It really is an age-old question: how many sets of towels should I have?
The answer is not necessarily an easy one. Many factors can contribute such as your lifestyle, who you live with, and how much space you have.
With the lockdown now easing, and with home visits and welcoming guests now being permitted, this question may take on added significance for you.
Here in this blog, we'll try to give you a guide on how many towels should you have in your home, and some best practices for keeping them fresh.
How many towels should I own?
We would recommend everyone in the home having their own set of towels, made up of at least 2 hand towels, 2 bath towels and 2 bath sheets.
This can vary slightly, particularly the larger sized towels. Some prefer to wrap themselves right up in the larger-sized bath sheet, but if you're a young adult or more petite, a bath towel may be suffice. This really does depend on personal preference.
Having more than one of each sized towel means you don't have to worry about one being in the wash, you'll always have one to call on when you are in need.
You may also require additional hand towels if you have got en-suite toilets, downstairs bathrooms and cloakrooms. Remember to wash these towels regularly as they will be the most-used towels in the home.
Read our guide on how to keep your towels softer and cleaner for longer.
If you or one of your guests has a baby and you are on the lookout for suitable towels, our hand towels in the Marlborough Bamboo Collection might be the ones for you.
These towels are crafted using a silky smooth blend of bamboo and cotton. Bamboo has naturally hypo-allergenic properties, making these towels perfect for sensitive skin.
The 50 x 90cm size of the hand towels should also be more than enough to comfortably wrap right around the baby, getting them nice and dry as soon as possible.
What about my guests?
When it comes to towels, whether its in our own home, at a hotel or B&B, we feel most comfortable when we have our own designated fresh towels to use.
For your guests, its always best to supply one set of towels per person. You may wish to stack your hand towels next to the sink for ease of use, whilst placing the remaining towel bales on the bed.
We would again recommend two of each size towels per person, unless they are only making a short visit or overnight stay, in which case one of each size should have them covered.
Learn more about guest towels.
Get the most out of face cloths
Face cloths are an important and essential component of any bathroom.
You can use them to dry off after a quick face rinse or even to help remove make up and cleansing balm at the end of the day.
They can also come in handy during these uncertain times.
You can roll up your face cloths and place them next to the sink, so that people can wash their hands and simply pick up a flannel to dry them off.
Once they are done, all they need to do is drop the towel in a near-by basket so that they can be machine washed ready for their next use.
This is perfect for welcoming guests back into your home, making them feel comfortable whilst at the same time keeping themselves and everyone around them as safe as possible.
How many bath mats do I need?
To keep things as fresh as possible in your bathroom, we would recommend having 2 bath mats to interchange between.
You could alternate between two different bath mats in order to give your bathroom a different feel whilst the other is in the wash. Or, you could simply rotate between two of the same mats to ensure continuity all year round.
The guest en-suite may not get as much use, so you may be able to manage with just one bath mat here.
If you're looking for some quick tips on how to care for your bathroom mats, check out our recent blog post.
How often should I replace my towels?
All towels are different, whether that be from colour or design, to the quality and weight.
But there is one thing that all cotton towels have in common, they will ever so slowly break down over time.
Generally it will be clear when to switch your towels as they will become threadbare and no longer absorbent. This tends to be every 18 months to 2 years.
If you are looking for a towel that may even last beyond that, take a look at our luxurious and heavyweight Hotel Premium Towels.
These towels are more durable and long-lasting than many towels, as their two-ply yarn construction gives them that added strength, and their heavyweight structure will allow them to last longer and hold up easier to regular use.