What The Lines On Your Bathroom Towel Really Mean

Every bathroom needs towels, but some of these drying essentials are more superior than others. Oftentimes, the best ones are those with tightly knit bands on them. As it turns out, these wide strips you see at one end of your towel aren't just there for decorative purposes. What those lines on your bathroom towel are really there for is to help absorb water, instead of letting it drip on the floor. And those marked or patterned bands have a name — a dobby border. These towel sections assist with drying, absorbency, and of course, aesthetic.

Without a dobby border, towels have a tendency to lose their shape and unravel, especially with constant use. You may also find that this wide strip helps prevent shrinking while you are washing and drying your towels. The tightly-woven border tends to keep the fabric's edges lightweight and dry when it's hanging up. The border can even help prevent water from dripping off the edge of your towel. Now that you know what dobby borders are, you may want to go out and buy towels that have them. Just make sure to read up on how to choose the best materials for your bathroom towels first. Options made from higher quality materials like cotton will last you longer than synthetic blends.

To ensure that your drying cloth has a long life, you need to hang it up properly after each use. The best way to accomplish this is to spread out your towel as much as possible, and then hang it with the dobby border lines facing downward. This will allow your towel to dry as quickly as possible. All towels should be washed after every three uses, or as soon as they start to smell unpleasant. You should be changing out your bathroom hand towels even sooner than your bath towels, since they are used more often. Ideally, you should also replace all of your towels with new ones every two to three years.

Just because your towel has a dobby border doesn't mean it's invincible. Rough use and constant washing can eventually wear out any towel. If your cloth begins to fray, tear, or stretch, especially around the dobby border, it is time to consider looking for a replacement. If you want to help prolong the fabric's life even more, consider using it as more of a decorative element, or as a rag. Remember, storing your towels in your bathroom might be ruining them because of how often they're exposed to moisture. Instead, when not in use, store these cloths in a dry place, such as a well-ventilated closet or cabinet.