It’s easy to overlook bath towels, but they can have a significant impact on the overall look of parts of your home.
Choosing the wrong shade or even a cheaper fabric that doesn’t wash well means you can be left with towels that are fraying at the edges and let down the presentation of your home.
We speak to some experts about how to choose a towel and how to maintain it, so that it keeps in tip top condition.
We reveal how to choose a quality bath towel and how to keep it in tip top condition
These include never getting your towels dry cleaned, avoiding using silicone-based fabric softeners and conditioners, and not overcrowding your washing machine.
We also reveal some of the most popular towel colours, as well as some of the better fabric to look at out for.
Interior designer Jenny Allan, of Jenny Allan Design, explains: ‘Towels add the perfect finishing touch to any bathroom, so selecting a high quality towel is essential.
‘As well as colourful options, a classic white towel with an embroidered trim or monogram is a great way to elevate any bathroom.’
How to maintain a bath towel
Our expert recommends washing towels on a 40 degree gentle machine wash and only an occasional hot wash as a deep clean.
They also suggest drying them outside in the shade as bright sunlight can dilute the colour.
Joanna Ross, of towel supplier Sheridan, explained: ‘When it comes to towel care and ensuring they last the distance, my top tips include washing them on a 40 degree gentle machine wash.
‘And while it can be tempting to dry clean your luxury towels, I would avoid this as it dilutes the softness.
‘For whites, optical brighteners are fine to use, but avoid using on coloured washes, and try to keep them separate to avoid the colour running.’
She recommends addressing any stains immediately and to use oxygen-based stain removers.
Experts suggest drying towels outside in the shade as bright sunlight can dilute the colour
She added: ‘If you’re doing a load of washing, try not to overcrowd the machine so it has plenty of water around them to soak and wash.
‘I recommend the occasional deep clean on a warm to hot cycle to remove any bacteria and oils. A 40 to 60 degree wash is ideal for this.
‘I also avoid using silicone-based fabric softeners and conditioners as these will repel water and will reduce the absorbency of the fluffy towels.’
And perhaps more unconventionally, Mrs Ross suggests drying towels in the shade.
She said: ‘When the weather permits, I suggest line drying your towels in the shade. This reduces electricity usage and also means your towels will last longer, as drying towels in direct sunlight often can change the colour, so best to avoid this.’
Towels can be put in tumble dryer for a few minutes when they are almost dry off the line, as this will maximise their softness.
Mrs Ross said: ‘It’s important to ensure your towels are completely dry before storing in your linen cupboard. A common mistake is not checking that the towels have completely dried all over. If you store partially wet towels this can leave an unpleasant odour and it can also reduce the life of your towel.
‘If you need to tumble dry your towels completely, I’d recommend drying them on a medium to warm setting and ensure they are completely dry before storing in your linen cupboard.’
Appealing fabrics for towels include Egyptian and Turkish cotton pile yarns, as well as organic cotton yarns wrapped in lyocell
How to choose a quality towel?
When it comes to finding the right material for your towels there is a whole range to choose from.
It’s important that towels are soft and absorbent, although longevity is also necessary.
More appealing options include towels made with Egyptian and Turkish cotton pile yarns, as well as organic cotton yarns wrapped in lyocell.
Watch out for towels that are Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) certified – the world-leading textile processing for organic fibres – if you’re looking for something that brings softness and longevity.
The colour blue continues to be one of the most popular choices for bathroom towels
How to choose the colour
Mrs Ross explained: ‘Colours are key and have the ability to transform your bathroom. Whether it’s adding a pop of colour with a bold red or toning down a bathroom with a calming blue.
‘Blue is one of the most popular colours in the bathroom. It can have a positive effect on our mood as it connects us to a blue sky or ocean found in nature, which helps us to feel relaxed.
‘The colour blue is known to help calm the mind and produce a feeling of tranquillity, a perfect sensation for winding down at the end of your day.’
And Ms Allan added: ‘When choosing towels it is important that they compliment the overall aesthetic of the bathroom.
‘If you are looking for coloured towels, choose a shade that tones with the undertone colour of the tiles.
‘For example, if you have grey bathroom tiles, some greys shades have warm brown undertones so taupe would be ideal while other greys have cooler undertones, in which case blue towels could work well.’
