Advice / Bathroom / Bath Towel Buying Guide

Bath Towel Buying Guide

Bath towels are a household necessity. At Pillow Talk, our towels are both stylish and practical – without compromising on quality. When it comes to selecting the perfect bath towel, of course, colour comes into play, but there are a whole host of other influential factors that should be considered.

Pima Cotton

Pima cotton is one of the world’s finest cottons. Its’ long fibres are spun to make a more refined, soft and silk-like yarn, resulting in superior quality cotton. Renowned for its soft and smooth feel, the quality of Pima cotton products enhances with use and washing, making them more durable over time.

Benefits of Pima cotton Bath Towels:

A natural fibre
Durable
Luxurious
Soft and smooth feel
Suitable for sensitive skin
Absorbent
Draws moisture away from the body

Shop Pima Cotton Towels

Turkish Cotton

Turkish cotton, grown exclusively in Turkey, is a long-fibred cotton spun into a fine yarn. Turkish cotton products are well-suited for use in humid climates as they tend to dry quickly. The result is a soft, durable and fast-drying towel.

Benefits of Turkish Cotton Bath Towels:

A natural fibre
Durable
Quick drying
Soft and silk like feel
Absorbent

Shop Turkish Cotton Towels

Bamboo Cotton

The high growth rate of bamboo and its’ ability to survive in many different climates make it a sustainable resource. Bamboo fibre is light-weight, extremely absorbent and has natural antimicrobial qualities. The fibre is naturally smooth and consequently less irritable to sensitive skin. The result is a highly absorbent towel that stays fresh for longer.

Benefits of Bamboo Cotton Bath Towels:

A natural fibre
Durable
Absorbent
Lightweight
Suitable for sensitive skin
Antimicrobial features
Resistant to shrinkage

Shop Bamboo Cotton Towels

Combed Cotton

Combed cotton is carded cotton that has been further refined and combed to separate the long, desirable fibres from the shorter fibres and impurities. This finer yarn provides a stronger, smoother product.

Benefits of Combed Cotton Bath Towels:

A natural fibre
Absorbent
Soft, luxurious feel

Shop Combed Cotton Towels

Zero Twist Cotton

Zero twist cotton has very low or no twist to it, and can only be constructed from long staple cotton. The lack of twist in the yarn allows the cotton fibres to open up, letting air reach the inner parts of the yarn more quickly, increasing absorbency and reducing the time it takes to dry. The result is a plush, absorbent and fast-drying towel with the ability to absorb up to four times more moisture by weight than conventional towels.

Benefits of Zero Twist Cotton Bath Towels:

A natural fibre
Absorbent
Plush
Quick drying

Shop Zero Twist Cotton Towels

Care instructions

Always wash your bath towels/bath mats before using them as this will improve the performance and absorbency.
Some facial cleansers, other facial products and hair dyes that contain Benzoyl Peroxide can strip the colour or change the colour of your bath towel/bath mat. Therefore, it is important to rinse your skin thoroughly before using your bath towel/bath mat.
The use of too much detergent and over drying your towel/bath mat in a tumble dryer can leave it feeling stiff and rough. Be careful with the amount of detergent you use and only tumble dry on cool/warm settings.
The tumble drying of rubber-backed bath mats is not recommended.
Try to avoid the use of fabric softeners as they will leave a coating on your bath towel/bath mat which will reduce its absorbency.

Additional points

Too much detergent weakens the fibres of the towel and can cause them to lose shape.
Rubber-backed bath mats should be hung in the shade as exposure to sun may cause rubber backing to perish.
Ensure washing detergent is dissolved to reduce towels’ propensity to harden.
Avoid using silicone-based fabric conditioners when washing – this coats the cotton fibres and can make the product less absorbent.
Tumble drying will assist in keeping towels soft, bulky and fluffy and help reduce linting.
Bath towels/bath mats should be hung up to dry after use.

Common terminology

GSM, yarn and ply—these are three terms you’ll likely come across when researching bath towels.

GSM

GSM stands for grams per square metre and refers to the amount of cotton that has been used in a product. The more cotton that is used in a product, the higher the GSM. GSM in towels usually ranges from about 450gsm up to 700gsm. The higher the GSM, the thicker and heavier the product is. The GSM does not affect absorbency but a lower GSM towel will dry more quickly than that of a higher GSM.

Yarn

Yarn is made by twisting or bonding fibres together to produce a long strand in a process called spinning. Yarn may contain a single type of fibre or blend of various types. For example – Cotton vs Polyester/Cotton blend. This can then be woven to create towels and other textiles.

Ply

A ply is a single layer or strand of yarn. Plying refers to the process in which 2 or more strands of yarn are twisted together to make a thicker, stronger thread. Single ply means that the product has been made by weaving single yarns together. Double or 2 ply means that 2 strands of yarn have been twisted together to make one thread which can then be woven into a product.