What Towel Grade Do I Need?

Created: Monday, 10 October 2016 15:40

Many types of towels are made of cotton. The appearance and feel of towels will be dependent upon the type of cotton that is used and the amount of synthetic materials that may be combined with the cotton. Towels used for most purposes will be made primarily from cotton, but the most luxurious bath towels are made from Egyptian cotton.

As towels increase in expense, they will have threads that are longer and more fibrous. This means that there are a greater number of threads per inch to be able to absorb more moisture. These towels have a greater number of grams per square meter (GSM). Most spas or expensive hotels will have towels with a higher GSM, and these towels are often made of Egyptian cotton, though some have started using the popular American-grown version of Egyptian cotton, which is known as pima. Pima is used to make towels of similar quality and feel to those made from Egyptian cotton.

Bath Towel Materials

Bath towels have a variety of purposes. They can be mostly ornamental, and they can be functional as both a way to dry off after a shower or as a luxurious indulgence after coming out of a long soaking bath after the end of a difficult day.

As part of a bath towel buying guide, you will need to look at certain elements such as size, color, weight, type of fabric and how it’s made when choosing your particular bath towel. Though most bath towels are made from cotton, there are different materials that may be used in bath towels, and you will want to take a look at these various materials when selecting your bath towels to ensure you get the perfect towel for your needs.

• Organic cotton bath towels are made from cotton materials that have not been impacted by any pesticides or herbicides. These types of towels are extremely environmentally friendly. Towels that are made from this type of cotton will feel no different from those made of non-organic cotton, but they must be certified that they are made from cotton that has been grown without using any fertilizers, pesticides or herbicides.

• Hemp bath towels are another popular choice for environmentally conscious buyers, as they are naturally resistant to mildew. Users of hemp towels claim that they are even more absorbent than cotton, will last longer and can resist mildew much more easily than cotton.

• Bamboo towels are made from either a combination of cotton and bamboo or of just bamboo. These towels are very absorbent and are made from a plant that is anti-bacterial, because of its natural properties. The bamboo plant also grows well in an environment where it does not attract any bugs or other pests.

• Egyptian towels create the feeling of luxury and are very long-lasting. These types of towels are great for wrapping yourself in after a nice hot bath or long shower, because of the long cotton fibers that are used in these towels. Egyptian towels are very durable and made from cotton of high-quality.

  They’re also very fluffy, and are often considered the epitome of luxury and soak up water very quickly. Make sure when you’re purchasing Egyptian towels that they are actually made of 100% Egyptian cotton, as sometimes manufacturers will advertise that their towels are made with Egyptian cotton when they actually have other materials included with them. Bath towels advertised for “luxury” may advertise that they are Egyptian cotton, when they actually include other synthetic materials to give them a shinier look, which also has the effect of making them less absorbent.

• Pima cotton towels are grown from the cotton plant used to make Egyptian cotton, except these towels are made from plants that are grown in the southwestern areas of the United States. These types of towels have a reputation for being very absorbent and durable.

• Microfiber bath towels are a relatively new type of towel that’s popular, because they have unique cleaning properties which allow them to trap substances such as dirt, flaky skin and makeup without the use of harsh chemicals. These types of towels are made from manufactured materials, such as a combination of polyester and fibers made from polyamide.

  There are only man-made materials used in these towels. They also store easily and dry faster than any other towels. Microfiber towels are thinner than cotton towels and weigh less, though they are excellent at absorbing water. They are perfect for getting water out of wet hair and are not too heavy to wrap around your head.

• Turkish bath towels are luxurious in the same manner as their cousin, the Egyptian bath towels. While the cotton which is grown near the Aegean Sea is both soft and strong, it is not as absorbent as Egyptian cotton. The luxury and lesser absorbent properties of this type of cotton towel make it the perfect towel to use in a very humid climate.
• Suvin cotton bath towels are made from a very rare cotton. This type of towel feels very soft to the touch and is one of the most luxurious towels available.
• Modal bath towels are made from the cellulose that is found in beech trees. Bath towels made of this product are said to be even more absorbent than cotton towels, and may not fade as quickly as cotton towels.

Bath Towel Sizes

In addition to being made from different types of materials, bath towels come in different sizes. They can be made as big as bath sheets, which are the largest towels available, and provide greater coverage. They’re used in spas, alongside the smallest wash cloths that are used to wash your hands and face, whether you’re in the shower or bath tub or you’re cleaning up quickly outside of the shower.

Between the extremes of the bath sheet and the wash cloth is the bath towel, which is easier to hang up and wash than the bath sheet. A towel that is smaller than the bath towel is the hand towel, which is used to dry your hands and is stored on towel racks. Hand towels can be just as decorative as their counterparts, the finger towels, which are slightly smaller than the hand towels and may be used to accentuate the decorations in the bathroom.

Another standard type of towel is the tub mat, which is very absorbent and is placed outside of the shower or tub to prevent your floor from getting wet. This type of towel is woven in a tight weave and measures about the same size as a bath towel: around 27 inches by 52 inches.

Weight also makes a difference with bath towels. Though you can have regular bath towels that will weigh around 21 ounces, luxury bath towels will weigh more — between 24 and 28 ounces. Though part of the description of a good towel is that it feels heavy, it may be possible to have a heavy towel that is inferior to a lighter towel, because the heavier towel is made from cotton of a lower grade.

Weaving Process for Bath Towels

Though the quality of the types of materials used in the towels will help determine the overall quality of the towel itself, it is important to look at how the materials are put together when making the towel. The actual construction of the yard fibers will turn those quality fibers into a quality towel, and there are a few common methods of putting the threads together.

• Combed cotton bath towels are formed in a manner just like their name indicates. They are combed so that only the longer, stronger threads are remaining, and any shorter threads are removed. The longest threads are then made into the bath towel.

• Terry cloth bath towels are made when yarn is woven with loops of thread that are larger. Adding the extra loops mean that the material becomes more absorbent.

• Ringspun cotton bath towels are constructed when longer and shorter fibers are woven together to create a yarn that is actually smoother than combed cotton towels. The combination of the shorter and longer fibers makes for a stronger yarn, which in turn makes towels that are strong and very durable. These towels are not likely to fade, and are able to withstand much washing and drying.

• Towels that have no twist to them means there’s no twisting used in the yarn, making the towel feel softer. These towels are made from yarn that’s called “zero-twist yarn,” and these types of towels are very absorbent. Those who prefer zero-twist towels believe that the lower number of twists in the yarn means that the towel will be more plush. These towels not only soak up moisture, but are also not extremely heavy, and will not weigh down towels racks.

Towel Grade Chart

Though the materials used in the towel and the weave will help you determine what towel will be most appropriate for your needs, there is another method of choosing the type of towel that you want. It’s based on a grading system.

Towel grades are determined by grams per square meter (GSM). Because every fabric has weight, most fabrics are measured by this method, and are assigned a number that shows the fabric’s density. Towels with lower GSMs are going to be thinner and lighter, which means they’re a better choice for beach towels or towels you use at the gym. The heavier towels with a higher GSM are towels that you will likely want to use as bath towels. Towels of the highest quality, such as Turkish towels, will have a greater absorbency and will be heavier.

The range of GSM in towels is between 300 and 900. The way this range works is that a thinner towel that weighs less will have a lower GSM than a heavier towel.

• Towels between 300 and 400 GSM: These lighter towels are going to dry much faster. You may want to select towels with these GSMs for kitchen towels or beach towels, because they will not be too heavy and you’ll be able to hang them to dry quickly. Choosing a towel with a low GSM will also be appropriate if you’re looking for a towel that will be used for drying an automobile or cleaning up spills.

• Bath towels will probably have a GSM of 400-600. This weight is considered a medium weight. If you plan on being at the beach and getting in the water repeatedly, you may want a heavier, more absorbent towel of this GSM. You’ll also probably want to have a towel in this GSM range for a bath towel, which should be more absorbent than a kitchen towel.

• Towels that are considered to have a “luxury weight” are between 600 and 900 GSM. These very dense towels will have a greater absorbency, take longer to dry and will be considered members of the luxury category because they are both heavier and denser. If you’re looking for a Turkish towel that’s used at a spa or high-end hotel, you’ll want to choose a towel with a higher GSM.

The Best Way to Care for Your Towels

No matter what type of towel you choose, you will want to make sure that you launder them with care. If you have very expensive towels, you’ll want to take special care of the towels to ensure they will last for many years to come.

Here are some important tips:

• Wash your towels before using them.

• Do not use fabric softeners on your towels, as they can cause the towels to have a residue which could make them stiff.

• Add one cup of vinegar to your wash cycle occasionally. This will not only remove the musty smell from your towels, but will also get rid of the residue that sometimes accumulates on the towels and decreases the absorbency.

• To lessen the likelihood that your towels will get spots on them or become bleached, don’t spill your skin care products on your towels.

• Make sure you read the label on the towel carefully before you wash it. Even some white towels should not be bleached if the manufacturer’s instructions indicate this. Bleaching for long periods of time may make the towels less absorbent and weaken the fibers.

• You can keep the full look of your towel by shaking out your towels after you wash them, and then shaking or fluffing them again after you take them out of the dryer.

• If you are getting pilling materials on your towels, you can use either a lint roller or tape wrapped around your hand to remove the pilling. Additionally, if you remove the lint from the lint trap of your dryer prior to every use, this will help reduce the amount of pilling.

Get in Touch Today!

At Towel Super Center, we offer terry towels made of 100% cotton in various sizes. If you’re purchasing for a business and plan on going through towels rapidly, get in touch with us to discuss your wholesale needs — buying in bulk could save your gym, salon or other business substantial money in the long run.