Matting occurs when towel pile fibres clump and lie flat together instead of standing up individually, creating a dense, flat surface.
Causes
Line drying:
- Fibres dry pressed together
- No mechanical separation
- Weight of water pulls pile flat
Overwashing:
- Pile breaks down
- Fibres tangle
Fabric softener:
- Coating makes fibres stick
- Reduces pile loft
Age and wear:
- Natural degradation
- Accumulated damage
Effects
- Reduced softness
- Lower absorbency
- Flat appearance
- Less pleasant feel
Prevention
- Tumble dry (or shake vigorously after line drying)
- Avoid fabric softener
- Don't overload dryer
- Use dryer balls
Fixing Matted Towels
- Tumble dry on high heat
- Shake vigorously
- Brush with stiff brush
- May not fully restore severely matted towels
When It's Permanent
Severe matting from age or damage may be irreversible - the towel has reached end of useful life.
Related Terms
- Pile - What mats
- Line dry - Common cause
- Tumble dry - Prevention/solution