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, it isn't difficult to know which will live up to their claims.
Before you throw in the towel too soon, here's some advice from the experts about what you need to decide upon when shopping for towels.
- Determine the Size According to Use
Towels come in a variety of standard sizes that you'll want to consider before your purchase:
- Washcloths are 13" x 13"
- Hand towels are 16" x 30"
- Bath towels are 27" x 52"
- Bath sheets are 35" x 60"
For drying hands, face, or hair is 16" x 30". The shower or bath is 27" x 52". Bath sheets offer more coverage; to fully wrap yourself is 35" x 60".
- Consider the Material
Towels are made from a variety of materials, but cotton is the most popular choice. The material of the towel will determine its absorbency, durability, and feel. Cotton towels are soft, absorbent, and durable, making them ideal for everyday use.
- Weight and Density Matter
The weight of a towel 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, they will need longer to dry.
- Types of Cotton
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 softest and absorbent type of cotton, which is grown in the United States. Egyptian cotton is considered to be the lowest quality cotton. Every day, wash 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.
- Construction and structure
Durability and absorbency are also affected by how the towel is constructed. Quality towels typically have tightly woven fibers that are cut off so that they 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 Supima cotton, or towels that blend cotton with rayon, but they may not last as long.
- 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 to complement your home décor.