types of towels :Oversized bath sheets are perfect for those looking for some extra warmth after a shower. Their size allows you to completely wrap yourself with them. They are also an excellent wintertime option.
Regular bath towels are ideal for everyday use. They are usually big enough to wrap around your waist or torso. They come in soft, absorbent and sturdy materials such as cotton and rayon.
Most beach and travel towels are about the same size (roughly the size of a regular bath towel) but are often crafted from different materials. The reason? Beach towels are made from cotton but have a flat weave construction. That way, they don’t take up much space in a beach bag, dry fast and are easy to clean from the sand.
Travel-friendly towels most often are crafted from microfiber due to the material’s high absorbency and quick-dry qualities. They are smaller than everyday bath towels. Microfiber towels are incredibly lightweight and, when folded, take up minimum space. They also make excellent gym towels.
Hand towels are another popular option crafted from plush cotton. Absorbency is key but so is high-quality. Hand towels should be washed a lot more often than other types of towels for hygienic purposes.
Face towels and washcloths are the smallest type of bath towels. They are made from naturally hypoallergenic cotton, and are soft, lightweight and dry quickly. Use these types of towels only on one part of the body, such as the face, to avoid transmitting germs.
And lastly, baby towels are made from the softest cotton. Babies have extremely sensitive skin, so bath towels should be hypoallergenic and gentle to the skin.
Properly caring for your bath towels will prolong their life and keep them in top condition for years. Cotton towels are washing machine-friendly. Wash them in cool water with a mild detergent and tumble dry low. To keep them fluffy and soft, add a few wool dryer balls instead of dryer sheets. Never use bleaching agents on your towels.
While you can wash bamboo towels in the washing machine, the best way to keep them soft is to air dry them. Certain dryers have an air dry setting which could work, too. Never use hot air on bamboo towels because it will stiffen them.
Hot air is also an enemy of synthetic fibers such as microfiber and polyester.
For more specific wash and care tips, read the How to Wash, Dry, & Care for Towels and How to Keep Your Towels Smelling Fresh & Clean guides.
We already mentioned that some towels are “thinner” and some “thicker.” This is just a general way of speaking about towel weight. You may have seen the abbreviation GSM on towel labels before. It stands for “grams per square meter” and is the standard measurement for fabric weight. GSM, as it pertains to bath towels, describes the density of the product. The higher the GSM value, the thicker, heavier and fluffier the towel.
Most towels’ weight varies between 300 to 900 GSM. Those on the lower end (300-400) are lighter and thinner. Beach, kitchen and travel towels have the lowest GSM.
A medium-weight towel would be in the 400-600 range. That is the perfect weight for everyday bath and hand towels as well as face towels and washcloths.
The highest range of GSM is 700-900. Bath towels with that weight will be the fluffiest and absorb the most water. Of course, they will also take the most time to dry.
It is important to remember that GSM only refers to the weight of towels. It is not an indicator of quality.
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