A. Towel Types Quicklist
- Bath towels
- Beach towels
- Bath sheets
- Bath mats
- Washcloths
- Face towels
- Hand towels for the bathroom
- Clean-up towels
- Spa towels
- Turkish towels
- Gym towels
- Decorative towels
- Fingertip towels
- Pet towels
- Paper towels
- Kitchen towels
- Rags
- Shammies
I always think that there is nothing better than having a big, fluffy, dry towel in the bathroom to make you feel like royalty. But did you know that there are, in fact, different types of bathroom towels made for various uses? Moreover, while we typically equate towels with the bathroom, there are many different types of towels used throughout the house and elsewhere.
Towels are available in numerous styles, fabrics and for different uses. From the subtle decorative touch of a well-placed hand towel to the comforting warmth of a clean bath towel, a good bathroom towel can improve the whole look and feel of the room.
B. Different Types of Towels (Full List and Details)
Despite knowing that there are separate towels for each purpose, I always used to utilize a single towel for almost everything until I realized what a huge mistake that was. You might even be surprised to know that you require different bath towels, even if you have a towel robe.
1. Bath Towels
A bath towel is perhaps the most basic type of towel that everyone should have. This is the towel you grab as soon as you exit the shower or bath.
a. Bath towel sizes
Bath towels are typically 27 x 52 inches or 30 x 58 inches in size. So, if you want to work with a lot of towels, the larger size might be the way to go. I also feel that a pleasant bathing experience is largely determined by the towel I use after showering.
As a result, if you use the wrong towel, you may not enjoy the experience. You wrap it around your body and instantly dry yourself up. Bath towels are available in a variety of fabrics, including linen, cotton-polyester blend, bamboo, and cotton.
b. Bath towel fabrics
Although they are not as large as bath sheets, bath towels can be wonderful, especially if they are cleaned properly and kept dry. Egyptian, Supima, and special Hygro cotton are soft, luxuriant, and ultra-absorbent, whilst Turkish or basic cotton is rapid drying, lightweight, and easy to handle.
2. Beach Towels
I love going to the beach every now and then, so I always have a beach towel in my bathroom. These are perhaps the biggest towels I own. Beach towels are ideal to keep on hand for pool days or any other fun outings where you might require a larger towel. These can be as large as 40 by 70 inches.
Beach towels are made specifically for usage over the course of a day. These are thin mats that are used to lie down in the sand or on the concrete beside a pool. These are brightly colored and dry rapidly in the sun. Hence, it is a necessary item for sunbathing on the beach. It’s also sometimes used to wrap the body. The greatest beach towels are made of cotton, synthetic microfibers, or linen.
3. Bath Sheets
A bath sheet is a larger towel than a bath towel, so you’ll have enough room to wrap the entire towel around your body. Not only is a bath sheet larger, but it is also more absorbent and can dry quickly. Its size ranges from 35 x 75 inches up to 40′ x 80′.
If you want a more hotel-like experience, you should use a bath sheet. I personally prefer using it because I like to wrap it around myself after a quick shower and when I want to style my hair or do my makeup. Don’t worry, though; bath sheets are also incredible for men. They can wrap it around their waist while shaving.
Bath sheets have great absorbency, a plush and soft feel, making them one of the best bathroom towels available. While white is the most popular color, you may also choose from a wide range of colored options.
4. Bath Mats
Okay, technically it’s a mat but I liken bath mats as a towel for your feet.
Bath mats are a great addition to any bathroom. It’s a unique towel with a different appearance on the front and back. Its front side is softer than a typical rug, carpet, or mat, and its reverse side is created with a fixative surface to grasp the floor.
A beautiful foot towel can help make your bathroom look more attractive and spare you the trouble of having to clean your bathroom floor all the time. Bath mats are usually placed directly in front of the shower or bath to soak up all of the water that drips off of you as you exit.
However, you may need to perform some measurements to find the exact size for your bathroom. Ideally, a 20 x 30-inch bath mat is the standard size that fits most bathrooms. But larger bathrooms can also accommodate a 24 by 36-inch mat.
5. Washcloths
Washcloths are small towels that are used to clean your skin, and they are handy to have around the house for a quick rinse. These tiny towels are usually 12 × 12 inches or 13 x 13 inches in size.
However, we should be conscious while using washcloths because of the raw materials used to make this towel. Nonetheless, the raw ingredients are gentle on the skin and are used to remove dirt, toxins, old skin cells, and any other debris from the skin. Washcloth sets should be made of 100 percent cotton, cotton-polyester blend, or bamboo when purchased.
6. Face Towels
A face towel works similarly to a washcloth in that it is used to dry your face. It has a square shape and is smaller in size. It can, for example, be used to cleanse and remove makeup from your face.
If you have extra sensitive skin like I do, you should definitely use a face cloth instead of a washcloth. Make sure that you look for physical properties such as softness and absorbency, as well as fiber composition. Face towels made of cotton, bamboo, or synthetic microfibers may be the best option in this instance.
Having a good face towel with you at all times is an important step toward better skincare. Face towels are often smaller than bath towels, making them easy to take in your suitcase. A decent face towel is one that is absorbent, gentle on the skin, dries rapidly, and is light enough to carry with you.
7. Bathroom Hand Towels
Well, as the name suggests, hand towels are used to dry your hands. You might think that hand towels are not necessary, but you may reconsider when you’re desperately searching for something in the bathroom with wet hands. And trust me, you don’t want to use the same towel you use for your face or body to dry your hands. You should select the appropriate one based on the raw materials in order to maintain proper hygiene.
The standard size for hand towels is 16 by 32 inches; however, 15 x 28 inches is also available. Hand towels should be made of cotton, cotton-polyester blend, or linen. They are frequently found hanging over a ring or bar attached to the bathroom or sink wall.
Taking care of your hands is crucial for both your skin and your hygiene. This necessitates the use of a decent hand towel.
8. Clean Up Towels
Having some less-than-nice towels on hand can come in handy when you need to clean up after an accident. When it comes to wiping up blood or cleaning wounds, you should keep your fluffy towels away and use these instead. Clean up towels are specifically designed to help you clean blood or any other spill in the bathroom or on yourself.
9. Spa Towels
The spa towel is there to provide a spa-like experience. It is extremely soft and absorbent, giving you a light and airy feeling like you’re at the spa. However, make sure that the towel is bleach-resistant because you’ll have to wash it frequently. Spa towels cannot withstand being washed with bleach on a regular basis.
10. Turkish Towels
A Turkish towel is also known as a Fouta towel or a hammam towel. It is made from Turkish cotton, thus the name. This specific type of fiber is best known for being long, which makes the towel itself extremely durable.
11. Gym Towels
A gym towel is used to wipe sweat after a workout, either at the gym, outside, or at home. It is also known as a sweat towel or an exercise towel. It aids in the cleansing and cooling of the body. When you know you can rely on a good towel to absorb your perspiration, burning calories becomes easy. A gym towel is a little smaller than a bath towel, but it’s a little bigger than a face towel.
A decent gym towel should be very absorbent and quick to dry so that it can always be ready for more while you burn calories. You should always get a cotton towel, although there are other options too, such as linen, bamboo, and microfiber gym towels.
12. Decorative Towels
One of the simplest ways to add color and beauty to your bathroom while keeping it useful is to use decorative towels. Play around with tassels, fringe, and stitching to add some aesthetic appeal to these. Plus, they are an excellent alternative if guests need to dry their hands in your guest bathroom.
13. Fingertip Towels
A fingertip towel is a tiny towel that is used to swiftly dry hands and mainly ‘fingertips.’ Its size is between that of a hand towel and that of a washcloth and measures 11 inches by 18 inches. It serves as both a decorative as well as a useful item to have in the bathroom.
However, it is primarily used for decorative purposes. It’s most commonly found in guest bathrooms, but it can also be found in the kitchen. Cotton, linen, bamboo, and synthetic microfibers are the most widely utilized materials to create a fingertip towel. They are also available in a range of colors, patterns, and designs.
14. Pet Towels
If you have pets at home, you might want to have an additional pair of towels for them too. Pet towels are light and easy to clean and carry. Plus, they dry the pets instantly after you wash them. A synthetic microfiber pet towel is an ideal option for pet towels. It will assist you in keeping your pet warm and comfortable.
15. Paper Towels
It’s a paper towel that’s both absorbent and disposable. It’s available as a roll, as well as pre-cut and pre-folded layers. It is disposable, unlike other towels, and is only meant to be used once. Because we only use it once, it is typically thought to be more hygienic than any other towel. It can be used in both the kitchen and the bathroom.
16. Kitchen Towels
Kitchen towels are similar to bathroom hand towels. They’re primarily for drying hands after washing which is frequently done in the kitchen (hopefully haha). Most folks drape kitchen towels on the oven handle or dishwasher handle or both.
a. Kitchen towel size
Kitchen towel sizes range but typically they’re 26 inches long by 16 to 18 inches wide.
b. Kitchen towel fabrics
Kitchen towels are generally made from cotton or microfiber. The should also serve as a decorative piece; in other words, choose kitchen towels that complement your kitchen decor. It’s good to buy a set of 4 or more so you have clean ones available; they get dirty pretty fast. It’s also fun to have some seasonal kitchen towels such as Christmas kitchen towels and other holiday designs.
17. Rags
You can buy rags for cleaning up spills and messes or use old t-shirts etc. We have both. You can never have enough rags around the house for quick clean-ups. If you have old towels, you can do all kinds of things with them including turning them into useful rags.
18. Shammy (aka Chamois)
A shammy is used to buff surfaces such as a vehicle.
C. Types of Towel Materials and Fibers (Fabrics)
Another way to classify or categorize the different kinds of towels is by material. Towels are made from different materials. Many are a mix. Here are common towel materials (i.e. fabrics):
Cotton: The most common fabric used for towels is cotton. There are several types of cotton (source: Threadcurve.com). They include:
- Egyptian cotton
- Brushed cotton
- Pima cotton
- Cotton twill
- Cotton Lawn
- Organic cotton
- Levant cotton
- Poplin
- Sea Island cotton
Cotton is such a great material for towels because it’s soft, absorbent and inexpensive.
Flax, aka linen: Linen is highly absorbent and dries quickly. It makes for great kitchen towels and clean-up towels.
Microfiber: Synthetics can be engineered to do almost anything including being ultra absorbent, ultra soft, ultra anything you want. But, they aren’t natural like cotton and aren’t very biodegradable.
Bamboo: Bamboo for towels is a decent cotton alternative. It’s fairly absorbant. Requires fewer resources to grow. Is biodegradable.
Hemp: Absorbent but not terribly soft. Good for kitchen towels, rags and such but not for your face or body.
Tencel: tencel’s claim to fame is it’s soft, soft and soft. It’s also decently absorbent. Tencel is made from wood chips and then processed with chemicals to break down the fibers to result in the the ultra softness.
Ramie: natural fiber that is tough yet absorbent. Some ramie towels offer “loofah” qualities good for scrubbing.
D. Best Type of Towels for Various Purposes
Towels are more important in our daily lives than most of us realize. When we use them for various tasks we may finally start to realize just how important they are to us, but until that time, we often take them for granted. If you are ready to start taking your towels more seriously, we strongly encourage you to learn about the best types of towels for any and all life situations.
Best Towels for Drying Hair
Wiping off your hair after a swim or a shower? Look for a soft, cotton, and microfiber towel. This will allow you to get your hair dried out just the way that you need to without necessarily hurting the healthy growth of your hair.
It is recommended because it is gentle on your body but still helps you get the results that you need when drying out your hair.
Best Towels for Travel
Microfiber towels are the way to go when you have a towel that you need for travel. You can use these for all different types of uses while you are on the go. Make sure you always keep at least one or two microfiber towels with you wherever you go on travel in order to have the kind of protection that you know that you need.
Best Dog Towels for Drying Dogs
You know that you want to have a nice towel for your dog as well as for your own needs. Getting something that will allow your dog to get dried up just right will help you to be sure that your dog gets dried off just as you want them to. If you want to get really creative with it, you can even get cute towels that speak to your dog’s personality.
There are towels that can make your dog look like a cartoon dinosaur or have the appearance of different types of ears than what it really has. It is up to you to decide if this is the kind of thing that matters to you, but you will definitely want to make sure you have the towels that you need for your dog.
Best Towels For Drying Car
There are specialty microfiber drying towels made specifically for cars that you need to take advantage of if you can. They are ideal to use because they are so absorbent and because they won’t cause damage to the paint job on your vehicle the way that some other types of towels can.
If you would like to avoid the risk of damaging your car in those ways, then perhaps you should take advantage of the tools that are now available to you to dry your car without the fear that you are doing so damage to the paint job.
Best Towels For Camping
PackTowl Personal makes a great towel that you can take on your next camping trip. You may want to consider doing so because it is a great way to keep a towel handy when you are out camping. At the same time, this towel can be carefully secured away so that you aren’t running any risk of the towel getting snatched up by wildlife or otherwise falling into any kind of danger that you cannot predict or handle.
You will want to make sure that you keep things secure and protected when you are out camping so you never have to worry about losing something to nature.
Best Towels For Swimmers
You can’t go wrong getting a classic beach towel if the only thing you need to worry about is drying off after you have taken a dip in the pool. You just need something that you can wipe yourself off with, and any towel that you can pick up at the store should do just fine. One thing to keep in mind is that the more that you spend on your beach towel, the longer it is likely to last.
Remember, you are probably going to use this towel time and time again, so you may want to invest in something that works decently well for you.
Best Towels For Drying Face
Cotton towels are ideal to use for your face. The smooth texture of the cotton against your face is something that will feel nice to you. Also, you will want to be sure to use the towel to get yourself completely taken care of as far as getting all of the potential dirt and grime off of your face if you have been out and about taking care of things.
You may want to get that removed so you don’t end up carrying about your day with a dirty face. People will notice, and they may not be so forgiving.
There are many different towels that may be used for multiple purposes. You should probably avoid trying to get too fancy with anything that you get because you are going to need to use them again in the future for many different purposes. One thing that you can do is make sure you get a great multi-purpose towel to make sure you can take care of any and all projects that you need to take care of.
You don’t want to spend too much money unnecessarily on towels that serve just one purpose because you are likely going to use them for other purposes as well. Just keep this in mind and you should be all set.
E. Where to buy great towels online
There are a ton of online stores where you can pretty much any type of towel made with any type of fiber. Here are several of our favorites:
- Etsy (some awesome, custom towels to choose from)
- Wayfair
- Amazon
- The Bath Mama
- Bed Bath and Beyond
- IKEA
- Walmart
F. Wrapping Up
I hope this article was helpful to you and you have a fair idea about the different types of bathroom towels available. Don’t worry; you don’t have to use all of them and own each one; just use the one that you feel will come in handy the most. Ever since I organized my bathroom with different towels, my life has become much easier!
G. FAQs
How are towels made?
Different towels may be manufactured using different methods. Still, generally, the towel-making process is roughly the same.
As sciencedirect.com shares, “For the terry towel manufacturing process, yarn is woven on the loom and then dyeing of the woven terry fabric is done. This weaving is done on a machine with a width ranging from 220 to 380 cm. While weaving many towels are woven together parallel to each other.”
Why are my towels hard after washing?
According to the blog of turkishtowelcompany.com, towels might be hard after washing because they’ve retained soapy residue. Over time, the soapy residue builds up in the towels and makes them stiff. Overdrying can also make towels hard after washing.
Why do towels get discolored?
The main culprits behind discolored towels are lightening agents such as mouthwash, chlorine bleach, and dirt. If towels are yellowing, excessive chlorine bleach is the most likely cause.
Can you reuse towels?
If you use a towel to wipe off a clean body, clean hands, or clean surfaces, you probably want to reuse the towel so that you don’t have to do laundry every day. As it turns out, this is a perfectly acceptable thing to do.
As an article on CNN.com explains, “It’s OK to reuse a towel a few times before you wash and dry — and it’s better for the environment, too. Reusing towels a few times is better for the environment and likely won’t be a cause for alarm.”
Why do towels shed?
Essentially, towels shed because short fibers rub against fibers that are longer than them. Sometimes, new towels also have a coating that makes them shed at first, which is part of the way they are made. Towels are sometimes also shedding because they have spent too much time in a dryer.
Can towels scratch a car?
When you use regular bath towels on a car frequently, they can scratch the surface. It’s best to keep bath towels in the bathroom and use proper tools for drying your car in the garage.
References:
