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How to Tell a Good Towel from a Bad One

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If you've ever been to a nice hotel and used a towel that was soft, fluffy, and absorbent, you know the difference between a good towel and a bad one. But what makes a towel good? Towels are made from different materials that affect how absorbent they are, how much weight they can hold before feeling wet or heavy against skin, and how quickly they dry after getting wet. The best towels have all of these qualities in perfect balance: not too fluffy or thick but still fluffy enough to feel nice; not too expensive but also not too cheap—and so on. Most people don't think about what makes up the materials of their towels until they're using one that falls short on some aspect of quality (or has such poor craftsmanship). So if you want your next set of towels to be as soft as those at an upscale hotel without breaking the budget, read on!

What is the towel made of?

Close-up Photo of a Bathroom Cabinet

Cotton towels are the most common type of towel, and for good reason. Cotton is soft and absorbent, making them an indispensable part of any bathroom. However, you can also find microfiber towels that are less absorbent but more durable than cotton ones. When shopping for a cotton towel, look for one that has a 250 GSM weight (this is a measure of how much fabric there is per square meter).

If you prefer natural fibers over synthetic ones, consider bamboo or hemp towels instead. Both these materials have similar properties to cotton—they're soft and absorbent—but they're better at resisting moisture and fading in color over time (although they're not as durable as microfiber).

How thick is the towel?

Wooden hanger with towels and basket with bathroom products

How thick is your towel? The thickness of a towel, or the weight of it, is determined by what it's made of and the thread count. All else being equal, higher thread counts mean higher weights (in terms of GSM).

If you want to know if your towels are in good condition, check their thickness. Thicker towels are more absorbent and more durable than thinner ones. If you have thicker towels that need replacing, consider buying new ones with a higher thread count—or even upgrading to linen!

What's the thread count?

Origami River knitted towel in Rainy Blue. Made in Berlin by Towel.Studio, this towel features alternating patterns of terry and standard knitted stitches.

When it comes to towels, thread count is the number of threads per square inch in the fabric. A higher thread count means more threads per square inch, which means more surface area for absorption (and therefore quicker drying time).

The problem with this measure is that it's not an indicator of quality; a lower thread count can still be high quality while a higher one can be low quality. Instead, consider other things like whether or not the material feels soft and plushy or scratchy. Also look at how much lint comes off when you rub your hand across its surface—this will give you an idea of how absorbent it actually is.

How absorbent is the towel?

Boy with towel standing near white wall

Next, consider the towel’s absorbency. It’s a good idea to check the GSM (grams per square meter) rating of your potential towel before making your purchase. A higher GSM means that the fabric can hold more water, resulting in a more absorbent towel overall. Tossing an extra-absorbent towel into your cart is guaranteed to make drying yourself off much easier after getting out of the shower or pool!

If you’re still unsure about what type of moisture wicking material will best suit your needs, don't worry: we've got a whole guide on how to choose between cotton vs polyester towels right here!

Does the towel repel water or attract it?

Stack of towels in minimalist bathroom

If you notice that your towel absorbs water, then it's likely not a good quality towel. A good quality towel should repel water, meaning the fibers are made of such a high quality that they don't absorb liquids like sweat and body oil. This is especially important when you're drying off after a shower or bath because it prevents you from getting water spots on your clothes or other items in your home.

If the towel does not absorb water but instead repels it, then this means that there are no holes or other signs of wear and tear on the fibers themselves. It may also mean that there are additional features like Microcotton technology which helps prevent mold growth on these types of materials so long as they're cleaned properly before storing them away for long periods of time (such as winter months).

What does the GSM mean for a towel?

Yarns used for textile production at Towel Studio in Berlin, Germany.

GSM stands for grams per square meter. This is a unit of weight, albeit a very small one—a single gram is about the same size as a dime. But don’t let that fool you into thinking that GSM doesn’t matter! The higher the GSM, the heavier (and therefore more absorbent) your towel will be.

A high-quality towel has at least 300 grams per square meter (gsm). That means if you have a 16-inch by 24-inch bath towel and measure 1 inch thick, it contains at least 400 grams of fabric weight alone—not including any extra padding or filling material added inside.

How much does the towel weigh?

Texture Backgrounds Hd Pattern Wallpapers Hd Grey Wallpapers Yarn Wool

Towel weight is usually expressed in grams per square meter (gsm). The higher the gsm, the more material is used. Cheaper towels weigh only 100gsm, while premium towels can weigh as much as 2kgsm.

The heavier a towel is, the better it will be at drying you off after a shower or bath.

If you want to save money on your next purchase of bedding products, then look for something that comes with free delivery so that there are no hidden costs.

Is there a pattern or design on the towel?

Beach Picnic

Towels are made of many different materials, including cotton, polyester and bamboo. They can also come in a variety of colors and patterns or designs. Towels with patterns can be woven into the fabric or printed on it.

Patterns and designs can be made to look like many things, such as animals or flowers.

The quality of a towel depends on its materials, thickness, and weight.

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When you're shopping for towels, the first thing to consider is the quality of the materials. The best towels are made from 100% cotton or linen, but they can also be made from bamboo or other natural fibers. When buying a towel, look at its tags and see if it's made of one of these materials.

If you have concerns about chemicals affecting your health, you might want to make sure that any towel you buy is organic. If so, make sure that it has an OEKO-TEX certification label on it; products with this label have been certified by an independent authority as containing no harmful chemicals in their production process.

The second thing to look at when choosing a towel is its thickness—that is how much water it can absorb per gram (g). A good rule of thumb for gauging this is: 400 g/m² = medium thickness; 800 g/m² = thick. It's important to note that different manufacturers use different scales when measuring this attribute; some may use grams per square meter (gsm) while others may use grams per square yard (gys). Therefore, while two brands may both advertise "medium thickness," they could actually mean very different things!

When looking at weight alone though, keep in mind that heavier towels tend not only soak up more moisture but also dry slower than lighter ones due to their density - so if speed is important then stick with thinner ones instead!

When you're looking for a new towel, it's important to know what makes one towel better than another. There are many factors that affect the quality of a towel, including thread count and GSM.

If you're shopping online or in-store, make sure to read up on all the different types of towels so that you can find the best one for your needs!

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