Buying a towel from a store is completely different from buying one online. Your decision has a strong probability of being influenced by the touch of the towel. Many manufacturers treat towels with softeners before they are put on the shelves for sale. All the towels feel soft, plush and gentle when you move your fingers across them. So how do you decide which one to buy and which one to let go of? Here are some simple yet interesting tips to help you come to a judicious judgment.
Edges – This is the first part of the towel to get worn out. The quality of the edges indicates the lifespan of the towel. So if you are skimming through the shelves and happen to find your favorite towel, do not forget to check the edges. It should be double turned and double stitched as these kinds of towels last longer.
Label – Sometimes towels are labelled as ‘Egyptian Cotton’ when all they actually contain is just 10% of ‘Egyptian Cotton’. Make sure you double check the label of the towel to confirm it is 100% Egyptian Cotton or 100% of the fabric you are looking for. You must read the labels diligently to avoid getting duped.
Size – The added advantage of buying a towel in a store is that you can wrap it around yourself to determine if it fits you in. Some fabrics might shrink after the first wash, hence make sure you check the size of the towel in addition to manual judgment. A good bath sized towel should be 34” wide and 68” long.
Pile – Make sure you check the towel pile which is nothing but the loops on the towel. The number of loops on the towel and their length are major factors in determining the ‘thirst’ of the towel. The more the loops and the longer they are, the more absorbent your towel will be.
Combed Cotton – Look out for 100% combed cotton, for super absorbency, durability and coziness.
Pick it up – Don’t just superficially touch the towel to determine the softness. Instead pick it up from the shelf to see how much it weighs. You may not always find the GSM weight (Gram Per Square Meter) of the towel on the label. In such cases, try to feel its weight. The heavier the towel or the higher its GSM, the more absorbent it will be.
Don’t Buy ‘Made With’ Products – Many unscrupulous manufacturers have come up with a small marketing phase called ‘Made With’. Do not fall for such misleading tricks. This phase only indicates that the towel has some Egyptian/Turkish/Pima cotton and is blended with other materials like cotton or polyester.
Look out for these factors when you step into a store to buy your choice of a towel. Be observant, spend considerable time and read the details carefully to get a good deal. Always look for quality when you buy towels. Higher quality towels will cost you slightly more than other towels. However, considering that you use them every day, it is worth the investment.
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