Don’t throw away your old tea towels – here’s why

Don’t throw away your old tea towels – here’s why

Have you ever wondered why old tea towels often perform better than new ones at drying dishes? An RMIT expert explains the science behind why tea towels can improve with age.

Dr Rebecca Van Amber, Senior Lecturer in Fashion and Textiles 

Key points:  

  • Tea towels are typically made from cotton or linen fibres, chosen specifically because these natural cellulose fibres are inherently hygroscopic, or water-loving. 
  • Many home textiles genuinely perform better after repeated laundering, which helps them to shed factory finishes, and relax into their true structure. 
  • Many brand-new textiles arrive coated in silicone softeners that provide softness and wrinkle resistance, making them appealing on store shelves. 
  • But here's the catch, these same finishes are often water resistant.  
  • Repeated washing and drying causes minor surface damage that actually improves performance as it leads to more surface texture and better absorption. 

Read more at The Conversation

Dr Rebecca Van Amber is a Senior Lecturer in Fashion and Textiles at RMIT University. She is an expert in textile science and sustainability, with research expertise in textile waste, repair and durability practices, and circular economy strategies for the fashion and textiles industry. Her work focuses on sustainable material development, textile performance and testing, and the design of experimental methods to evaluate textile performance and product longevity. 

***

General media enquiries: RMIT External Affairs and Media, 0439 704 077 or news@rmit.edu.au

09 February 2026

Share

Related News

aboriginal flag float-start torres strait flag float-start

Acknowledgement of Country

RMIT University acknowledges the people of the Woi wurrung and Boon wurrung language groups of the eastern Kulin Nation on whose unceded lands we conduct the business of the University. RMIT University respectfully acknowledges their Ancestors and Elders, past and present. RMIT also acknowledges the Traditional Custodians and their Ancestors of the lands and waters across Australia where we conduct our business - Artwork 'Sentient' by Hollie Johnson, Gunaikurnai and Monero Ngarigo.

More information