How to Purchase a High-Quality Bath Towel
Choose Cotton and Consider Level of Water Absorbency When Shopping
Apr 19, 2009
Q: Why do some types of bath towels not absorb water as well as others? Do certain cotton towels (such as ones with labels that say "100 percent Indian or Egyptian cotton") absorb more water than others?
A: When shopping for towels, it's important to choose towels that are made from cotton, rather than synthetic fibers such as polyester. Synthethic fibers are hydrophobic, meaning that they repel water. So, it's wise to choose 100 percent cotton towels in place of synthetic or cotton blends.
However, the kind of cotton a towel is made of doesn't necessarily affect water absorbency. Towels made from finer types of cotton, such as Egyptian and Pima, contain longer fibers and, therefore, will be softer to the touch. But, it's the length of the fibers, the amount of pile and the texture of the weave that determine how much water a towel can absorb.
When shopping for towels, look for a towel that feels soft and yet is heavy for its size. Inspect the terry piles carefully, since the more piles a towel contains--and the longer the piles--the more surface area the towel will have to absorb water. It's a good idea to buy one each of several different types of towels to see which ones you prefer before making the investment in purchasing a set of towels for the home.
Before using a towel for the first time, always wash, dry and fold it after it comes out of the dryer. A towel may tend to lint a little after the first washing and drying. This is a normal process and doesn't reflect poorly on the quality of the towel. Don't use a lot of fabric softener when washing towels, because the fabric softener can not only reduce the amount of absorbency but also weaken the fabric of the towels.
Folding a Towel
It may seem inconsequential, but the way you display towels has a dramatic impact on the appearance of a bathroom or a hall closet.
To ensure your bath towels are neat, accessible and fit in your storage space, fold each towel in half across its width, flattening the folds slightly with your hands. Fold the towel again across it width. With the long side of the towel facing you, pick up the towel and fold it in half across its width; repeat this process for hand towels. One the towels are folded, either stack them neatly in piles on a bathroom vanity countertop or place them on shelves in a storage closet.
