Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

I read many of the reviews that mentioned the smell before I purchased these towels. It sounds like the other buyers didn't properly wash the towels the first time. I didn't know there was a proper way to wash towels until a few years ago when I complained to a manufacturer that their towels wern't very absorbent. They explained that the first time (and it has to be done the first time or you ruin the towels) you have to wash the towels using about 2 cups of white vinegar to remove the coating that is applied at the factory. This coating prevents insect and other damage during shipping and storage. If you don't do this and run the towels through the dryer the coating won't come off. I purchased two sets of these towels and immediately washed them using the above method. Because they were so absorbent I used about 1/2 gallon of white vinegar poured directly in to the tub on my front loader. I then ran them a second time using Tide to get the vinegar smell out. They don't smell and they are the most absorbent towels I have ever purchased. I am about to buy two more sets for our guest bath. I didn't rate them with 5 stars becasue they could be softer. My brother (who has a lot more money than I have) purchased towels from Frontgate. They are just as thick and absorbent, but much softer (also much more expensive).