Choosing the Perfect Cotton Towel: Your Ultimate Guide

With an endless number of options for towels, shopping for towels becomes a touchy process. Just visit any store selling bath towels and you’ll see confused consumers. Faced with stacks of towels, in a wide range of prices and advertising claims but it's difficult to know which will live up to their claims.

So, before you throw in the towel too soon, here’s some advice from the experts about what you need to decide & to know.

1- Determine the Size according to Use:

Towels come in a variety of standard sizes that you’ll want to consider before your purchase.

· Washcloths: for hand, ladies' toilet, or Kitchen are square 13” x 13”.

· Hand, face & hair towels:  for drying hands, face or hair are 16” x 30”.

· Bath towel:  for drying off after a shower or bath is 27” x 52”.

· Bath sheet: offers more coverage, to fully wrap yourself is 35” x 60”.

2- Decide on Weight:

Towel density is measured in grams per square meter (GSM), and this number usually varies from 300GSM to 900GSM, generally, the higher the weight, the denser the towel and the more absorbent and plusher it will be, furthermore, Thicker, heavier towels are usually more absorbent than thinner, lighter towels, however, will need longer to dry.

· 300 - 400 GSM is lightweight, quick drying, ideal for the gym or kitchen.

· 400 - 600 GSM is medium weight, great for the beach and can be used as everyday bath towels.

· 600 - 900 GSM is the heaviest, top performers, dense and absorbent, which makes it feel extra luxurious but requires a bit more drying time.

3- Choose Your Cotton

It's a matter of personal preference but makes a big difference. Quality towels may be made of three types of cotton: standard, Egyptian, or Supima. Egyptian cotton tends to produce the longest threads and is the most soft and absorbent type of cotton. Supima, which is grown in the United States, lasts longer than Egyptian but tends to produce shorter threads, so it won’t feel as lush. Standard cotton is considered to be the lowest quality cotton. Everyday towels are often made of standard cotton. Choose Egyptian cotton if you prefer a thick, durable and luxurious feel. They also become softer and fluffier with every wash.

4- Check Construction & Durability

A quality towel typically has tightly woven fibers that are cut off so that they looks stand up, furthermore, two-ply towels are more durable than one ply. For soft, absorbent towels that last, first consider two-ply towels made with Egyptian or Pima cotton, or towels that blend cotton with rayon, but they may not last as long. 

5- Pick the Color and Design

Towels have the power to turn your ordinary daily routine into a moment of warm indulgence and can add a finishing touch to a bathroom, so consider selecting a stack in a lovely accent color & design to compliment your home décor.