Make your new towels more absorbent

When you buy a new towel you may notice that it repels water, this is partially due to the chemicals the manufacturer used to treat the towel. To get the most out of your new towels sooner use the following handy tips:

Hint: Add one cup of distilled white vinegar to the wash, this will help to remove residue and improve absorbency of the towel.  The vinegar will also help remove stains and smells from old towels. Remember not to apply un-distilled vinegar directly to the towel as it may discolor the towel.

 

Hint: Wash the towel in a hot machine cycle before using, this will remove any coatings left behind when it was made, and also excess dye. Make sure not to put new white towels with new colored towels as the excess dye will run from the colored towel.

Hint: If you are line drying your towel you will notice it feels noticeably rougher after drying, put the towel in the dryer for 3-4 minutes and it will soften up.

When is it time to throw out a towel?

Quality towels  last for years, but when your towel starts showing the following signs it may be time for new one :

• Pulled strings
• Ripped seams
• Holes
• Lint - towards the end of a towels life as the fibres start to break down it will start to lint.
• Thread bare - hold the towel up to the light, if you can see the light coming through in parts it may be time for new one

Instead of throwing out your old towel - cut it into smaller size pieces to use as rags. Which you can used to clean up messes or the car. Or alternatively consider donating your old towels to an animal shelter.

Bamboo towels vs Cotton Towels

Bamboo is making waves as an environmentally friendly alternative to cotton.  Bamboo is a tough plant that grows quickly without the need for extensive pesticides and fertilizers thus making it a sustainable crop.

Question: Is bamboo softer then cotton?
Answer: Yes
Bamboo texture is similar to silk or cashmere. The final texture will depend on the construction method used.

Question: Is bamboo more absorbent then cotton?
Answer: Yes
Bamboo is claimed to be able to absorb upto three times it's weight in water.

Question: Does bamboo take less time to dry then cotton?
Answer: Yes
According to Gaiam Life (a website dedicated to all things environmentally friendly) Bamboo dries in about half the time of cotton clothing.  

 Question: Is bamboo more environmentally friendly then cotton?
Answer: Yes

Because bamboo fibres are short, they are impossible to transform into a fabric with a natural process. Bamboo employs chemicals to convert it to a fabric, however overall it's environmental footprint is smaller then conventionally produced cotton.

Question: Does bamboo contain anti bacterial properties?
Answer:Yes

"Bamboo has natural antibacterial and antifungal qualities that help the plant fight off disease and insects. These properties come from a naturally occurring substance in bamboo called kun. Because these qualities are not lost during processing or washing, bamboo fabrics are able to retain these qualities and do not hold odors like some fabrics."

 

Guest Towels - say hello to visitors with candy colors

Welcome your visitors with bold retro style towels sporting sweet slogans on guest towels.

Trends for 2011

Light and bright

COLORS: The current trend is for light and bright colors such as sea blue and green hues inspired by nature. Other color trends include nautical navy, in stripes and prints set adjacent to the raw tones of unbleached linen. And finally White and off-white accented by shades of pink.

TRENDS: This year Nautical stripes and sailor prints make a key statement for the home.   Also bold graphics and typography make their way into bathrooms.

Three quick and easy tips for displaying towels in your bathroom

• Bathroom towels always look best beautifully folded.
• White is always a great accent colour to have as it goes with every colour.  
• Try and use the same color towels as your wall as it adds texture. For example stone coloured towels with stone coloured walls, to keep things fresh clean and simple.

Folded towels