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Towels are the most essential items in any bathroom. If you're confused by the various types of towels you see available in the stores, here's a quick guide to the various types of towels and where to use them.
Bath towels
This is the most common type and what you're probably referring to when you're out shopping for towels. It can come in the form of a 61cm by 107cm size or 76cm by 142cm. As a point of reference, most hotel bath towels measure 61cm by 107cm while luxury brands prefer to make bath towels in the larger dimension. When selecting bath towels, focus on the density and weight of the fabric. Ask about the GSM (grams per square metre) of the towel and type of fabric. Cotton is the standard type of fabric used for bath towels because of its high absorbency. Premium towels will usually be made of high grade Eygptian cotton. Typically, the super fluffy tery cloth towels that feel really plush to the touch are made of Eygptian cotton and with very fibrous threads that have a high GSM. Avoid buying towels made with synthetic material as they have very low absorbency, you can tell these towels apart from its shiny look.
Hand towels
Used in guest and powder rooms, hand towels can range from 38cm by 71cm to 40cm by 81cm. They are smaller in size compared to bath towels and take up less space in the washing machine. Hand towels should be cleaned after every use and because of that, they are usually made of thinner threads with low GSM.
Wash/Face cloths
It's good hygiene to keep a separate towel for your facial cleaning regiment as the skin on our faces are thinnest and most sensitive. Face cloths come in the size of 30cm by 30 cm or 33 cm by 33cm. The square shape also allows you to distinguish face cloths easily from hand towels. Face cloths should be cleaned on a daily basis or at the end of the day and ensure that you face cloth is placed on a rack where it can air-dry between uses. This prevents build-up of bacteria or mold.
Bath/Tub mats
A common sight in hotel bathrooms, these bath mats look like a towel but they should be placed by the sink or by the bath tub. They come in sizes of 50cm by 76cm or 61cm by 91cm. They may look as large as bath towels but the way to tell a bath mat apart from a bath towel is by its thickness. Bath mats are usually much thicker since they need to be able to soak up water on the floor while you are towelling off. Modern bath mats come with non-slip lining uderneath as well, making it easy to distinguish them.
Pool towels
For homeowners of landed property with a private pool, these pool towels are great for towelling off after getting out from the pool or as to line a deck chair, They can be as large as 101cm by 178cm and it's a good idea to keep your recreational towels separate from your bath towels.
Interested to learn more? Here's a handy guide to kitchen towels and how to clean them.
Learn to care for your towels by washing them properly here.
Images courtesy of Frette, Missoni, Hermes, White Cotton Trading, Hotel Buying Office.