Which Towels Do I Need? A Room-By-Room Guide
- Created: Friday, 12 February 2016 18:05
Towels in the Kitchen
Good kitchen towels are a must in every home. But a good kitchen towel doesn't turn into a limp wet lump after drying a few glasses. There are a few things you should look for when you shop for quality.
First, you want towels that are 100% cotton for maximum absorbency. Second, you want towels that can stand up to frequent washing. And third, you want kitchen towels that look great in your kitchen. Of course! Because kitchen towels require frequent washing to eliminate germs, our bleach-resistant towels are perfect for the kitchen because they allow you to choose your favorite colors while still being easy to wash and sanitize.
Fingertip Towels: Fingertip towels are bigger than washcloths but smaller than average hand towels. They are usually considered decorative, but they’re highly useful in the kitchen as utility towels. If you want to save money — and who doesn't — buy a stack of fingertip towels to use in place of paper towels for cleaning up spills and messes. Ours are durable enough for heavy-duty use yet still easily washable.
For added versatility, you can choose fingertip towels in your favorite colors to match your kitchen décor. You can also order them with grommets to hang them for easy access and storage, or you can stitch on a decorative loop to one corner for a unique look.
Hand Towels: Every kitchen needs hand towels, and plenty of them. Because you dry your hands so many times each day, it's a good idea to replace your kitchen hand towel daily. Hand towels can be used not only for drying your hands, but also for drying and polishing dishes, so always have an assortment on hand.
Dish Towels: Dish towels are also a kitchen essential. For washing dishes or wiping up spills, terrycloth washcloths are your best bet.
Bar Mops: Bar mops are indispensable in the kitchen for wiping down counters and cleaning up spills. Keep a stack under your sink or in a drawer or cabinet for easy access.
Towels in the Dining Room
Towels in the dining room? Yes! Towels have a variety of uses all over your home, including the dining room.
Fingertip Towels: Far from being outdated, fingertip towels have many uses in the home. The next time you have a dinner party, offer finger bowls and fingertip towels for your guests. For added comfort, warm the towels a bit before your guests use them. They'll appreciate your thoughtfulness and may even feel like they’re dining in a five-star restaurant!
Towels in the Nursery
You will be glad you stocked towels in your nursery. They have so many uses and can help keep your baby healthy and happy. Don't forget to choose a color to coordinate with your nursery color scheme.
Hand Towels: If you have a baby, there will be messes. Fortunately, keeping a supply of hand towels in the nursery will allow you to be better prepared for any accidents you encounter, whether it be spilled formula or a diaper leaking on the waterproof mattress. Babies like to keep you on your toes, so it's wise to have supplies close at hand.
Washcloth Towels: One of the less pleasant parts of having a baby is diaper rash. Your poor baby is miserable, and you don't know what to do. Prevention is always best, and if you use a washcloth when changing a diaper, you are helping your baby avoid the discomfort of an angry rash. A soft cotton cloth, gentle soap and water will clean thoroughly without the chemicals used in many commercial baby wipes. Washcloths are also much softer than wipes. Baby powder has been linked to respiratory issues in babies, so use an extra cloth to dry your baby after washing and you'll have a happy, comfortable baby.
By using washcloths instead of wipes, you are also eliminating waste that harms the environment. Throw the used cloths into a covered diaper pail along with your cloth diapers and launder them easily.
Towels in the Bathroom
The bathroom is probably the one place that uses more towels than any other room in your home. Make your bathroom a luxurious retreat with the right towels. Choose from crisp, clean white towels, rich black towels or any color in between to fit your style and personal taste.
Hand Towels: Hand towels are required for drying hands many times a day in most busy households. Keep enough of a supply so you can put out new hand towels each day to eliminate the spread of germs. If your family gets sick, you may want to replace hand towels several times a day.
Bath Towels: You can never have too many bath towels. And if you have kids, you need more towels than you think you do. Each adult in your home should have two bath towels so there is always a clean towel available. If you have small children, you may want three or four per child. Make sure you have several extra towels for guests as well. Cotton bath towels in a variety of colors will wrap you in comfort when you step out of the bath or shower.
Fingertip Towels: Often fingertip towels are used in small bathroom in place of hand towels so guests can dry their hands. They also add a decorative touch when displayed with other towels. On your towel bar, hang your bath towels first, then the hand towels over them. Then, hang fingertip towels over the hand towels for a designer look in your bathroom.
Spa Towels: Some days just call for a little extra pampering, and that's what you'll get when you add spa towels to your bathroom. They are larger, so you'll feel completely enveloped with luxury.
Washcloth Towels: Washcloths and face cloths are essential for everyday washing and personal care. Use them in the shower or bath as well as for removing makeup or applying facial cleansing products. Keep enough on hand so you have a clean one — or two — for each member of the household each day. Be sure to keep an extra supply on hand for guests as well.
Bath Mats: No one wants to step out of the shower or bath onto a cold, slippery bathroom floor! Some people even like to place bath mats in the bathtub to prevent slipping. This is an especially good idea to prevent people who are older or disabled — as well as children — from falling while in the bathtub. Bath mats are soft, absorbent and easy to wash.
Towels for Recreation
Towels are important to keep in your recreation and pool areas as well. After all, who wants to run to the bathroom for a towel when you’re busy entertaining?
Bar Towels: Bar towels are perfect for sopping up spills and quickly cleaning up any messes when you have guests. Not typically used decoratively, bar towels are normally white. However, you can get bar towels with a colored stripe for a little flair.
Pool Towels: Keep an assortment of pool towels in a basket on the deck so guests don't ask for your bath towels as they lounge poolside. These are also great to have on hand for kids' pool parties, because someone always forgets to bring one.
Towels in the Garage
You can encounter all kinds of messes in the garage, so you’ll find plenty of uses for towels in this part of your house.
Car Wash Towels: Our car wash towels are not only durable, but they are also super soft. This means you don't have to worry about scratching your car’s paint job with detailing towels. But don't think these towels are only good to use on your car. Keep an extra stack of car wash towels to use as shop rags so your garage is just as nicely kept as your home.
Towels for Your Pets
Grooming Towels: Washing the dog usually seems to result in you getting more wet than the dog! Absorbent, durable, affordable and easy to wash, our grooming towels will dry you and your dog... and the rest of the room. You know how it goes. If you have pets, you just can't have too many towels. Don't forget to keep a few towels by the door on rainy days. Spread a few on the floor and have one to wipe your dog's feet to keep it from tracking mud all over your house. Use an extra towel or two to dry your dog's coat, too, so you don't end up with water all over when your dog decides to shake it off.
Extra Tip: When you buy towels from Towel Super Center, you get a discount when you buy in bulk. Take advantage of this if you're an animal lover and buy some extra towels to donate to a local animal shelter. Shelters are always in need of towels, and they will appreciate your generosity.
Decorating With Towels
After you have made the effort to get beautiful towels for your home, don't hide them all away in the linen closet! Use them to beautify the rooms in your home. Bathrooms and pools look chic with a basket of rolled up towels for guests to use. And speaking of guests, create a “welcome basket” for overnight visitors. Fill it with decorative towels, soaps, lotions and maybe a sweet treat or two. Place it prominently in your guest bedroom so visitors feel welcome in your home.
If you really want to impress your guests, or if you just want to do something fun for the kids, learn how to fold towel animals! It's these little touches that will make you and your home more memorable.
Take advantage of your crafting skills, or the skills of a friend, to create personalized, embroidered towels for your bathrooms and towels decorated for the holidays in your kitchen. There are so many ways to decorate towels that the sky's the limit. And no one will have towels like yours, because yours will be hand-embellished to your tastes.
Caring for Your Towels
Regardless of the room your towels are used in, it's important to wash them regularly. One study from the University of Arizona found that 89% of dish cloths had some form of coliform bacteria in them. E. coli was found in 25% of them. This means you and your family can get sick if you don't wash towels and washcloths on a regular basis.
Laying your towels out to dry isn't enough because it won't kill the bacteria. The solution is to put out clean towels each day, and make sure each towel has a specific use. For example, in the kitchen, you should have one towel for drying hands, one for wiping down counters and one for drying dishes, as well as the cloth used to wash dishes.
All towels should be washed and dried before their first use. This will fluff up your new towels and remove any lint. Add a cup of vinegar to the first wash to make towels extra absorbent and help set in colors. For sanitizing, soak used towels and washcloths in a diluted bleach solution for two minutes — for bleach-safe towels only. If your towels are not bleach safe, soak them in a vinegar and water solution instead. Then launder them in hot water with detergent.
For extra freshness, you can add baking soda to the wash cycle or vinegar to the rinse cycle. Do not use fabric softener, as this coats the fibers of the towel and makes it less absorbent. Using these tips will prolong the life of your towels.
Remember, when you order from Towel Super Center, you get high-quality, soft, durable towels for any room in your home. Stock up and take advantage of discount pricing.
