How To Choose The Best Material For Your Bathroom Towels

Oh, adulthood — when upgrading old towels brings unexpected joy. Maybe you're tired of removing musty odors from your bath towels. Or maybe your current towel is causing your skin to break out. The key to avoiding all that? Selecting the right material for the job. In a world filled with towel options, understanding what you need can make the decision-making process a whole lot easier. Say you want something luxuriously soft to create the ultimate bathing experience. Boom: Egyptian cotton is your guy. Need a towel that dries extra fast for your post-workout shower? Look no further than microfiber. You can probably see where we're going here.

But first, let's backtrack a little. Towel fabrics generally fall into two categories. They're either natural or synthetic. Those made from natural fibers, like cotton and linen, aren't just better for the environment; they're also great at absorbing water. On the flip side, synthetic towels, such as those made from microfiber and polyester, are created via chemical processes. These often mimic the absorbency and softness of their natural counterparts, with the added benefit of being cheaper and more resistant to stains. If you're in the market for some new washroom essentials, bear in mind that seasonal sales are among the best times of year to buy quality bath towels at lower prices.

Unsurprisingly, cotton ranks at the top of the list of the best natural materials for bathroom towels. It's highly absorbent and has a plush feel against the skin. The catch? Cotton towels grow rougher with every wash and stain easily. Note that the thicker the cotton towel is, the longer it'll take to dry between uses. Drying off with a damp towel is an unhygienic bathroom mistake many are guilty of, and it's a sure way to encourage bacterial growth.

This is where bamboo sweeps in. Delicate with a spongy surface, bamboo bathroom towels can absorb quite a lot of water before they feel damp. Adding to that, they're naturally antibacterial, making them a fresher, more sanitary alternative that doesn't emit funny odors. The only major downside is that their fragile threads tend to fray with frequent laundering and usage. This leads us to the next well-loved, natural fabric: linen. Linen bath towels are known to last longer without losing their quality, plus they get softer over time. Though thin and slightly rougher in texture, we have to admit linen looks the chicest.

In the synthetic department, we have rayon. In addition to being soft, it can (sometimes) soak up even more moisture than natural towels. Then there's microfiber — a go-to choice for travelers, gym-goers, and active folks because of its quick-drying and compact nature. Polyester takes the durability crown; however, it's less absorbent. These pros sound great, but do keep in mind that synthetic fibers aren't breathable and can cause skin irritation.