How to Fold Towels Properly and the Best Towels to Buy
Towels are one of those everyday things that can make a bathroom look beautifully put together or unnecessarily untidy.
The right towel should feel soft, absorb properly and still look good after repeated washing. How you fold it matters too. A simple, consistent fold makes even an ordinary stack of towels look considered without turning your bathroom into a hotel display.
Here is how I fold mine, what I look for when buying towels and the ones I would actually recommend.
TWO WAYS TO FOLD A TOWEL NEATLY
There are two towel-folding methods I use. Neither is inherently more correct. The best one depends on how much time you have and where the towels are being stored.
THE QUICK TOWEL FOLD
This is the fast, straightforward method that people clearly enjoy: my demonstration has now been watched more than 1.7 million times. It gives you a neat, consistent towel without turning folding the laundry into a ceremonial event.
Watch my quick towel-folding method:
https://www.instagram.com/reel/DZzP-qRBQwt/?hl=en
Use this method for everyday towels going into a cupboard or linen press. The important part is making every towel approximately the same finished size and keeping the loose edges hidden when you stack them.
THE CLASSIC MARTHA STEWART FOLD, WITH A SLIGHT TWIST
This is the more polished option. It is based on the classic Martha Stewart method, with a small adjustment that gives the towel a particularly clean folded edge when it is stacked or displayed.
Watch my version of the classic Martha Stewart towel fold:
https://www.instagram.com/reel/DZzRNMLBQjn/?hl=en
This is the method I would choose for open shelving or anywhere the folded edge will remain visible. Stack the towels with that clean edge facing forward and any loose edges hidden at the back.
And please measure the shelf before buying baskets, storage units or an entirely new set of towels. A chic bathroom still has to function.
WHAT SHOULD YOU LOOK FOR WHEN BUYING TOWELS?
START WITH THE COTTON
I generally look for 100% cotton towels. Turkish cotton is known for its long fibres, which can create a smooth, durable and absorbent towel without relying on unnecessary decorative finishes.
A towel does not automatically become better because its product description says luxury. Look at what it is made from, how heavy it is and whether that weight suits the way you actually live.
WHAT DOES GSM MEAN?
GSM means grams per square metre. It tells you the weight and density of the towel.
Around 250 to 400 GSM: lightweight and quicker to dry. Useful in humid bathrooms, for frequent washing or when you simply dislike a very heavy towel.
Around 400 to 600 GSM: a good everyday middle ground. Soft and absorbent without taking an eternity to dry.
Around 600 to 900 GSM: thicker, heavier and more indulgent. Lovely if you want that enveloping, spa-like feeling, but they need more drying time and cupboard space.
The highest GSM is not automatically the best choice. The chic choice is the one that works in your bathroom and your laundry routine.
THE TOWELS I WOULD BUY
BEST PLUSH TOWEL IN AUSTRALIA: SHERIDAN ULTIMATE INDULGENCE
Made from 100% combed Turkish cotton, Sheridan's Ultimate Indulgence towel is thick, soft and properly substantial. At 800 GSM, this is for someone who wants a heavier, enveloping towel and has somewhere suitable to let it dry properly.
Shop the Sheridan Ultimate Indulgence Towel Collection:
BEST ULTRA-PLUSH TOWEL IN THE US: BROOKLINEN SUPER-PLUSH
Brooklinen's Super-Plush towel is made from 100% Aegean Turkish cotton and weighs 770 GSM. It is dense, soft and spa-like, making it the strongest choice here if plushness is your priority. As with any heavier towel, expect it to take longer to dry than a lighter option.
BEST EVERYDAY TOWEL: BROOKLINEN PLUSH
At 500 GSM, Brooklinen's Plush towel sits in the sensible middle. It is made from 100% Aegean Turkish cotton and gives you softness and absorbency without the bulk of an ultra-heavy towel. This is the option I would choose for straightforward everyday use.
The four-piece bundle includes two bath towels and two hand towels, so it is also an easy way to make the towels in a bathroom feel intentional rather than randomly accumulated.
https://go.shopmy.us/p-81832839
BEST LIGHTWEIGHT AND QUICK-DRYING TOWEL: BROOKLINEN WAFFLE
If thick towels never dry properly in your bathroom, stop buying them. Brooklinen's Waffle towel is a much lighter 290 GSM and is made from 100% Turkish cotton. The textured weave looks considered while being less bulky and quicker to dry.
This is a particularly good option for smaller bathrooms, humid climates, frequent washers or anyone who prefers a lighter towel.
https://go.shopmy.us/p-81832774
A FINAL TOWEL RULE
You do not need towels in twelve colours, decorative borders or a cupboard overflowing with spare sets. Choose a weight that works for you, buy enough for the way your household actually functions and fold them consistently.
Good towels should be used. The fold simply helps them look put together while they are waiting.
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