Factors to consider when buying Towels
How do you know that the towel that you use on an everyday basis is the right choice for your skin? Do you know the basic features or characteristics you need to keep in mind while choosing a towel that you will use regularly? Choosing the right towel among many GSMs and colours is not as difficult as you think. The markings on the labels have some information but there are other factors that you need to consider while buying towels and those may vary from person to person. You should understand that the most suitable towel for you is a towel that meets your expectations. The right towel for one person may not be the correct one for someone else. But towels are not just limited to texture or colours, here ae the factors to consider when buying towels.
GSM
The weight of the towel is usually measured in terms of GSM (Gram per Square Meter). The higher the GSM better the quality of the towels. Towels usually vary from 200 GSM to 800 GSM.
200 - 400 GSM
Towels in this range are lighter and thinner which is good when buying travelling towels. Some people also use single cloth fabric towels which can be rough to your skin.
400 - 600 GSM
Most of the daily use towels fall into this range of GSM. From 400 GSM as you go up, the quality of towels and durability of a towel increases not to mention prices also increase. These towels have adequate properties suitable for average use, they are absorbent, quick-dry and adequate for all skin. (someone, in general, is allergic to any specific type of cloth)
600+ GSM
This is the category of luxury towels, towels are highly absorbent and extremely soft and cushy. Towels and bathrobes in this category are the best choices if you are looking for something to pamper yourself. As these are thick towels, they may take a little more time to dry but as we live in a hot climate, may not be much of a challenge.
Fabric (Material)
The tag at the corner of the towel indicates its material or composition. This is one of the most important factors to consider when buying a towel but is often overlooked. Different fibres perform differently in terms of absorption, softness, and durability. The most commonly used towel fibre is cotton. Other potential options are bamboo, which is more environment-friendly and microfiber, an inexpensive polyester.
Globally, there are different cotton towels available based on climate and cotton availability. In the U.S.A you may find many searches for Terry Cotton towels. Many regions have high searches for Turkish Cotton and Egyptian Cotton towels.
Seams and Stitches
Seams are thick and Double-turned to keep the towels sturdy and long-lasting as edges with double stitching are the key to durability. This reinforcement reduces fraying, which will give your towels a long life without having any issues with stitches or edges.
Size
There are a lot of discussions when it comes to the ideal size of the towel, well, it depends on the motive of using the towel and not just that, one towel size may not be ideal for the other person, though we can still take some factors into the consideration and calculate the average size of a towel. There are many different forms of towels:
Bath Towels
Bath towels are usually the piece of cloth you wrap around yourself after a bath, They should be big enough to cover you properly but not too big which makes them heavy. That’s why for men usual size is around - 70 x 150 cm and for women, it’s around 60 x 120 cm.
Hand Towels
These are used daily in the bathroom or on the kitchen counters, Their main purpose is to dry your wet hands, the usual size for these towels is around 45 x 65 cm.
Maintenance of a towel also plays an important role in the long run, as it’s an item of daily use to prolong the life of your towel, keep the temperature low when washing it, dry the towels in sunlight, and keep the temperature low when using the dryer. This may cause the fabric to lose its water-absorbing properties.