news/1010.html](https://www.bathtowel.com.cn/bath-towel-news/1010.html) > A common misconception is that white towels are more absorbent than colored towels, or that dyeing reduces a towel’s drying capacity. In reality, the modern dyeing process does not compromise the absorbency of quality cotton fibers. From [The Little Science Behind Towel Absorbency and Three Types of Recommended Towels - Uchino Co., Ltd.](https://en.uchino.co.jp/journal/%E3%82%BF%E3%82%AA%E3%83%AB%E3%81%AE%E5%90%B8%E6%B0%B4%E5%8A%9B%E3%81%AE%E3%83%97%E3%83%81%E7%A7%91%E5%AD%A6%E3%81%A83%E3%81%A4%E3%81%AE%E3%82%BF%E3%82%A4%E3%83%97%E5%88%A5%E3%81%8A%E3%81%99%E3%81%99/) > Cotton can absorb water into its fibers, but only about 25% of its mass. > In the case of a 100g towel, the amount of water that the cotton fibers can absorb is only 25g (25ml), or about 5 teaspoons. Nevertheless, the amount of water that a towel can absorb is about 2 to 3 times its own weight for a typical cotton towel, and about 5 to 6 times its own weight for a highly absorbent towel. > This means that a 100g towel can absorb up to 600ml of water. > If the amount of water absorbed by the cotton itself is 25 ml, where does the remaining 575 ml of water go? > The answer is exactly that: the gaps between the fibers. That is, the vast majority of water absorbed by a towel ends up between the fibers, held by capillary action, not into “pores” in the thread. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2026, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-bath-towel-color-affect-absorbancy/54526/10 "2026-10-01T21:34:45Z")
It’s bunk. Color does not make a difference with **real** cotton toweling. You can get other fibers, now, that may be more efficient but I’m not gonna do the science to prove it. I like cotton on my skin. They can’t keep the micro fibre, bamboo and polyester. Don’t need it in my world. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2026, 10:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-bath-towel-color-affect-absorbancy/54526/11 "2026-10-01T22:00:31Z")
I have a heated towel bar. Warm towels feel wonderful and seem to absorb more moisture. Mine are tan color.