Purchasing Bath Linens
- Quality bath linens are made from combed long staple 100% cotton. Surfaces are either sheared or looped. Looped towels are more absorbent.
- 100% cotton towels do not shed as much as inexpensive towels.
- Bath linens are available in a wide range of sizes. For a bath towel, choose a large one approximately 30" wide and at least 50" long. You'll be able to really wrap yourself up in luxury.
- You don't have to buy bath linens in sets. If you only use bath towels, don't bother with hand towels. But if you use hand towels frequently, buy more of them. If you use a nylon scrunchie for washing, you might not need wash cloths.
- If you find the perfect color match for your bath decor, buy extras. As you use your bath lnens, they'll eventually fade with washing. Then you'll have extras to fill in.
Laundering Towels
- Always launder bath linens before using them for the first time. To set the dye and insure color fastness, use 1/2 to 1 cup of white vinegar in the wash water.
- Most bath linens don't really get dirty. When washing, use about 1/2 of the recommended amount of detergent. They'll get plenty clean and rinse softer.
- Don't use bleach in the wash unless the bath linens are very dirty and the towels are white.
- Do not use fabric softener in the wash water. It will decrease the towel's ability to absorb water. For extra softness, use an anti-static sheet in the dryer.
- Dry bath linens in the dryer for extra softness. If you must line-dry your towels, choose a breezy day so they don't dry stiff and scratchy.
Decorating Towels
- It's fun to add decorative banding onto bath linens to enhance the bathroom's decor. Before stitching the trim on the towel, wash and dry both the towel and trim individually. This will allow them to shrink. Then sew the trim onto the towel.
Learn about caring for pillows, duvets, and bed linens on the following pages.
