The bath linen family includes the essential towel, as well as the bath sheet and bathrobe, not forgetting the washcloth.
What type of cotton are they made from? What’s the right grammage? What are the recommended dimensions? Follow our guide to help you choose the right bath linen.
Bath linen cotton
The first step to choosing the right linen is to understand its composition. Quality bath linen is of course made from cotton, with a sufficient weight.
1 – Carded cotton
When it says “100% cotton” on a bath linen label, it means carded cotton.
Carding is one of the 1st steps in processing cotton fiber. It removes impurities, parallelizes the fibers and detangles them.
2 – Combed cotton
Combed cotton combines all the carded cotton processing operations, plus combing. This additional operation retains the longest, softest cotton fibers. Combed cotton bath linen is therefore much more pleasant to the skin, and of better quality. It is softer and more expensive than carded cotton.
3 – Cotton velour for bathrobes and washcloths
The bathrobe, like the beach towel, is made of cotton velour on the outside, and bouclette terry on the inside. The difference between the two surfaces is simple: when the terry loop is shaved, it becomes cotton velour. The outer surface remains soft, while the jacquard pattern(s) stand out. As for the inside, it’s a soft, absorbent surface.
Linen is also used for bath linen. However, it does not have the same properties as cotton: it is less soft, with a more “toned” finish. Linen is suitable for people who don’t like the softness and prefer a slightly rough feel.
Bath linen weight
Weight is an essential factor in choosing the right bath linen. The minimum required is 400 gr/m2, which is fine for a bathrobe. However, for superior quality and durability, we recommend 500 gr/m2 for a towel or bath sheet. For top-of-the-range bath linens, we recommend 600 and 700 gr/m2.
Bath linen dimensions
Depending on the purpose of the bath linen, dimensions may vary…
- The guest towel: this is the model with the smallest dimensions. Measuring 30 x 50 cm, the guest towel is used to dry hands.
- Face towel: this towel is ideal for drying the face and upper body, and measures 50 x 100 cm. It’s a practical towel that’s easy to slip into your suitcase.
- Shower sheet: 70 x 140 cm
- Bath sheet: 100 x 150 cm
Depending on your choice of bath linen, prices can range from simple to double or even triple. So
budget criterion to take into account when making your purchasing decision.
