How to choose the best bath towels for your home

There are many things to take into consideration when selecting the best bath towels for your home. All the factors that are influenced by the manufacturing process are crucial but you also have to take into consideration who will be using them and what will be involved in terms of ongoing maintenance. You’ll also no doubt have preferences for their look and style, not just for the towels themselves but how they complement the overall aesthetic of your bathroom.

Bath towels should last between two to five years. However, the durability, texture, and price of your towel will all influence this. It is important that you carefully choose the best bath towels you can to get the best use out of them.

The first thing you must do when you are choosing bath towels for your home is to think about the different materials available. There are many bath towel fabrics to choose from, each with different absorbency, price, towel feel and more.

A popular choice is organic cotton bath towels made from pure cotton. These towels are soft, absorbent and are easy to care for. Pure cotton towels also come in many colours, styles and textures.

However, there are other types of cotton that are considered even more luxurious, including Egyptian cotton and Turkish cotton. Egyptian cotton is super soft and gentle on the skin while Turkish cotton is known for its superior absorbency.

Bamboo towels are another great choice for bath towels. They can be even more absorbent than cotton, plus they are a sustainable natural resource making them a more eco-friendly choice.

Towel size is another important factor to consider when you are buying new bath towels. If you buy towel sets or a towel collection, they will often come with a washcloth, a hand towel, bath mats, bath towels and bath sheets so you’ll have all bases covered.

If not, a big decision will be choosing between a bath towel and a bath sheet. If you’re a taller or bigger individual, bath sheets might be the better option as they are larger, offering greater coverage.

Because they are much larger than typical towels, they are typically more absorbent and feel more luxurious than traditional towels. They also take up more space in the washing machine making it a balanced choice.

Related article: Bath sheet vs bath towel - which is right for you?

Another important part of choosing the best bath towels is finding towels with the best texture and feel. Because skin is so sensitive, a gentle and soft towel makes for a more comfortable experience.

The aforementioned Egyptian cotton towels are great options with respect to this due to their natural characteristics and the fact they typically contain a longer, more plush pile.

If you are looking for soft, smooth options for towels, bamboo towels or towels with waffle weaves represent fantastic choices.

The best way to judge is to personally feel the different types of towel materials. As everyone has slightly different sensitivities, you might find that what’s right for you is different compared to another member of the household.

Next, you should consider the type of maintenance and care your bath towels will require. When you are regularly using your towels, it is important that they are easy to clean.

Some bath towel materials are more likely to get damaged in the washing machine. They may start to shed or may lose some of the pile, making your towels look rough and flat. Egyptian towels for example, while incredibly soft, are known to shed a little easier than some other options.

Those concerned about longevity also tend to choose white towels too as they don’t suffer from issues of their colours fading.

When you buy bath towels, it is also important to consider their highlights and features. The way that your towels are made will impact the overall quality and durability.

There are typically four ways that cotton towels are produced. The first type is combed cotton. This means that the cotton is brushed during the production process to remove short fibres, which makes the fabric softer and more durable.

Next, you can choose from ring-spun cotton. This uses both long and short fibres that are twisted together to create loops, making the towel strong and smooth.

You can also see how much the loop's yarn was twisted. The more you twist the yarn, the more durable your towel will be. However, low twist towels are typically more plush and absorbent.

Finally, you can choose cotton towels that were manufactured with the hydrocotton, microcotton, or aerocotton process. Each of these processes will make your towels softer and more absorbent.

Our preference is for combed cotton or ringspun cotton towels which produce plush towels that are functional for years but it is something that is somewhat personal so be sure to feel the different types for yourself

Towel weight is another essential feature to consider to have the most luxurious bathing experience. Towel weight is typically measured by grams per square meter, also known as GSM and ranges from 300-900.

The denser your towels are, the more plush and absorbent they will be. 600-900 GSM is the heaviest weight for towels and are the thickest, most plush options available. It is important to note that towels with a higher GSM will typically take longer to dry.

However, anything between 500 and 700 GSM will provide you with a great balance between feel and drying times.

Towels can be an important part of bathroom interior projects. Towels can add a finishing touch to your bathroom design, so it is important to find one with a colour and style that complements your bathroom.

When you are choosing a colour for your bath towels, it is best to find one that suits the base colour of the bathroom, rather than one that matches it. For example, if you have a neutral coloured bathroom, bath towels that offer a splash of colour will work a treat.

Another important part of choosing towels to finish your bathroom design is to give them a close visual inspection. When you get your towels, make sure the edges fold together neatly and have secure stitching.

Taking note of these signs will give you peace of mind that the towels were produced to high standards and won’t fray when you watch them.

While you can feel a towel to see how soft it is, you may find that manufacturers coat the towels with a finish to make them feel softer. This will typically wash off after you put it in the washer so a bit of extra research looking into the manufacturing process or user reviews never goes amiss.

When you are shopping for bath towels, it is important to consider each of these factors. This way, you can choose the best bath towels for your entire household. It may be that you buy different towels for different individuals but in doing so you’ll be picking towels that work better and last longer.