How Do You Choose and Care for Your Bath Towels?

Whether you are wrapping yourself in a soft, thick fluffy bath towel after bathing, or enjoying the collection of bright and colourful towels accessorizing your bathroom, you need to be able to choose great bath towels. A collection of soft fluffy towels ensures that your bathroom offers you a spa-like experience at home.

The most popular fabric for bath towels is 100% cotton, as it is a highly absorbent fabric and helps you feel dry quickly. Cotton comes from several subtropical countries, the U.S.A., Australia and China. Egypt is the country that produces the world's best cotton, but Central and Latin America also produce high quality cottons. Some of the most expensive cottons come from Egypt and Brazil. However, the type of cotton is not necessarily the main consideration when you are buying towels. Occasionally, cotton can be blended with polyester (up to 10%) to prevent shrinkage and damage from wear and tear, which produces lower quality towels.

One of the most important features when selecting towels is how the towels feel, when you pick them up. When you touch good quality towels, they should feel soft and velvety with a weight you notice. Lower quality towels are less absorbent will lose their shape and can feel scratchy when you touch them. Watch for dense stitching, double-folded ends and a solid border. The towels should be perfectly square at the corners when folded. Lower quality towels lose their shape after frequent washing.

What is the difference between terry cotton and velour?

Towels are frequently described as either terry cotton or velour. Terry cotton is created through a weaving process that loops the fibres on both sides of the fabric. With velour, these loops are cropped to create a smoother texture. Water has a tendency to bead on the fibre, giving the impression that it takes hours to dry. Velour towels are more frequently used for decorative purposes while terry cotton towels are popular as towels for daily use.

What are Microfibre towels?

Microfibre towels are made completely of synthetic fabric. They are thin, long wearing and can absorb five time their weight in water. Athletes, fitness buffs and travellers find many uses for these towels because they dry quickly and are very lightweight. These towels do not offer a range of colors.

How should I care for towels?

1. Wash towels in either warm or cold water. Dry them outdoors on the line. If you pop them in the dryer, use the cool or delicate cycle to prevent the decorative strips from shrinking.
Tip: Stretch the trim after each washing and drying, even if you hang the towels outside to dry.

2. Wash dark towels separately; they can lose their colour over time. Do the same for thick pile towels for at least the first five or six months to keep them fluffy.

3. Don't use fabric softeners. They contain silicone, which can reduce a towel's ability to absorb moisture.

4. Don't wipe the sink with your towel. Toothpaste, makeup remover and some first-aid creams can stain or discolour your towels.