Bamboo Towels vs. Egyptian Cotton – A Comparison of Two Classics
Short answer: Egyptian cotton has the full, fluffy kind of softness. Bamboo viscose has the smooth kind, and it absorbs at least as much while drying faster. If the bathroom is small or poorly ventilated, bamboo wins, because the towel has time to dry between two showers.
Two different kinds of softness
Egyptian cotton has long fibres, and those are what give the full, fluffy towel you associate with hotels. Bamboo viscose is smooth instead, more like a dense terry with a silky surface. Which one feels better is a matter of taste, but there is a practical difference: the cotton's softness arrives after a few washes and disappears again once the fibres wear, while the bamboo's is there from the first use and stays as long as you avoid fabric softener.
Absorbency and drying time
Both absorb well, but they release the moisture differently. The cotton holds on to it, which is why a thick cotton towel can still be damp the next morning. Bamboo viscose gives the moisture up to the air faster, so the towel is dry again before it is next used. In a bathroom without a window that is not a small detail, it is the whole difference between a towel that smells and one that does not. See bamboo towels for the sizes we carry.
The smell in the bathroom
The musty smell does not come from the towel but from the moisture that stays in it. The bacteria live in the water between the fibres, and the longer the towel is damp, the more it smells. That is why drying time matters more than the material itself. Hang the towel out fully rather than folding it over a rail, and give it room. A bamboo towel forgives more, but neither works if it lies crumpled up.
Washing and lifespan
Wash at thirty or forty degrees and with no fabric softener at all. The softener settles around the fibres and closes off the absorbency, and a towel that does not absorb is useless whatever it is made of. Dry on the lowest heat or on the line. Bamboo viscose is weakest when wet, so do not wring it hard. The rest of the things for the home sit under bamboo homewear.
The rest of the home
The towel is rarely the only place where moisture is a problem. The same goes for the bed, where the body gives off moisture all night, and the nightwear in between. Change only the towel and you notice the difference for ten minutes a day. Change the bedding too and you notice it for eight hours. See bamboo bedding along with bamboo nightwear for women and bamboo nightwear for men.
Frequently asked questions
Does bamboo absorb better than Egyptian cotton
At least as well, and it releases the moisture again faster. The big difference is the drying time rather than the absorbency.
Do bamboo towels go stiff over time
Only if you use fabric softener or too much heat. Without either, they keep their softness for years.
How often should towels be washed
After three or four uses, if they dry fully in between. If they do not, they need washing more often whatever the material.
See our range of bamboo towels.
