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Original poster

What are the small towels for?

104 replies

Towelhowl · 08/01/2026 16:31

In a holiday let, you usually get a big towel and a small towel arranged artfully at the foot of the bed. What to do you consider the small towel for/what do you call it?

OP posts:
FickleOcelot · 08/01/2026 17:21

I've always assumed that the hand towels are there folded up neatly to signify they're clean and fresh for you, then you move them to the bathroom to be used as hand towel like any sane person.

ItsPronouncedThroatwobblerMangrove · 08/01/2026 17:14

Mt563 · 08/01/2026 17:08

Why wouldn't you just move it to the bathroom and use it for your hands?

Show quote history

Agreed. OP is acting like the hand towel is chained to the bed, in the manner of a medieval book in a monastic library. Towels are portable! You can carry them anywhere! And use them to dry anything, or any part of you!

Mt563 · 08/01/2026 17:08

Towelhowl · 08/01/2026 16:43

My mind is blown. I've always been annoyed how most places don't supply hand towels in bathrooms (I take my own). I assumed it was for drying your hair.

Why wouldn't you just move it to the bathroom and use it for your hands?

Allywill · 08/01/2026 17:08

I am surprised the number of people who are using hand towels for wet hair I find them much too small. Now I’m worried I have an exceptionally large head.

TwoLeftSocksWithHoles · 08/01/2026 17:05

We use the small towel, when staying in a hotel and a bit bored and there's nothing we want to watch on telly, and then we can do the 'Sand Dance' rather like this...

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=jJAcyh268KI&list=RDjJAcyh268KI&start_radio=1&pp=ygUXc2FuZCBkYW5jZSBrZXBwZWwgYmV0dHmgBwE%3D

Original poster
Towelhowl · 08/01/2026 17:03

ThePoshUns · 08/01/2026 16:55

What? Everywhere I’ve ever stayed supplies hand and bath towels.

Show quote history

A lot of cottages don't in the bathrooms, hotels are different

OP posts:
ThreeSixtyTwo · 08/01/2026 17:03

Both of the smaller towels are my DP's towels. Both of the bigger ones are my towels.

JohnTheRevelator · 08/01/2026 17:02

A hand towel or a face towel.

ilovepixie · 08/01/2026 17:00

I’ve never stayed in a hotel without a hand towel either! There’s always a large bath towel and a small hand towel.

ThePoshUns · 08/01/2026 16:55

Towelhowl · 08/01/2026 16:43

My mind is blown. I've always been annoyed how most places don't supply hand towels in bathrooms (I take my own). I assumed it was for drying your hair.

What? Everywhere I’ve ever stayed supplies hand and bath towels.

squashyhat · 08/01/2026 16:48

Hotel "bath" towels are too big and heavy for me to dry myself with (I have arthritis in my hands) so I use them to wrap wet hair in and the small towel gets used for everything else.

murasaki · 08/01/2026 16:43

InterestedDad37 · 08/01/2026 16:33

Hand towel, feet, hamster, toddler, spillages,.

Hamster in a hotel 🤣

Original poster
Towelhowl · 08/01/2026 16:43

My mind is blown. I've always been annoyed how most places don't supply hand towels in bathrooms (I take my own). I assumed it was for drying your hair.

OP posts:
UninitendedShark · 08/01/2026 16:43

Hand towel

But I do wish a bath sheet (for body) bath towel (for hair) and hand towel (for hands lol) were provided as standard.

Talipesmum · 08/01/2026 16:42

One of them (DH’s one) goes to the bathroom to be used as a hand drying towel, the other one is co-opted by me to be used as a hair drying towel.

Hankunamatata · 08/01/2026 16:40

Hand towel for washing hands?

Okiedokie123 · 08/01/2026 16:39

The Borrowers. Pod creeps in when he can and borrows them for use as rugs. Homily likes them as they are absorbent and warm to walk on. They are a bit big though so Pod has suggested that now he is getting older, not as strong, back troubles, Arrietty be allowed to help bring them back home. Homily is as you might expect worried in case her daughter is seen but Arrietty is delighted and very much looking forward to being allowed out.

Goldfsh · 08/01/2026 16:37

Well, small towels in the bathroom are called hand towels.

Small towels in the bedroom are called sex towels, or The Towel Of Shame.

hourspassed · 08/01/2026 16:34

It's a hand towel - to dry your hands after you wash them, assuming you wash your hands?

Towels on the bed are ridiculous though btw - they need to be in the bathroom. Who uses towels in the bedroom anyway?

HelenaWilson · 08/01/2026 16:34

Hands and hair.

VickyEadieofThigh · 08/01/2026 16:34

Hand towel for after you wash hands following toilet use (or pre-eating etc), surely?

Sanasaaa · 08/01/2026 16:34

What do you dry your hands on at home?

InterestedDad37 · 08/01/2026 16:33

Hand towel, feet, hamster, toddler, spillages,.

Overtheatlantic · 08/01/2026 16:33

Surely it’s a hand towel?

O00ps · 08/01/2026 16:33

Hand towel