Have you considered using bar towels? Places like Sam's Club and Cosco carry them in the section that has restaurant supplies. They are not as pretty (usually white with a blue stripe) but I found they work well.
Several years ago dryer sheets would leave grease stains on certain fabrics that did not wash out. The heat of the dryer apparently set the stain. A few years later when my hubby was unemployed for a while I stopped using any kind of fabric softener. It just wasn't a necessity. Haven't bought any since. The dryer makes them soft enough. I have since learned that softener makes towels less absorbent. Periodically you need to wash them and not use softener if you like using it.