What’s the difference between a bath sheet and a bath towel?
It’s all in the size. Bath sheets tend to be L150 x W90cm, while a bath towel is L130 x W70cm. Because a bath sheet is bigger, it can dry you quicker than a regular bath towel as it has more surface coverage. If you’re tall or live with someone lofty and find yourself using two towels to get dry, a bath sheet could be your best bet.
How many towels do I need?
This one varies from person to person and is a hotly debated topic on the Mumsnet forums. Most families have one set of towels (ie. one bath towel and one hand towel each) out for using, and one set in the airing cupboard or as a spare. Two bath towels per person means you’ll always have a clean one when one is in the wash.
How often should you buy new bath towels?
Bath towels should ideally be replaced every two years. They can become less absorbent and look a little tatty after that time, especially if you’re washing them frequently.
How do you keep towels soft and fluffy?
Keeping towels soft and fluffy is a tricky skill to master, but there are a few ways to make sure they stay soft.
Hard water and friction are two of the reasons your bath towels lose their softness, as well as over-washing (frequent washing can break down the fibres of your towel), which is why it pays to have a second set so you’re not washing your bath towels constantly.
Limescale in your washing machine can make towels less soft, so try to keep this at bay. Mumsnest user theneeverendinglaundry says putting white vinegar in your detergent draw on a 90-degree wash is an easy hack for banishing limescale.
When washing your towels, don't use fabric conditioner as this can reduce absorbency. If you do find your towels are less fluffy than you’d like, put half a cup of baking soda – or white vinegar – into your next towel wash alongside your regular detergent to give them a new lease of life.
How you dry your towels is key too. Never dry them on the radiator: it will dry them too quickly, giving them a rough finish. A tumble dryer is the best way to dry towels to keep them ultra-fluffy, but line drying is of course best for the environment.
Lastly, think about how you store your towels. Keep your second set of towels in a dry place, folded side-by-side rather than in a pile to stop the bottom towels from being crushed by the ones above.
How do I choose a towel?
When they vary so much in price, it can be difficult to know which is the best towel option for you. Keep your budget in mind before you start browsing or the wealth of choices could become overwhelming. When you’re buying a towel, look out for:
Size
As mentioned above, there are bath sheets and towels and they differ considerably in size. If you want to wrap it around your waist, you might prefer a bath sheet. If you’re a ‘rub, dry and go’ kind of person, a bath towel will suit you fine. If you’re buying towels for others, think about how tall they are when selecting a size. Also, if you live in a small house with little storage, you might find bath sheets take up precious room.
GSM
This is the thread count of your bath towels and stands for grams per metre. The higher this number, the more soft and luxurious they'll feel. Look for bath towels with a thread count of between 500 to 650gsm for a spa-like feel every day.
Colour
It’s tempting to go for your favourite colour, be it forest green, deep plum or fresh and classic white, but buying neutral means it’ll fit in with your bathroom even if you change the design.
If you dye your hair, you might want to steer clear of white towels and also remember that white towels can become more discoloured than their darker counterparts, so might need replacing sooner. Of the same token though, brightly coloured towels can fade if you wash them a lot.
Finish
Bath towels with double-turned edges or double stitching will stop them fraying, keeping them fresh-looking for longer.
Which cotton is best for towels?
Egyptian cotton is widely believed to be the most luxe towel material out there. It’s what you’ll see all the luxury brands make their towels from, but looking for 100% cotton (not necessarily Egyptian) is what experts recommend. These towels will be the softest and most absorbent.
If you want a quick-drying towel that’s durable, look for a cotton and polyester blend.
Which bath towel is best?
This, of course, depends on personal factors such as how much you want to spend and if you’re after a specific colour, but overall we think the Soak and Sleep Ultimate Supima Cotton Bath Towel is the best bath towel to buy. It easily stands up to more established brand offerings, plus it doesn’t fade, is very big and is durable thanks to the double stitching.
How we chose our recommendations
We studied reviews of bath towels on the Mumsnet forums to find out which parents had bought and rated highly – and which towels they weren't impressed by.
Finally, we collated all that information and then looked at other online reviews to see which were the bestsellers and which received rave reviews after purchase. We then cross-referenced all that information to find the towels that had won the most accolades and recommendations across the board.
Why you should trust us
We work hard to provide unbiased, independent advice you can trust. We do sometimes earn revenue through affiliate (click-to-buy) links in our articles. This helps us fund more helpful articles like this one.