If you’re like us, you dream of a solid 20 minutes of “towel time,” where you sit in your towel post-hot shower scrolling through Instagram, or watching Ted Lasso. If that’s not for you, congratulations! You’re probably way more productive, but might still appreciate a good bath towel.

What to be wise on:

When buying towels, it’s all about softness and absorbency, and the devil is in the details...or materials. Our favorite is 100% organic cotton. This writer was today-years old when she realized terrycloth wasn’t an actual material, but rather just small loops made out of, generally, cotton. When water comes into contact, it gets absorbed in these loops and leaves you dry. 

The factors to consider:    

Material Certifications

It’s pretty easy to navigate the bath towel space thanks to a lot of certifications we take very seriously. Look out for the following:

• GOTS: Leading textile standard for organic materials

• OEKO-TEX: Tests for harmful substances in textiles and socially-responsible manufacturing practices

• Fair Trade: Ensures you’re standing up for the rights of cotton farmers and workers 

Towel Care

Once you get the right towel, it’s important to make sure you take care of it so that it lasts as long as possible. Wash your towel after around 4 uses, and make sure it’s hung up after towel time. If it stays bunched up, the moisture will not be able to fully dry and bacteria will start breeding. Ew. You’ll know when to replace them — tell-tale signs are if they become less absorbent or still smell after being washed. 

A few takeaways: 

Conventional cotton is one of the dirtiest crops on Earth. Doesn’t really sound like a good fit for a clean towel, does it? Organic cotton ensures that the crop is grown without the use of harmful chemicals, leaving the soil, air, and water free from contaminants. It also produces around 46% less carbon dioxide compared to conventional cotton.