Don’t Throw in The Towel Just Yet!

One of the signs that you have successfully unlocked a new level of adulthood is that shopping for bath linen excites you. What seems like a rather tedious task is in actuality something that you look forward to as you start living a grown-up life.

Let’s face it, there’s nothing better than wrapping yourself up in a sumptuously plush, wonderfully soft and beautifully fluffy towel after a relaxing bath or shower. It also happens to be your daily companion so it pays to choose well!

Shopping for towels is a tricky process. Agreed! You want to buy towels that are soft to touch and are super absorbent but what does ‘gram count’ really mean? Which towel is the best choice not just for you but also something that matches your bathroom style? And how do you tell the difference between Bamboo cotton and Combed cotton or pick from a plethora of colors and patterns?

 

Even though they are one of the most used fabric products around the house, you seldom make the right choice. Maybe you just get confused while buying bath towels. We all do. There are so many options out there; all claiming to be the fastest drying, most absorbent, and ultra-soft. It’s hard to figure out where to begin.

So, before you throw in the towel too soon, here’s our handy towel buying guide below. Hopefully, this will help you in picking the right set of towels for your home. The guide answers almost every question related to towel selection. So, bookmark this one and revisit the article before you go for your next towel shopping.


First things first!

 

Choose the Right Material


When you pick your towels, you want them to be nice and soft. No one likes a scratchy, scrunchy piece of cloth rubbing their body. Ideas Home understands how materials influence the towel buying decision.
So, let’s check out the variety of towels Ideas Home manufactures.


Combed Cotton:

Naturally soft and absorbent, cotton is universally acknowledged as the fiber when it comes to making towels. As the name implies, combed cotton has literally been "combed" to remove short, uneven fibers and debris. This process produces long, lustrous and durable cotton threads perfect for weaving, perfect to create a super absorbent towel. Made from 100% fine cotton, Combed cotton towels are very popular due to their natural softness and lasting finish.

 

Bamboo Cotton:

Innovatively transformed into a luxurious yarn, bamboo is fast becoming a favored component in towel production. As amazing as it sounds, bamboo cotton towels are the epitome of luxurious bath linen. Perfect for those who love premium luxury at an affordable price.

Bamboo fiber mixed with cotton gives superior absorption and its softness is incomparable. They are magnificently soft and delightfully low maintenance. Bamboo is naturally antibacterial and mold resistant, offering excellent moisture wicking and has inherent hypoallergenic properties. This makes our Bamboo cotton towels perfect for people with sensitive skin and allergy issues and to be used after work out / gym.

 

 

Zero Twist (Cotton):

Another highly absorbent and durable option? Towels made with Zero twist technology. Twists refer to the number of twists per inch of yarn. The lower the number of twists in a yarn, the more plush the towel will be. This material feels extraordinarily soft and fluffy while providing a shorter drying time. They reduce and dissipate moisture from your body quickly. Therefore, you do not have to rub yourself over and over to be dry. Zero twist cotton towels are lightweight, durable and easily packable.

 


Jacquard:

Jacquard towels are yarn-dyed terry towels. The terry towel weave features uncut loops on both or either side of the fabric. Essentially made with jacquard cotton weave, these towels have decorative designs on both sides. Terry towels are durable and easy to care for as they hold up well to frequent use and laundering. They are super smooth with extraordinary absorbing powers.

These are great addition to an otherwise plain bathroom setting. Available in stripes and other patterns, Jacquard towels add a fun element to your bathroom space.

 

 

Decide on Weight


Well, you can’t take a bucket of water and test every towel. But, at the same time, you want the best absorbing towels. So, what should you do then?


You should always look for the GSM (or “Gram per Square Meter”) number. Simply put, GSM indicates the “weight of a fabric”. You can consider this indicator as a “quality measure.” The higher the GSM, the heavier the towel. A good cotton bath towel can be anywhere between 300 to 900 GSM, with the upper end of the range feeling softer and more absorbent.

A 300-400 GSM towel is thinner and lighter, making it ideal for use in the gym or the kitchen. These dry quicker compared to heavier towels. A 400-600 GSM is a medium weight towel that’s great for use as an everyday bath towel. And finally, a 600-900 GSM is dense and absorbent, which makes it feel extra luxurious but requires a bit more drying time and lie towards the higher end of the price spectrum.


With our towels, we like to strike the perfect balance of thick, fluffy and absorbent, yet light enough to be quick-drying. Ideas Home towels weigh 550 GSM. Meaning they are highly absorbent, quick drying and super plush. these are not only light on the weighing scale but also on your pocket.

 

 

Determine the Size


You can find towels in many sizes. Ideas Home produces three different sizes of towels: Hand Towels, Bath Towels, and Bath Sheets.


A standard bath towel for drying off after a shower is 70 x 140 cm, while a bath sheet is slightly larger at 100 x 150 cm. A bath sheet offers more coverage, allowing you to fully wrap yourself. These are perfect for use as beach sheet as well.
If you’re on the hunt for smaller options, hand towels are 50 x 100 cm, while square washcloths are 30 x 30 cm.
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Consider Your Needs


When you are picking towels for your home, it’s important to understand why and how many you will need. Think about how many people live in the house and how many bathrooms there are. We recommend having at least two sets of towels per person so you always have fresh towels on hand while the other set is being washed and dried.


Hand towels are small-sized towels and are generally versatile in use. Slightly larger in size compared to face towels, a hand towel is ideal for drying off freshly washed hands. You can even use these to soak up any accidental spills in the kitchen. So, these are essentially multi-purpose towels and come in handy around the house.


A face towel on the other hand comes is used for washing and drying the face only. These are small, square-shaped towels that are soft and plush, making them ideal for use as face drying towels. Its always recommended to have separate face and body towels as this can avoid any cross contamination.

 

 

Bath towels, on the other hand, have a self-explanatory usage. You’ll use them to dry up after taking a bath. They are perfect to wrap babies in as well.


Then, you will ask: “What’s the use of a bath sheet?” A bath sheet is a full-body towel. Due to its larger size, you can wrap this type of towel around your body - sarong-style. Like bath towels, bath sheets are good for cleaning up yourself after a bath, but due to their bigger sizes, they can absorb more water. Perfect for quick drying. Alternatively, you can use these as beach blankets. (Heading to the beach already?)


You’ll generally use a bath towel to dry off your hair after a shower or bath and use a bath sheet to dry the rest of your body.

 

 

Match Your Style!


Towels can add that perfect finishing touch to your bathroom and are easily (and affordably!) interchangeable, giving you the freedom to update the look and style of your bathroom without the need to renovate completely!


While the simple white towel is a classic, you may want to spice things up a bit by adding a few colors.

 

 

Why? Generally, bathrooms are small, closeted spaces. One option is to shop colors based on the season. You can introduce aquatic colors to create beach-like vibes in the summer/spring season. With yellows and oranges, you can introduce warmth, feel-good hues in the winter season. Perhaps, you can go bold with reds and blacks or add fun vibes with stripes! It’s a personal call entirely.

 

 

Notes on Care:

You’ve spent all this time carefully choosing which towel is best for you, now you want to be able to enjoy them, right?

Follow our tips below to keep your towels looking and feeling like new:
⦁ Before using your towels, wash them once to help set their color, improve absorbency and reduce any lint.
⦁ Avoid using fabric softeners since they can leave residue and create stiff texture.
⦁ Do not expose your towels to certain cleaning products such as bleach as well as cosmetics, hair dyes and other facial beauty products that contain chemicals that damage the fibers and may result in discoloration of the towel.
⦁ We recommend a gentle machine wash cycle using normal tap water (i.e., 40 degrees) This helps in preventing any bacterial accumulation and also maintain the fluffiness of your towel.
⦁ Sun drying or low tumble drying will help in keeping the towels in good shape for longer periods.

 

 

Time to pick your towels, adults!


So, how will you make up your mind? Well, it’s easy. If you are living in hot, humid conditions, you should buy bamboo or viscose towels. If you are looking for a thick towel, then you should go for a combed cotton towel. If you prefer super absorbent towels, you should then stock up on our zero twist towels. If you are looking for something patterned to add color to your bathroom, jacquard towels from our collection are your best friend. The choice is now yours. Pick the ones best suited for you!