Most of us would agree that there’s something very comforting about wrapping yourself in a big, warm, fluffy bath towel after a bath or shower. It’s less comforting, though, to think about the germs and bacteria that may be breeding on your towels.
You might think your towel is fine because you only use it on your clean body, but think again. Even your freshly-washed skin can harbour germs and bacteria that will transfer to your towel when you dry your skin. Additionally, bathrooms are warm, humid spaces that make them the perfect breeding ground for bacteria — meaning there could also be airborne bacteria and moulds landing on your towel.
Drying your freshly washed skin with a towel on which there are potentially several types of bacteria could lead to a variety of infections. The way to avoid this is to make sure you wash towels frequently and thoroughly. Here’s what you need to know…
How often should you wash your towels?
Don’t panic, there’s no need to wash your bath towels after every use. Washing after every 3-4 uses is enough to keep them hygienic, according to our experts at the GHI. But, for towels used at the gym, we recommend washing after every use; not only are your gym towels covered in sweat, but they can also come into contact with lots of airborne bacteria.
Hand towels should be washed at least once a week. But households, with pets, children, and frequent visitors may need to wash hand towels as often as every 2-3 days. And if you use a flannel to wash your face, this should be washed after every use.
What's the best way to wash towels?
- Check the care label on your towels and wash at the hottest allowable temperature –preferably 60°C as this will ensure you kill any germs that may be lurking on the towel.
- Use a biological powder for washing towels. Biological powder contains enzymes that will help to break down protein and fat-based stains. The optical brighteners and bleaching agents will help to keep white and pale towels bright. For coloured towels, use a biological detergent specially designed for colours to help stop them from fading.
- Fabric conditioner reduces the absorbency of towels so we advise against it, but if you prefer to use it, then do so sparingly.
- Tumble-drying is the best way to keep your towels fluffy and soft – just be sure to give them a good shake before you put them in the dryer. However, if you’re trying to reduce your bills, dry on an airer or outside. Avoid putting your towels on the radiator, as this will over dry them and make them hard.
How should you store your towels?
Keep freshly laundered towels folded in a warm, dry place, like an airing cupboard or linen cupboard. It might be tempting to have a pile of towels on a shelf in your bathroom, but in this warm, damp environment the towels could come into contact with airborne germs, potentially becoming a breeding ground for bacteria and mould before you’ve even used them.
When storing towels between uses, getting the towel dry as quickly as possible is the most important consideration. Hanging your bath towel on a hook on the back of the bathroom door won’t allow enough air to circulate around the towel, so it’ll take much longer to dry. Instead, drape towels over a towel rail or dry on an airer or washing line. Even hanging over the bannister is a better option than crumpled on a hook in an already damp bathroom.
Can you use one towel for everything?
This really comes down to personal preference. There are no hard and fast rules, but most people tend to have a separate hand towel in the bathroom for drying freshly washed hands. It also means any guests visiting your toilet don’t have to dry their hands on your bath towel.
Other than a separate hand towel, you may have a towel specifically to wrap around your hair after you’ve washed it. And while some experts suggest using a separate towel for your face, in reality very few of us do this and as long as you wash your towels frequently, it’s really only necessary if your face is prone to breakouts or acne.
14 best bath towels for absorbency, colour-fastness and wrapping yourself up in
How we test towels
To find the best towels for your bathroom, our experts at the Good Housekeeping Institute combined in-house tests with at-home use. They sent out light and dark towels from each brand to a panel of readers to try out for a couple of weeks.
The panel filled in a detailed survey, noting how soft the towels were before and after washing, what they thought of the size, and whether the towels were absorbent enough to dry them well.
Back in the lab, our experts compiled the findings from the survey, and carried out some tests of their own. They repeatedly washed each towel, measuring them before and after to check for shrinkage.
They also used a digital colour measurement tool to look for any fading and noted whether it was visible to the naked eye too.
Finally, they analysed the absorbency of each towel, timing how long it took for the fabric to become saturated.
All prices quoted below are for a bath sheet.
Score: 95/100
Combining bamboo with cotton to silky-smooth effect, these towels were a hit in the lab and with our testers at home. They scored full marks for absorbency and for how well they washed, keeping their shape nicely. Testers were also impressed with their colourfastness.
The towels shed a little initially, but overall, our panel found the thick design made showering a treat. And they liked the loop that helps when hanging them up in the bathroom.
Panda deserves an honourable mention for its environmental efforts too; the towels boast an Oeko-Tex Made in Green accreditation, which means that they have been made using sustainable processes and in socially responsible conditions.
Score: 92/100
Our (joint) runner-up, these pure cotton towels shone for their stellar absorbency, leaving our panel of testers toasty and dry in no time. They were soft too, and you can choose between a timeless array of shades to find your bathroom’s perfect colour match.
In the lab, there was a small amount of fading and shrinkage detected by our experts, but nothing that would be too noticeable in day-to-day use. In fact, the well-sized and snuggly design is now a mainstay in our panellists' bathrooms.
For added peace of mind, the towels are certified by the Global Organic Textile Standard, which means the organic claims have been independently verified throughout the supply chain.
Score: 92/100
Soft, fluffy and absorbent, these thick bath towels come in several classic shades. They aced our lab tests, absorbing water impeccably, and holding their colour.
They shrunk a little after the first wash (stabilising for subsequent cleans), but nothing that would make too much of a difference. In fact, one of our testers described the size as “perfect”, wrapping around their body well and sitting just above the knee.
Price is for a set of two
The White Company Hydrocotton Bath Sheet
Score: 90/100
The White Company is always our go-to for hotel-quality furnishings, and these towels didn’t disappoint. Our panel described them as “super soft with a luxurious feel”, adding that the stitching and construction remained pristine throughout testing.
Our in-house testing reinforced our panel’s findings; the towels had a perfect score in our absorbency and shrinkage tests, and dropped less than a point in our fading tests because the darker towel dulled a smidge. Overall, if you’re looking to invest, these premium towels should provide inviting comfort for many showers to come.
Score: 90/100
With no fewer than 29 colours to choose from, you’ll be sure to find the right shade for your bathroom. But that’s far from the only reason our testers rated this towel; it scored full marks for its impressive absorbency and in our shrinkage tests, maintaining its shape well after washing.
There was some minor fading detected by our machine and our panel noted some initial shedding, but this isn't unusual with brand new towels. Our testers liked the coverage provided, declaring the towels soft and fluffy (even after a few washes!) and said they’d continue to use them after the test period had ended.
Score: 90/100
With their striped design, these towels will bring the beach to your bathroom (or look classy on the sand). They’re thick and super soft, so they felt gentle against our testers' skin.
They excelled during our in-house tests too, maintaining their vibrant colour, holding their shape, and absorbing water well.
And they’re Oeko-Tex Standard 100 certified, so you can wrap up safe in the knowledge that there are no chemicals next to your skin.
M&S Ultimate Turkish Cotton Bath Sheet
Score: 90/100
This towel aced our lab tests, scoring perfect marks for its impressive absorbency, colourfastness and reliability in the washing machine. It is also impeccably finished, with no loose stitches or threads detected.
It proved a hit in our panellists' bathrooms as well– they found it lightweight and soft, praising how its generous size wrapped around the body. Again, there are a lot of colours to choose from, pleasing your design sensibilities as well as being soft on your skin.
La Redoute Malo Striped 100% XL Bath Towel
Score: 89/100
Available in eight chic colour combinations, this striped towel is another reliable buy. Our panel found it soft and stylish. Some said it wasn’t the thickest towel they’ve used, but all found it well-sized for maximum coverage and comfort.
In our wash tests, our experts noted mixed results. The towel scored full marks for its absorbency, and impressed with its lack of fading, but they measured some slight shrinking. That said, washing on a cooler temperature, rather than the suggested 60C, should limit this.
On balance, it’s a towel that will look just as good hanging in your bathroom as it will on the beach.
Cultiver Speckled Bath Sheet
Score: 88/100
Described as "one of the best towels I have ever owned,” by one tester, this plush design pleased with its soft and cosy feel. It's made from organic cotton that’s OEKO-TEX certified, and held its shape and retained its colour in our lab.
Testers liked its absorbency too, and the size meant people could snuggle up in it after their shower. The flecked design and neutral shade are unique, too.
Score: 87/100
If you’re concerned about fading, these are the towels to plump for, as our software didn’t detect any loss of colour after multiple washes. They also scored full marks for their effective absorbency and lack of shrinkage.
Our panel said the towels felt soft and gentle against the skin, liked how they wrapped around them and were impressed with the clear care instructions provided. They’re a great value buy.
Score: 82/100
Whether you’ve enjoyed a soak or are stepping out of the shower, these are a treat to snuggle up in. They’re absorbent, wash well and come in an array of timeless colours. Not to mention, they were thicker than most of the other towels we tested – something our panel felt gave them a luxurious feel.
While pleasingly fluffy, the towels did shed to begin with, but this should stop before too long, especially if you wash the towels a few times before use. We also detected some fading via our in-house testing. This aside, the premium texture and weight of these towels make them a high-quality buy, which, according to our panel, “felt like hotel towels”.
Tesco Supersoft Cotton Bath Sheet
Score: 82/100
If you ever wonder whether the towels you see on your weekly shop are worth adding to your trolley, then our testers have the answer, and it’s a simple “yes”. These felt soft to touch, absorbed water well and washed reliably too, with minimal shrinkage, while maintaining their fluffy feel.
They weren’t as colourfast as some and did malt to begin with. But overall, our panel were pleased with the towels and given their low price, they are a savvy buy.
Inside Story Modal Pleat Bath Sheet
Score: 81/100
Made with a combination of cotton and modal, these towels were so soft, testers described them as “velvety”. They fared well in most in-house tests, standing out for a lack of shredding. But we did detect some shrinkage after a few washes.
That said, the bath sheet is sizeable so should still provide good coverage. It’s also lightweight, which may come in handy if you’re travelling and want to take your own towel with you. It’s not the cheapest we tested, but its luxury finish certainly makes it an appealing pick.
Dunelm Egyptian Cotton Towel
Score: 81/100
Panellists described this bath sheet as “soft, thick and fluffy” and loved its generous size, commenting that it covered the whole body well. There was limited shrinkage in our lab wash tests too, so you can be confident it will stay that size, use after use.
It took until its fifth wash to perform in our absorbency test though, so definitely follow the guidelines on washing your towel before use. However, this will mean having to sacrifice that soft-to-touch feel as it lost some of its fluffiness once it had gone through the wash multiple times.
We also noticed the darker coloured towels began to fade around the edge so stick to lighter colours if you’re concerned about that.
The verdict on bath towels
Our highest scoring towel is the Panda Bamboo Bath Sheet, acing our lab tests and proving a hit with our at home panel.
But, it only comes in three colours – and let’s be honest, having a towel that matches your bathroom decor is almost as important as having one that’s soft. So, if none of those shades work for you then we recommend checking out either the Christy Organic Cotton Twist Yarn Towels (our runner-up) or these high-scoring John Lewis' Egyptian Cotton Bath Sheets.
And if you still can’t find the right match, then these Dunelm Egyptian Cotton Towels come in 40 colourways.
What to look for in a bath towel
It’s easy to be lured in by the towel that feels the softest in the shop. But once you wash them, everything can change (especially if you're washing away leftover softener from the manufacturing process), so to get beyond a towel’s first impression, this is what to look for.
Thread count
Unlike with the best bedding, a towel’s thread count is measured in grams per square metre, also known as its gsm. The higher the gsm, the more luxurious your towel will typically feel — look for those ranging between 500-700gsm.
Fabric
Most towels on our list are made from 100% cotton, as it’s soft and absorbent. The Inside Story towel above contains modal, a fabric that’s derived from wood pulp and is designed to mimic cotton.
Design
How your towel is made also impacts its longevity. Look for double-turned edges with double stitching, as this extra reinforcement will reduce fraying.
Size options
Having the right size towel will also make your washing experience more enjoyable. Options range from face cloths to extra-large bath sheets. A bath towel or sheet is the ideal size for wrapping around you after a bath or shower. These are their typical dimensions (although this will vary slightly by brand):
- Bath towel: L140 x W70cm
- Bath sheet: L150 x W90cm
- XL bath sheet: L180 x W100cm
All the towels we tested were bath sheets but if you’re shopping in person, it's worth wrapping one around you in-store to see which size you prefer.
How often should you buy new towels?
There's no clear rule on how long you should keep your towels. Visible signs that they need replacing include fraying and holes. Similarly, if you don’t feel like they're drying you well, then it may be time to swap them out of your rotation.
They don’t need to go straight in the bin, though. Look for local textile recycling bins that will reuse them. You can also use them for drying your pets or take them to animal shelters who will happily repurpose them.
Is it normal for new towels to shed?
Shedding is common with new and even old towels. It's also more likely with darker colours due to the dyeing process. Washing your new towels before use will help minimise this, but note that it usually takes a good 10 washes, according to our towel washing guide, before the shedding subsides.
How do you keep towels soft?
This all comes down to how you wash and dry them. Limit using fabric conditioner when washing your towels, as this can reduce their absorption.
Instead, to keep towels soft, shake them out after they’ve been washed before placing in a tumble dryer or on a washing line. If you place them outdoors, avoid direct sunlight, as the UV rays can cause fading.
Once dried, shake your towels out again, and try not to leave them to dry for too long (be it in the sun, in a tumble dryer or by a radiator) as this can leave them feeling crispy.
A build-up of limescale also affects softness, particularly in hard-water areas. So, keep your washing machine clean by regularly running an empty cycle on the hottest temperature, placing a cup of distilled white wine vinegar in the detergent drawer.
Why should you trust the Good Housekeeping Institute?
Homes Editor, Hannah Mendelsohn, and Homes Testing Manager, Blossom Boothroyd, have both been working at the Good Housekeeping Institute for a number of years, trying out and reviewing the very best household products, including the best bath towels.
They’ve both tried out a selection of these towels at home, so they know what they're looking for when it comes to absorbency and softness. And our testing protocols are built on 100 years of expertise.
