Microfiber towels are polyester (plastic resin) or nylon, or a combination of the two. Don't flip it around a fire or hot tailpipe.

A cotton towel soaked with water and mostly wrung out can be hung around your neck or over your head to help cool you down.

Driving into the hot summer sun with no air conditioning with a dog in the cab of the truck, wet a bath towel and lay it over the dog.

Suspend a box of perishable food and drape a wet towel over it. It works best in the SUN, not the shade. It might keep the food as cool as 62F, but no cooler, so don't risk food poisoning.