Where To Buy Nice Towels
If you prefer to buy towels on Amazon, its own brand has an assortment of bath towels that have impressed our analysts with their performance both in our Lab and with at-home consumer testers, especially given the brand's low prices. In fact, this pair costs less than other individual towels and comes in a wide range of colors and sizes. We've found that similar towels from the brand have soaked up fluid in our absorbency tests, and users told us they felt both soft and absorbent in real use after their showers.
where to buy nice towels
One thing to note is that the fabric surface showed fuzzy signs of wear more quickly than other towels in our laundering evaluations. Still, it was a top performer and the only towel to ace both absorbency and drying time tests. We're also fans of the brand's Hokime Ribbed Towels for those who prefer even more of a textured feel; they were another top performer in our tests.
Another highlight is that it didn't shed lint in the wash, which is a common concern with plush towels. It did have some shrinkage after laundering and it wasn't quick-drying, but both of these areas still scored average compared to other towels in our test.
On the flip side, these towels took a while to dry, which is not surprising with such high absorbency. It also shrunk a bit in our wash tests. Still, if you want to wrap yourself in a thick, cozy towel that dries you off quickly, this is the one for you.
This basic all-in-one set is a total steal for bath towels, hand towels and washcloths, plus you can buy it in 12- and 18-piece configurations. Despite the low cost, the cotton fabric was soft and had excellent absorbency in our evaluations. In fact, the set impressed us enough to earn the Good Housekeeping Seal.
Just note that it won't dry you off as well as plush towels with loops. In fact, this one had one of the lowest absorbency scores in our test. The trade-off is that it's not bulky like a traditional towel with loops. If you're looking for one that's plusher, the brand's Classic Towel was highly absorbent and an overall great pick.
While many towels claim to be made with organic cotton, this one's certified by GOTS so you know the entire manufacturing process follows strict standards. In fact, Coyuchi is one of the leading and most trusted organic cotton brands on the market.
Lexie Sachs (she/her) is the executive director of the Textiles, Paper and Apparel Lab at the Good Housekeeping Institute, where she researches, tests and reports on fabric-based products ranging from sheets, mattresses and towels to bras, fitness apparel and other clothing. She also evaluates luggage, rain gear, disposable paper goods and baby products. Lexie has more than 15 years of experience in the textiles industry and a degree in fiber science from Cornell University. Prior to joining GH in 2013, she worked in merchandising and product development in the fashion and home industries.
In an effort to help you find the perfect new bath towels, we searched the Internet for the most well-loved options, according to rave reviews and popular brands. We even spoke with a design expert on what to look for when buying bath towels online (more on that below).
Magic Linen, a brand known for its amazing linens that even Meghan Markle is a fan of, definitely did not drop the ball on its waffle-knit towels ($44). The puffy waffle weave not only increases absorbency but also gently exfoliates your skin. Plus, linen is naturally antimicrobial and allows for easy airflow ensuring your towels dry quicker and stay free of mildew, germs or unpleasant odors.
Amazon has a great variety of budget-friendly, quality towels. This set of four plush bath towels ($50) from the Chakir Turkish Linens store, for example, is a great option. They have more than 11,000 reviews and come in a dozen different shades.
Because the Frontgate is so hefty, air-drying times vary depending on the climate where you live. When I first timed how long it took, it was a hot summer day in New Jersey, and the towel took about 12 hours to dry while hanging in my bathroom. When I retested new ones for our 2020 update, they took more than 24 hours to air-dry, this time during winter in the Pacific Northwest. To prevent bacteria from moving in and making themselves at home, you may need to wash your Frontgate more often if you live in a humid or wet climate.
Like all of our picks, the Onsen is Oeko-Tex certified. Instead of the chemical-softening process terry towels go through, an Onsen rep told us it garment washes its towels at specific temperatures and for multiple cycles to soften them. It comes in eight colors.
The Utopia 700 GSM Towel from Amazon felt promising out of the package, and it was absorbent in our 2021 shower tests. But it was too small to cover my size-16 body adequately, and after five washes there were snags and loose threads everywhere. Our test towel looked like it was falling apart.
There are many different types of bath towels. Egyptian and Turkish cotton towels are the most-high end types you can buy. They are both made from long-staple fibers, so they are super soft and absorbent and typically carry higher price points than other types of towels. Pima cotton towels are similar to Egyptian and Turkish cotton towels, but they are domestically sourced in the U.S.Then there are bamboo towels, which are a great option for those looking to reduce their environmental impact. Whether they are 100 percent bamboo or a bamboo-cotton blend, these towels are naturally antibacterial. Unfortunately, they are not as absorbent as other options and are usually high in price, too. Linen is another great eco-friendly option that dries super fast; just note that they aren't as soft as regular towels.Microfiber towels are a fast-drying and inexpensive option since they are made from finely spun synthetic fibers. They also prevent mildew from growing, so many people use this type of towel beyond their bathroom and take them to the beach, gym, and other travels.Then there are peshtemal, hammam, or fouta towels, also known as Turkish towels. These trendy towels are aesthetically pleasing and quick-drying. Like microfiber towels, many people love to take these towels to the beach and other travels. An authentic Turkish towel is made up of 100 percent Turkish cotton.Finally, there are organic towels. These towels are generally made from 100 percent cotton and are certified by a third-party vendor. These towels are made from cotton that is not treated by pesticides. These are very soft and plush but do take longer to dry than other options."}},"@type": "Question","name": "What are the best places to buy bath towels?","acceptedAnswer": "@type": "Answer","text": "Pretty much every home goods store and big-box retailer sells towels, as do a wide variety of online retailers. However, certain brands are known for their high-quality towels. For example, Pottery Barn and Boll & Branch both have organic options that many reviewers love. If you're looking for a touch of luxury, Frontgate and Parachute are great places to shop at. Cuddledown, Bed Bath & Beyond, and Macy's are also great options if you'd like to look at various options at different price points.","@type": "Question","name": "What's the best way to care for a bath towel?","acceptedAnswer": "@type": "Answer","text": "Believe it or not, caring for your towels is not as simple as just throwing them in the wash. All bath towels should be washed before you first use them as this will wash off the finish they have and help with absorbency.Bath towels should never be laundered with fabric softener, which will add a film onto the towel and weaken the absorbency. "If you like the scent of fabric softener, you can add a few drops of your favorite essential oils to your dryer balls in the last 10 minutes of the load, after everything is already mostly dry," says Whitney Thornburg, Design Director at Coyuchi.Your towels should be laundered more often than you think (ideally every three uses!) and should be washed with other towels at the highest temperature the label says they can handle. Use a gentle detergent and dry on low or medium heat with wool dryer balls to help speed up the drying time and control static.","@type": "Question","name": "How many bath towels do you need?","acceptedAnswer": "@type": "Answer","text": "In general, you should have four bath towels per person. This allows you to have two in use while the other two are being washed. However, the number of bath towels you need will vary from household to household. If you have a larger family, you may need a few more than average.","@type": "Question","name": "How do you store bath towels?","acceptedAnswer": "@type": "Answer","text": "How you store your bath towels is up to you. Towel bars and rings, wall shelves, over-the-door towel racks, towel stands, heated racks and bins, and over-the-toilet units are all different types of organizing systems that can hold your towels. You can simply hang them over the bars or rings or fold or roll them and place them on shelves, in baskets, and more.","@type": "Question","name": "How often should you replace bath towels?","acceptedAnswer": "@type": "Answer","text": "Generally, you should replace your towels every two years. If your bath towels are not absorbing water as well as they used to, developing odors after one use, or have frayed edges and holes, it is time for you to replace them. However, high-quality towels tend to last longer, so you may get away with more time between purchases."]}]}] .icon-garden-review-1fill:#b1dede.icon-garden-review-2fill:none;stroke:#01727a;stroke-linecap:round;stroke-linejoin:round > buttonbuttonThe Spruce The Spruce's Instagram The Spruce's TikTok The Spruce's Pinterest The Spruce's Facebook NewslettersClose search formOpen search formSearch DecorRoom Design
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