diff --git a/doc/fixes36.0 b/doc/fixes36.0
index 3c1e14a1b..5dcc50fec 100644
--- a/doc/fixes36.0
+++ b/doc/fixes36.0
@@ -1158,6 +1158,7 @@ stop travel or run when you get hungry
 debug-mode viewing of object weight
 prizes on various levels now protected by ?oSM scrolls as well as Elbereth
 regexes now use system libraries consistently for all pattern-matching systems
+wet towels deal more damage
 
 
 Platform- and/or Interface-Specific New Features
diff --git a/src/apply.c b/src/apply.c
index de27f96b8..476c700dd 100644
--- a/src/apply.c
+++ b/src/apply.c
@@ -102,6 +102,7 @@ struct obj *obj;
             incr_itimeout(&Glib, rn1(10, 3));
             Your("%s %s!", makeplural(body_part(HAND)),
                  (old ? "are filthier than ever" : "get slimy"));
+            if (obj->spe > 0) obj->spe--;
             return 1;
         case 1:
             if (!ublindf) {
@@ -127,6 +128,7 @@ struct obj *obj;
                     dropx(saved_ublindf);
                 }
             }
+            if (obj->spe > 0) obj->spe--;
             return 1;
         case 0:
             break;
@@ -136,10 +138,12 @@ struct obj *obj;
     if (Glib) {
         Glib = 0;
         You("wipe off your %s.", makeplural(body_part(HAND)));
+        if (obj->spe > 0) obj->spe--;
         return 1;
     } else if (u.ucreamed) {
         Blinded -= u.ucreamed;
         u.ucreamed = 0;
+        if (obj->spe > 0) obj->spe--;
 
         if (!Blinded) {
             pline("You've got the glop off.");
diff --git a/src/dothrow.c b/src/dothrow.c
index 239f27def..34c8e8689 100644
--- a/src/dothrow.c
+++ b/src/dothrow.c
@@ -87,6 +87,7 @@ int shotlimit;
         Sprintf(killer.name, "throwing %s bare-handed", killer_xname(obj));
         instapetrify(killer.name);
     }
+    if (obj->otyp == TOWEL && obj->spe > 0) obj->spe--;
     if (welded(obj)) {
         weldmsg(obj);
         return 1;
diff --git a/src/objnam.c b/src/objnam.c
index 6fa6a1d37..07586b615 100644
--- a/src/objnam.c
+++ b/src/objnam.c
@@ -308,6 +308,8 @@ unsigned cxn_flags; /* bitmask of CXN_xxx values */
     case TOOL_CLASS:
         if (typ == LENSES)
             Strcpy(buf, "pair of ");
+        else if (typ == TOWEL && obj->spe > 0)
+            Strcpy(buf, (obj->spe < 3) ? "moist " : "wet ");
 
         if (!dknown)
             Strcat(buf, dn ? dn : actualn);
@@ -2399,6 +2401,7 @@ struct obj *no_wish;
     int halfeaten, mntmp, contents;
     int islit, unlabeled, ishistoric, isdiluted, trapped;
     int tmp, tinv, tvariety;
+    int wetness;
     struct fruit *f;
     int ftype = context.current_fruit;
     char fruitbuf[BUFSZ];
@@ -2432,6 +2435,7 @@ struct obj *no_wish;
     contents = UNDEFINED;
     oclass = 0;
     actualn = dn = un = 0;
+    wetness = 0;
 
     if (!bp)
         goto any;
@@ -2472,6 +2476,12 @@ struct obj *no_wish;
         } else if (!strncmpi(bp, "blessed ", l = 8)
                    || !strncmpi(bp, "holy ", l = 5)) {
             blessed = 1;
+        } else if (!strncmpi(bp, "moist ", l = 6)
+                   || !strncmpi(bp, "wet ", l = 4)) {
+            if (!strncmpi(bp, "wet ", 4))
+                wetness = rn2(3) + 3;
+            else
+                wetness = rnd(2);
         } else if (!strncmpi(bp, "cursed ", l = 7)
                    || !strncmpi(bp, "unholy ", l = 7)) {
             iscursed = 1;
@@ -3274,6 +3284,9 @@ typfnd:
             otmp->spe = 1;
         }
         break;
+    case TOWEL:
+        if (wetness) otmp->spe = wetness;
+        break;
     case SLIME_MOLD:
         otmp->spe = ftype;
     /* Fall through */
diff --git a/src/potion.c b/src/potion.c
index 64d08d5a4..6bc3e1e78 100644
--- a/src/potion.c
+++ b/src/potion.c
@@ -1933,6 +1933,12 @@ dodip()
         return (1);
     }
 
+    if (potion->otyp == POT_WATER && obj->otyp == TOWEL) {
+        pline_The("towel soaks it up!");
+        /* wetting the towel already done via H2Opotion_dip */
+        goto poof;
+    }
+
     if (is_poisonable(obj)) {
         if (potion->otyp == POT_SICKNESS && !obj->opoisoned) {
             char buf[BUFSZ];
diff --git a/src/trap.c b/src/trap.c
index d02ec1537..a7572f603 100644
--- a/src/trap.c
+++ b/src/trap.c
@@ -3307,6 +3307,9 @@ boolean force;
 
     if (obj->otyp == CAN_OF_GREASE && obj->spe > 0) {
         return ER_NOTHING;
+    } else if (obj->otyp == TOWEL && obj->spe < 7) {
+        obj->spe = max(obj->spe, rn2(8));
+        return ER_NOTHING;
     } else if (obj->greased) {
         if (!rn2(2))
             obj->greased = 0;
diff --git a/src/uhitm.c b/src/uhitm.c
index 83d3163e4..e7596c879 100644
--- a/src/uhitm.c
+++ b/src/uhitm.c
@@ -925,6 +925,10 @@ int thrown; /* HMON_xxx (0 => hand-to-hand, other => ranged) */
                     /* non-weapons can damage because of their weight */
                     /* (but not too much) */
                     tmp = obj->owt / 100;
+                    if (obj->otyp == TOWEL && obj->spe > 0) { /* wet towel */
+                        tmp += obj->spe;
+                        obj->spe--;
+                    }
                     if (tmp < 1)
                         tmp = 1;
                     else