Facts About Towels

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Facts About Towels

What to Know Before You Register

A comfortable home is essential to married life, but many newlyweds don’t know how to begin creating one. Now JCPenney weighs in a few little things that can make a big difference in your new life together...

The lowly towel is often taken for granted. But if you’ve ever dried off with a threadbare towel or wrapped yourself in a luxurious hotel towel, you know that a towel can make or break your bath time ritual.

Absorbency.
It's the loops in the towel that dry you off. In fact they "brush" you off, whisking away water from your skin like a squeegee from a window. The more loops per square inch, the more drying surface to absorb moisture, making you feel drier. Finer yarns mean more loops per square inch. The longer the loop, the more absorbent as well. Sheared loops make a towel softer (think of a plush velour finish), but the loss of loops diminishes drying capacity.

Cotton.
Cotton is truly king when it comes to towels. Cotton is hydrophilic, which means it has a strong affinity for water. Cotton absorbs and removes the water from your body better than synthetic fibers. Combed, long staple cotton fibers, like Pima, Supima or Egyptian, generally promise less lint shedding. Read more in our Cotton Primer.

Laundering towels.
Always launder towels before you use them the first time. If you add one-half to one cup of white vinegar to this first wash, it will help set the dyes and result in increased colorfastness. Wash in soft water and detergent, avoiding the use of bleach. Never use fabric softeners in the dryer, as they will decrease the towel's ability to absorb water over time.

Buying a Towel.
Look for towels of 100% cotton. Purchase towels made from Pima, Supima or Egyptian cotton for long-lasting value. Choose a towel with thick, dense loops, longer rather than shorter. Avoid velour or velvet finishes for maximum absorbency. All towel edges should be securely stitched and tightly woven. Better quality towels will measure up to 30" wide and over 50" long. Always purchase more twice as many washcloths as towels. Buy the same number of hand towels and bath towels. And when you find the perfect colors for your bath, purchase extras to replace worn-out ones.

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