Large Beach Towels - Care and Maintenance
Large beach towels are a true summertime necessity, but caring for them can sometimes be a hassle. When it comes to an oversized beach towel, you are faced with many options: a plush, luxury towel made with a velour, a kids towel with a dolphin or mermaid on it, or a cabana style terry cloth. Whatever your preference, there are several steps to choosing and maintaining your large beach towels.
Velour vs Terry Cloth Beach Towels
This is an age old argument. One side favors plush terry cloth for its quick dry, while others prefer the smooth feel of a velour towel. We prefer terry cloth for beach towels because we don't want to carry an oversized wet towel around, but the choice is ultimately up to you. Several new beach towels are made of terry cloth on one side and velour on the other, giving you the best of both worlds.
How do manufacturers get velour towels so smooth? It has to do with the way they shear it. By shearing the cloth shorter than they would on a terry cloth, you get a softer, smoother fabric. The tradeoff, of course, is that there is less fabric to absorb water.
Regardless of the style of large beach towels you're looking for, ensure that it is 100% cotton. Just check the label before you purchase; synthetic fabrics - even in blends - do not dry as well or as fast as cotton.
When washing your beach towels, it's important to wash it in soft water and detergent. Be sure to leave out fabric softeners, because they make cotton more water resistant (exactly what you don't want). Also, you should wash richly colored towels 2-3 times by themselves to avoid any bleeding. There's nothing worse than a pair of pink socks (for me, anyway). Ideally, you should hang dry your towels to prevent wear and tear, but if you must use a dryer, be sure to tumble dry low. Never, ever iron them; doing so only flattens the towel and makes it less absorbent.
Large beach towels are especially vulnerable to wear and tear, so take good care of them. When leaving the beach, be sure to shake them well to remove excessive sand. The same goes for hang drying; shake them thoroughly and let them hang freely.
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