How to choose a towel: tips and tricks

content

1. materials
   
2. What should be the size of the towel
3. What should be the pile
4. Towel Density
5. How to check the quality of a towel
6. How to wash a towel

Which towel to choose. materials

Towels are made from different materials, most often cotton, bamboo and linen. Each of them has its own advantages and disadvantages that you need to consider when buying.

Towels can be terry (with a large number of moisture-absorbing loops on the surface), waffle and velor (with cut loops):

1. Terry products are ideal for the face, hands and body – they are very soft and pleasant to the touch, absorb a large amount of moisture.
2. Waffle towels are a great option for the kitchen. They wipe dishes well, dry quickly and do not lose their basic properties even after intensive washing and digestion modes. In addition, they do not leave marks on cleaned surfaces.
3. Velor towels are soft and pleasant to the touch. They, as well as terry, are used to care for hands and face. But such products have the worst moisture-absorbing abilities. Velor towels dry faster than terry towels.

Cotton towels

Cotton products are highly hygienic, soft and hypoallergenic. It is they who are recommended to be used for caring for children, especially for newborns. It is important that the towel consists of pure cotton.

The quality of the product and its appearance largely depends on what type of cotton is used. For example, Egyptian cotton terry cloths are of the highest quality and elite.

The length of the fibers of cotton of Egyptian origin is twice as long as that of the standard. Due to this, the density of the weave of the towel is higher, and it has more moisture-absorbing “loops”. The ultra-soft and super-fluffy bath towels used in luxury hotels and spas are typically made from Egyptian cotton. They are particularly strong and durable. However, such products also have disadvantages – they are heavier than standard towels and dry longer.

On a par with Egyptian cotton is long-staple Pima cotton, which grows in America. It is as strong and durable as the Egyptian, but less soft and fluffy. Towels from this material are produced by the well-known American company Supima.

One of the most popular types of cotton is Turkish. Of course, it is not as fluffy as Egyptian or Pima cotton, but it absorbs moisture well and dries quickly. Turkish cotton towels are light and durable, plus they get softer and fluffier with every wash.

But not always the marking that a towel made of 100% high-quality cotton is true. Some manufacturers report that their product is made from Egyptian cotton, when in fact towels are made from a mixture of cotton and synthetic fibers. This limits the moisture absorption capacity of the products and makes them less pleasant to the touch. Therefore, you should choose towels from trusted manufacturers and do not pay attention to products made from “high-quality elite cotton” at a low price.

Advantages

• Suitable for newborns, pregnant women and allergy sufferers;
• Ideal for drying hands, face and body.
• They have good absorbent properties;
• They have high strength and wear resistance;

Flaws

• Dry for a long time;
• They may shrink after washing.

Linen towels

Linen is most often used in the production of kitchen and bath towels. It can also be combined with cotton fibers to create face and body towels.

Advantages

• Do not cause allergic reactions;
• Do not shed;
• Have a good massage effect;
• Withstand a large number of washings;
• Durability (service life is longer than that of cotton);
• Does not electrify;
• They have antiseptic properties (destroy pathogenic bacteria);
• Can be used for children;

Flaws

• Strongly crushed;
• They are expensive.

bamboo towels

Bamboo towels have gained wide popularity among residents of the Russian Federation and CIS countries. They are soft and pleasant to the touch, perfectly absorb moisture and retain their unique properties even after many washes.

Many towels, as well as bedding, blankets and pillows, marketed as “bamboo”, have little to do with this unique plant. In fact, the false bamboo material comes to us from Asia and China.

Entrepreneurial Asians “perfectly” learned the basics of the production of viscose fiber from bamboo wood, during which cellulose is extracted from a plant and processed with various chemicals. The result is a hydrated cellulose artificial material – viscose. Such a “bamboo” does not have the unique properties reported by almost all thematic online publications. Viscose from bamboo wood has only the properties of viscose. Viscose fiber towels may be labeled “bamboo viscose”.

Real eco-friendly and healthy bamboo fiber (“viscose linen”) is produced mechanically, like hemp and linen fibers. However, its production “flies a pretty penny”, so products made from real bamboo fiber are expensive and rarely found on sale.

Advantages

• Do not cause allergies;
• Do not cause allergic reactions;
• Dry quickly;
• Stop the growth of pathogenic microorganisms;
• They have antibacterial and deodorizing properties;
• Well absorb moisture (better than cotton);
• Long retain the original “marketable” appearance;

Flaws

• High price;
• Most “100% bamboo” products are not bamboo at all.

What should be the size of the towel

Towels can be bath, massage, for hands, face and feet, etc. Each of them has its own dimensions:

1. Shower or bath towels range in size from 0.7 x 1.4 m to 1 x 1.5 m;
2. The dimensions of goods intended for a bath or sauna can be 1 x 1.8 and 0.8 x 2 m;
3. Hand towels can be 0.4 x 0.6, 0.5 x 0.7 and 0.5 x 0.9 m;
4. Face cloths are often 0.5 and 0.9 m long and 0.3 and 0.5 m wide, respectively;
5. Products for hands can be 0.4 x 0.6 m, 0.5 x 0.7 m;
6. Beach cloths, as a rule, are 1.4–1.5 cm long and 0.7–1 m wide
7. Kitchen towel models are often 0.3 x 0.3 and 0.3 x 0.5 m.

What should be the pile

Terry towels have a special pile – “cohesive” loops on the surface. The softness and fluffiness of the product depends on their length. The villi can be 3–8 mm long, with 5 mm being considered ideal. The moisture-absorbing properties of the product depend on the length of the loops. The longer they are, the better the towel absorbs moisture. But too large loops (more than 5 cm) can stretch, as well as lose their shape and roll after washing. Pile less than 3 mm long “serves” longer, but absorbs moisture worse.

Towel Density

The density of towels is measured in grams per square meter. This value varies from 300 to 900 g/m2 (GSM – grams per square meter can be indicated on the labels of foreign manufacturers). The 300–400 g/m2 sheets are thin and light, ideal for use in the gym or kitchen. Products 400–600 g/m2 are most often used after a shower or bath. Many beach towels have this thread count.

Canvases with a density of 600-800 g/m2 have the highest strength and best absorbent properties. However, they have the greatest weight and dry for a long time. Towels with this weight are often made from high quality Pima and Egyptian cottons.

How to check the quality of a towel

1. Examine the product from two sides. It should be evenly dyed, without streaks and foreign chemical odors;
2. Pay attention to the pile of terry products. Run your hand over it – if threads or villi remain on the skin, it is better not to buy the product;
3. Wipe the wet glass surface with a towel. Does it have stains on it? If yes, then this may indicate the use of synthetic fibers in production;
4. Make sure that all edges of the product are finished with closed seams, and that the terry “loops” do not pull out with minimal impact. Remember that the durability of the product depends on their fastening strength.

How to wash a towel

1. Manufacturers often treat new products with special fabric softeners that make them fluffier and softer. However, these towels absorb water worse. For this reason, new towels should be washed before first use.
2. Remember that the use of bleach makes the towel less durable and reduces its lifespan. Therefore, use them only in extreme cases.
3. Read the care label before use. It should indicate at what temperature to wash the product and in what mode, whether it can be ironed and dry-cleaned. As a rule, towels can be washed at a temperature of 40-60 degrees at medium speeds of the machine.
4. Remember, a towel will last you longer if you take good care of it.

In the following articles, our experts tell you how to choose a comfortable mop and the secrets of choosing an ironing board.