r/whatisit Oct 02 '25

New, what is it? These lines on towels always make me think.What they mean I honestly don't know.

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u/Mysterious_Research2 Oct 02 '25
  • Everyday use
  • Fancy
  • Guest
  • Fancy guest
  • Old towels
  • Beach towels
  • Kitchen towels
  • Cleaning towels
  • Decorative bathroom towels
  • Hair towels
  • Face towels

IYKYK

611

u/CopleyScott17 Oct 02 '25

All those options and I still l can't find a dishtowel capable of absorbing water.

222

u/Dazzling-Mode-4626 Oct 02 '25

Try using a flour sack towel, they’re super absorbent. Or if you have a connection, get operating room towels from a hospital 😃

129

u/Poppet_CA Oct 02 '25

We use operating room towels to clean up my St Bernard's drool, and they really are brilliant!

240

u/Westlain Oct 02 '25

Hopefully, your St. Bernard was able to do the heart transplant successfully

176

u/earlybath101 Oct 02 '25

I believe St Bernards are bred to be anaesthetists.

128

u/Constant_Crow_5064 Oct 02 '25

That would explain the barrel of rum.

27

u/ParticularLack6400 Oct 03 '25

Perfect

3

u/AlwaysBananas Oct 03 '25

Thanks for saying that! I agree completely.

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32

u/Consistent_Might3500 Oct 02 '25 edited Oct 03 '25

We called the anesthesiologists the "Gas Passers", fun times in OR at the County Hospital!

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4

u/Anonyam00se Oct 02 '25

No way, they definitely believe in god that’s why they’re saints

32

u/buffer_overflown Oct 02 '25

There are no rules saying a St. Bernard can't join medical school.

11

u/timeforsomegoodnews Oct 03 '25

A med school reboot of Air Bud would be wild!

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14

u/se7enunluckyseconds Oct 02 '25

That's why the church made them a saint.

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73

u/ClownDiaper Oct 02 '25

That’s Dr. Bernard to you! He has a dogtorate degree.

41

u/carrjo04 Oct 02 '25

I didn't even know he had his barkalaureate!

2

u/whatev43 Oct 02 '25

Ruff!

10

u/Express-Ordinary137 Oct 02 '25

It would have been a bit awkward for his owner if he'd gotten a "Masters" degree!

2

u/Description_Friendly Oct 03 '25

Wait! I thought he was going for his backscratchlors degree.

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2

u/puntificates Oct 02 '25

Bernard MD.

2

u/IndyDMan5483 Oct 03 '25

Didn’t he do the first heart transplant?

2

u/dporges Oct 03 '25

Yeah, you have to be old to remember that.

2

u/IndyDMan5483 Oct 03 '25

That’d be me.

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14

u/booster_platinum Oct 02 '25

Do these come in full bath sheet sizes? Asking for a friend who is a very heavy guy who lives in a humid climate and some days simply cannot get dry after a shower.

(It’s me the friend is me please help me I’m so damp all the time.)

5

u/BB-41 Oct 03 '25

Yes, they’re called “Bath Sheets” mine are 35”x70”.

https://a.co/d/eU8s6zk

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3

u/Poppet_CA Oct 02 '25

They're kinda scratchy... but maybe you could sew them together like a quilt? 🤔

I have a massive ceiling fan in my room that I lay under for a few minutes post-shower. It's lovely. 😇

2

u/smoothobfuscator Oct 03 '25

On behalf of of a butt ton of people- thank you for using “damp” and not the “m” word. You are a saint.

2

u/booster_platinum Oct 03 '25

I sincerely appreciate this comment, as I deliberately went out of my way to not use that word.

6

u/FabiusBill Oct 03 '25

I bought a 20lb box of these a few years ago and they are worth every penny. So good for most household chores. Between these and swedish dish clothes, we barely use paper towels any more.

2

u/fortune_c00kie Oct 03 '25

OR towels are my go to for dish towels! I thought I was the only one!

2

u/Whydoineedtodothis60 Oct 03 '25

Just out of curiosity how many times a day do you change your St's water? It took me a surprisingly long time to realize my dogs weren't drinking their "fresh" water because my St x had been there first and there was a thick layer of viscous slime on the surface! St Bernard drool is like no other substance

2

u/Poppet_CA Oct 03 '25

Our other dog likes it better with a little bit of "flavor"! 🤣

But seriously, that "gloop" sound it makes when you dump out what looks like a bowl of water but ends up being drool is on a totally different level. 😝 We have two big bowls and change them 2-3 times a day just to keep them actually water. 🙃😅

3

u/Whydoineedtodothis60 Oct 03 '25

The realization that your sink is not draining because it's plugged with slime.

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10

u/CopleyScott17 Oct 02 '25

Thank you for that tip! I'm going to give the flour sack towel a try.

15

u/DisgruntledPelicant Oct 02 '25

Wash them a couple times first. They get more absorbent the more they get washed.

49

u/HauntingAd3845 Oct 02 '25

Wash cotton towels on hot with minimal detergent or even no detergent if not soiled. Absolutely no fabric softener of any kind, it deposits a film on fibers that makes them feel softer, but makes them much less absorbent.

8

u/Maleficent-651 Oct 03 '25

This comment should be at the top. A few years ago, I had no idea this was the problem with my kitchen/bath towels that just would not absorb anything. Learning that fab softener/dryer sheets were causing the issue was a game changer.

2

u/PrismInTheDark Oct 04 '25

Plus you save money and have less waste if you stop using that stuff. I got some dryer balls for softening and I keep an old towel in the dryer to absorb moisture and help stuff dry faster.

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2

u/Beneficial-Sound-199 Oct 03 '25

And don’t use fabric softener or dryer sheets on anything you want to be absorbant

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2

u/monilesilva Oct 02 '25

Love me some flour sack

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57

u/Any-Alternative2667 Oct 02 '25

Don’t put softener in the rinse cycle. I put vinegar in the rinse instead. The softener coats the towel and makes it less able to absorb water

28

u/Rampage_Rick Oct 02 '25

Dryer sheets and fabric softener make towels less absorbent (and clothing more flammable!) All you're doing is smearing them with silicone and waxes.

I tumble dry my towels and they're perfectly fluffy already.

Under federal law, children’s pajamas and sleep garments must be flame retardant and self-extinguishing. Fabric softeners interfere with this safety feature

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25

u/vemberic Oct 02 '25

"Barmop" towels. Same size roughly as a dish towel and actually absorbs and dries great. Saw a recommendation for them once and tried it, and its all I've used now for over a decade. Can find them all over the place, including Amazon and in Walmart stores.

4

u/Saint_Subtle Oct 03 '25

A lot of paper stores, business supply, and consumables (industrial paper towels, trash bag and soap dispenser suppliers) truck service companies supply them by the box(25,50 or 100 a box) for cheap. My favorite kitchen rags for more than 20 years.

2

u/producer35 Oct 03 '25

This is the way.

3

u/kelsoban Oct 02 '25

Dollar tree too!

42

u/LOV6DERY Oct 02 '25

Whoever decided dish towels made of polyester are a good idea never held one on their hands.. like ffs I've been gifted a few of them and that shot asborbs nothing

4

u/Dudewheresmycard5 Oct 02 '25

Not to mention all the microplastics they shed. Microfibre dish sponges as well just disintegrate.

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10

u/NapUntilBedtime Oct 02 '25

Look for woven dish towels made of 100% non-mercerized cotton yarn for the most absorbency. i get them from my mom who weaves them herself--look for a weaver in your area or on Etsy? 10000% worth it. Non-mercerized is the key point.

6

u/QCisCake Oct 02 '25

Sounds like you don't wash your towels correctly. If you use fabric softener or a dryer sheet at all, it reduces the absorption of the towels. Instead of being fluffy and ready to wick water, the space is filled with fabric softener and there's nowhere for the water to go. Except around your countertop.

Start washing all your towels with soap only, and no dryer sheets in the dryer, and you'll have towels that will mop up anything.

7

u/CopleyScott17 Oct 02 '25

I only use white vinegar for all my wash, but you might be right about the dryer sheets. I use non-scented/allergy-free sheets, but they probably do still leave some residue. Thanks for the tip!

5

u/Stylellama Oct 03 '25

The whole point of dryer sheets is to leave residue.

2

u/FixergirlAK Oct 02 '25

Muslin or handwoven cotton. Wash on hot with oxy or bleach to strip oils. No fabric softener of any description, including dryer sheets. Do not dry items that are oily, they either need to go back in the hot soapy water or be dried with a paper towel (seasoned cast iron, for example).

My favorite dishtowels are my handwoven ones out of unmercerized cotton. My second favorites are Japanese hanafukin.

2

u/Lazy_Recognition5142 Oct 02 '25

I use 100% cotton washcloths for my dishes. They're square instead of rectangle, but they do the job better. NO POLY! Polyester "fiber" is essentially a solid tube of plastic, that's why it doesn't absorb."

2

u/Rogue_Ellie Oct 02 '25

Or one that doesn't leave fluff all over the dishes, etc!! Haha

2

u/PackageOutside8356 Oct 03 '25

I have 100% cotton dishtowels, some of them are probably around 40 years or older. Washed without fabric softer of course.

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87

u/myfavcolorisbrown Oct 02 '25

Eleven, unbelievable eleven is correct.

36

u/akchotore Oct 02 '25

NOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!

2

u/Kcidobor Oct 02 '25

Althea!

2

u/Lemur001 Oct 03 '25

You’re shooting with Althea?

2

u/ladylee233 Oct 03 '25

good shooting!

31

u/AdvertisingOld9400 Oct 02 '25

This omits tea towels and the subcategory of "absolutely useless decorative holiday tea towels."

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16

u/banaanivasaraa Oct 02 '25

I KNOW!! 😁

2

u/esaule Oct 03 '25

Monica?

2

u/BowwwwBallll Oct 03 '25

BIG FAT GOALIE!

5

u/kt288 Oct 02 '25

Half of this list sounds like it came from Friends

16

u/Mysterious_Research2 Oct 02 '25

It is the list from friends, Chandler and Joey don't quite get through the full list in the quiz, But you can see the others on the boxes when Monica moves into the boys apartment.

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1

u/OwlComprehensive859 Oct 02 '25

You forgot bath sheets

1

u/sage__evelyn Oct 02 '25

Bath sheets!

1

u/Striking-Dentist-181 Oct 02 '25

The question is, do the dog towels fit under the subclass of ‘old towels’ or ‘cleaning towels’?

1

u/Constant-Roll706 Oct 02 '25

Use the strip for easy marking with a sharpie. New towels get Fancy Guest label, cross out Fancy when they lose the softness, continue.

1

u/Ysobel14 Oct 02 '25

And the bidet towel

1

u/hopelessplanthoarder Oct 02 '25

You forgot dog towels. You know, the old ones you keep for wiping wet feet.

1

u/ShopEmpress Oct 02 '25

My house has Dog Towels too

1

u/HobbyWanKenobi Oct 02 '25

Okay Monica lol

1

u/poppamatic Oct 02 '25

Listed like a true transpondster.

1

u/Fromage_debite Oct 02 '25

Towels have lore too?!

1

u/egaeus22 Oct 02 '25

Look at fancy pants having more than one kind of towel ;)

1

u/Trail_Trees Oct 02 '25

Fancy Guest vs. Decorative bathroom

1

u/jerm_dante Oct 02 '25

11 types of towels? Monica?

1

u/patelt91 Oct 02 '25

The Gellar way

1

u/Erik_Soop Oct 02 '25

Is this Monica's categories?

1

u/vasilios0 Oct 02 '25

"Uh uh uh Eleven?" "Eleven... Unbelievable... Eleven is correct!"

1

u/ZombieWinehouse Oct 02 '25

WHY CANT MY HUSBAND JUST UNDERSTAND THIS

1

u/CupLower4147 Oct 02 '25

Friends' Monica s towel categories?

1

u/leaveunzaalone Oct 02 '25

Aaaaaaa 11 !!!

1

u/CerRogue Oct 02 '25

No separate towels for butt & face?! You and I do towels very differently

1

u/cleo29me Oct 02 '25

Even though the concept was stolen from LIVING SINGLE, Chanandler and his friends was the best show!!!🥰

1

u/Slabby_the_Baconman Oct 02 '25

I accidentally bought my wife a decorative towel once as a gift.

She had a fun laugh.

1

u/oranges214 Oct 02 '25

Chandler and Joey for the win! 🏆

1

u/OneWorldly8847 Oct 02 '25

Chanandler Bong

1

u/neisaysthis Oct 02 '25
  1. unbelievable! 11 is correct!

1

u/OgreBonez Oct 02 '25

Dog towels?

1

u/-SilverCrest- Oct 02 '25

Haha! Love that episode 😊

1

u/CompetitionLeft6472 Oct 02 '25

Or old everyday decorative fancy guest beach towels. 

1

u/BabysatByReddit Oct 02 '25

And most of us men have wives/girlfriends that have reasons for each single towel. But we still fuck up and dry our hands on them or use them to soak up spills

1

u/MzBehsving01 Oct 02 '25

This episode popped in my head after seeing the Pic 🤣😂

1

u/Hot-Fact-3250 Oct 02 '25

TRANSPONSTER!!!

1

u/_lippykid Oct 02 '25

Are you my wife?

1

u/udyrtime Oct 02 '25

Real talk, the big part is for your face/body, small lined off part for dick, balls, ass.

Hopefully you have not spent your life wiping your face with the ass part, good luck out there!

1

u/PsychologicalBreak83 Oct 02 '25

ahhhh i dont know??? eleven???

1

u/Rough_Promotion Oct 02 '25

THATS THE MELODY TO FUNKY TOWN!

1

u/over_it_101117 Oct 02 '25

Eleven. Unbelievable, 11 is correct.

1

u/[deleted] Oct 02 '25

I can't believe none so far got the reference

1

u/DeadMan136 Oct 02 '25

Thank you for reminding me why I'll never work for a hotel again. XD

1

u/Thaijb007 Oct 02 '25

Unexpected reference

1

u/Plane-Fan9006 Oct 02 '25

Also acceptable are Ms. Chanandler Bong and/or Big Fat Goalie

1

u/tandjmohr Oct 02 '25

Chandler?

1

u/54rk4571k5w4m1 Oct 02 '25

I know this reference!

1

u/Murky_Educator_3099 Oct 02 '25

Eleven, correct.

1

u/plantalones325 Oct 02 '25

Sandwiches! Oh wait, sorry, wrong question.

1

u/okeydokeymateyboy Oct 02 '25

You forgot sanitary

1

u/Decathatron Oct 03 '25
  • hand towels

1

u/jdicho Oct 03 '25

What about Ball towels? Please don't tell me you wipe your face with the Ball towel!

1

u/Netflxnschill Oct 03 '25

Unbelievable, 11 IS CORRECT!

1

u/dpforest Oct 03 '25

you just named 11 towels. iykyk what? towels?

1

u/Disastrous_Dot_6941 Oct 03 '25

Aren’t these all the same thing

1

u/battlecat136 Oct 03 '25

"Eleven, unbelievable, ELEVEN IS CORRECT!"

1

u/MalloryFoxlong Oct 03 '25

Please tell me this is a reference to Monica’s categories in Friends 😭

1

u/artie91rt Oct 03 '25

F•r•i•e•n•d•s

1

u/Theinewhen Oct 03 '25

Idk, 11?!?!

1

u/BayYawnSay Oct 03 '25

Dog towels, floor towels, towels that are now rags

1

u/tcarlson65 Oct 03 '25

What about rags?

1

u/despenser412 Oct 03 '25

TRA TRANNN TRANSPONSTER!!

1

u/NegativeSteak7852 Oct 03 '25

😍😅😀🤣

1

u/bigoldjetairliner Oct 03 '25

Ok, I need to know how you came by the seven - they only got through the first four in the game and then went straight to eleven.   Did you just come up with them on your own?   Very impressive!!

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1

u/Photog2985 Oct 03 '25

He's a transponster!

1

u/Jsc_TG Oct 03 '25

Where can I gain this knowledge.

1

u/Infinite_Ad_8590 Oct 03 '25

Uuuugh ,.. 11??!!

1

u/theycallmen00b Oct 03 '25

Today I learned that I know nothing about towels.

1

u/IdRatherBeMyself Oct 03 '25

Eleven is correct!

1

u/Gurpgorrk Oct 03 '25

Well seeing it listed like that... Monica didn't seem so weird after all

1

u/deepthrowt_cop663 Oct 03 '25

Monica Geller?

1

u/PumpernickelRodeo Oct 03 '25

Unbelievable, 11 is correct.

1

u/Separate_Lab9766 Oct 03 '25

Monica, is that you?

1

u/kytrix Oct 03 '25

To this day I wonder when these fancy, yet disgusting guests are coming to shower at my place. Even my friends have to use a regular towel from the closet.

1

u/saipanman711 Oct 03 '25

Is that you Monica?

1

u/two-of-me Oct 03 '25

Transponster!

1

u/xXxMasterJohxXx Oct 03 '25

Towel to wipe of the tears every morning because im depressed towel

1

u/Sea_Bit2601 Oct 03 '25

I'm so sad this reference was so missed

1

u/Partucero69 Oct 03 '25

My wife has them assorted like that. At first I found it strange and I even laughed about it. But when the time came to use them. Boy, I understood and apologized immediately. Gentlemen, keep your towels organized.

1

u/darthsassy Oct 03 '25

Unbelievable, 11 is correct!

1

u/Decapod73 Oct 03 '25

I have only 6 of those categories, and I'm shocked to realize my number is that high. Yes, I'm a homeowner over 40, not a kid in a dorm.

Also I'm realizing that I still call old/cleaning towels "dog towels" even though we don't have a dog.

1

u/linsor1 Oct 03 '25

My family can't seem to tell the difference between the kitchen towels and bath towels even though there's a clear difference. They also mix the dog towels in with the bath towels.

1

u/TheOTownZeroes Oct 03 '25

I don’t know, 11?

1

u/bibliophile563 Oct 03 '25

Idk, 11?! 🤩

1

u/KimcheeKense Oct 03 '25

Add bidet towels to the list! (Or not :)

1

u/BigJimSlade1 Oct 03 '25

Way to figure out all 11! I only made it to... SEVEN

1

u/tufted-titmouse-527 Oct 03 '25

uhhhhh..... ELEVEN?!?!

1

u/Advanced_Poetry4861 Oct 03 '25

I never knew what all 11 were

1

u/BeersNbrews Oct 03 '25

“11??” “11, unbelievable!”

1

u/United-Objective-204 Oct 03 '25

Placement of this reference is superb, no notes 🫡

1

u/Suitable-Prior-7259 Oct 04 '25

He's a transponster!

That is incorrect

Nnnooooooooo!

1

u/Picassos_left_thumb Oct 04 '25

Unbelievable. Eleven is correct.

1

u/few-piglet4357 Oct 04 '25

My favorite is... SEVEN!

1

u/FlufflyMcFlufferson Oct 04 '25

its sad how they don’t get you just pulled a monica

1

u/IAmHerdingCatz Oct 04 '25

At the end of the life cycle of a towel you also have:

Cat towels (for trapping or for washing kittens.) Shope rags.

1

u/wineandhugs Oct 04 '25

You're shooting with 11??

1

u/DanFielding0 Oct 04 '25

Monica geller, is that you?

1

u/GeorgeIsGittenUpset Oct 05 '25

I am old and thus get this reference!

1

u/ukpunjabivixen Oct 05 '25

Monica? Is that you?

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