Can You Microwave A Towel?

Q: When I come home from my workout, I like to use a heating pad, or warm towel right from the dryer to help me relax and wind down. The only problem is that since I moved to an apartment, doing the dryer trick isn’t feasible for my budget. However, I know you can microwave socks and pillow cases for heating pads, can I microwave a towel?

microwave a towel

A: As long as your towel contains no metal tags, or weights like many decorative towels have, then yes you can microwave a towel to warm it. You will want to make sure that the fabric can also withstand the heat. If it can go into the dryer and suffer no damage, then you will be able to use this method.

Typically, you will want a small towel such as a washcloth or hand towel. You do not want to weigh down the plate in the microwave until it can hardly move; this will lead to malfunctions and shorten the life of the microwave.

If using a towel like a heating pad, a minute to 1 minute 30 seconds will get it warm and toasty.

So if you want a warm towel after your shower, or you need it to relax, microwaving a towel is safe, as long as it contains no metal and is not suspected to have come in contact with metal shavings.

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11 Responses to “Can You Microwave A Towel?”

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  1. Amanda says:

    Can you microwave a washcloth that has rice in it?

    • seriously. don’t. says:

      don’t microwave wash cloths. i just lit my microwave on fire

    • burneggroll says:

      Uncooked rice sewn into a towel is what those fancy neck massage warmers are. Yes, you can microwave a washcloth that has rice in it.

  2. Jo says:

    Yeah make sure get the towel wet first unless you want a fire alarm to go off in your dorm at 2 in the morning.

    • Spencer Haley says:

      Yes, that is due to *thermal runaway*. Materials such as a towel, which have a low ability to transfer heat from one part of the towel to another, are ill-suited for use in microwaves, which do not apply heat evenly.

    • Soph says:

      Jo, I so very wish I read this comment about 2 minutes ago

  3. Colin says:

    I use a warmed up towel out of the microwave all the time on my frozen shoulders,works a treat,that short but very welcome respite is fantastic.

  4. Caitlyn says:

    I saw this hack, whereby you take a tea cloth and turn into a heat pack with rice in the bag, can this work

  5. Chantale Burroughs says:

    The ONLY fabric that can take a microwave heating is 100% cotton.

    Synthetic fabrics, because they are produced artificially, tend to have different levels of plastic in them, which will melt in the microwave.

    While some plastics are microwave safe, others are most certainly not. Polyester thread falls most decidedly into the latter category. Unless you want the thread to melt or even start a fire in the microwave, keep it well away.

    Make sure your towel is made of 100% cotton!

  6. Demos Loizides says:

    My wife put a towel in the microwave for 20 seconds and it got burn marks and started smoldering!

  7. karin mandriota says:

    i want to know what organisms can be transmitted in the microwave to my food

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