How do we find good bath towels?

[disneysteve]

I have to confess. We have many bath towels in our closet that I purchased when I was preparing to leave for college in 1982. And we have some "newer" ones that we bought soon after we got married in 1992. DW and I have finally broken down and agreed that it is time to get some new towels - you know, the kind you can't see through when you hold them up to the light.

We've bought a couple of new ones over the past couple of years, but weren't happy with them. We don't mind laying out money for good quality that will hold up for many years (seeing as we are still using 25 year old towels currently). We're just not sure how to pick the good ones. Any good tips out there? Have any of you bought towels that you were really happy with? We've got all the major national chains in our area so we should be able to find just about anything.

[MonkeyMama]

I am curious what people say. I am in the same boat - got the old and the older than old and we were going to buy new ones this year. I keep hearing that towels are not made good quality any more.

[Joan.of.the.Arch]

J.C. Penney advertises that their towels are the most popular in the US. I was given a set of these a few years ago. I have all kinds of other towels bought in onsies and twosies and none of them are as good as the Penney's towels.

In general, you probably already know to buy 100% cotton for best absorption. A little synthetic content will last longer, but especially as it ages a part synthetic towel will become less absorbent as the percentage content of cotton goes down due to use and washing wearing it away.

P.S. My pathetic towel collection was built mostly on extended camping and boat trips when a towel was forgotten and we had to buy one on the road. Thus we have pretty much one of everything.

[tobyfoot23]

I would recommend JC Penney towels as well. We have had a set for about 7 years now. The only wear they're showing is a bit on the washcloths.

Also, from a frugal standpoint, we also bought the whole set in white. That way, stains can be bleached and when it's time to replace the washcloths, we will be sure to find white no matter which brand we buy. Plus they can all be washed in the white load, unlike the kid's towels (all different colors) that find themselves in lights, darks, and mid- colors.

[disneysteve]

J.C. Penney advertises that their towels are the most popular in the US. I was given a set of these a few years ago. I have all kinds of other towels both in onsies and twosies and none of them are as good as the Penney's towels.

In general, you probably already know to buy 100% cotton for best absorption.

We'll have to check out Penneys. We shop there often enough.

As for 100% cotton, we learned that means nothing. We bought a towel to try at Target - not the budget one but the higher grade more costly ones. 100% cotton and it was worthless. Barely absorbent and after the first washing, it was fraying.

[eisor]

My mother bought our last set of towels from Costco about 8 years ago. I still have and use them and they still look GREAT!

[GRITSinMS]

Ditto on the JC Penney towels. If you wait until they have a really good sale you can get them for a great price and for the quality a great value. I tried Kohls recently and was dissatisfied. I will stick with Penneys.

[disneysteve]

Sounds like Penneys is the way to go. I'll tell DW and start watching for a sale. Thanks everyone.

[poundwise]

You may also want to check out K-mart's Martha Stewart Home line.

[mom-from-missouri]

I vote JC Penneys. I also have all our towls for each bathroom the same color. One bathroom gets white, one blue, one sage green, one navy, and the RV has plum colored towels. That way, all the towels don't end up in the same bathroom. (which was happening before we color coded-we thought we needed to buy more because 2 bathrooms constantly had none or few).
Don't use fabric softner on towels--it makes them less absorbent. I rinse mine in vinegar-leaves a fresh smell.
We also have the larger sized towels. That way as the kids grow, their towls are still big enough to wrap around them.
As towels get to thin, replace them with the correct color as needed--that way I don't have to replace them all at once.
The thin ones get recycled--I either cut them up for kitchen washcloths, cut in strips to make a mop out of-or a braid rug for the door for wet shoes and boots, or they go to the car trunk.
FYI-a cute thing to do with towels--use them to make curtains for your bathroom out of the same towels in that bathroom. You can just wash them with the towels. Add a ribbon or braid if you want to fancy them up.

[GRITSinMS]

Good tip on the vinegar. I too use vinegar with the towels. You can't use bleach with darker color towels. Vinegar is also somewhat of a disenfectant and helps with softening.

[disneysteve]

So for all of you who are recommending Penneys, which towels? I'm sure they sell a wide variety of brands, prices and quality levels. Which ones do you have and recommend?

[Joan.of.the.Arch]

The tag on mine says

Simply Elegant
JCPenney
Home Collection

Hey, also "made in the USA" of 100% combed Egyptian cotton.

Egyptian cotton is supposed to be superior because it has longer than average fibers so that it is less likely for linty bits to be shed. It spins into threads with greater integrity, so that the woven piece is stronger and also so that the threads retain a slight sheen.

[Fred333]

I looked online and found some nice ones. I think the website was luxuryspreads.com. They are soft and wash well.

[GRITSinMS]

The towels I get from JC Penney are JC Penney Home Collection Simply Elegant. Check their web site; they have a sale going on now.