Bath sheets for the beach and for the home

Short answer: A bath sheet covers the whole body and is used both after a shower and on the beach. One that dries quickly takes up less room in the bag and starts to smell later, because it does not stay damp for long.

The size

A bath sheet is usually 70 x 140 centimetres or larger. It covers the whole body when wrapped around you after a shower, and it is big enough to lie on in sand or grass. An ordinary towel is smaller and better for hands and hair, but it cannot replace the sheet on the beach.

For the beach

On the beach, weight and drying time matter most. A thick terry sheet quickly gets heavy with sand and water and can stay damp all the way home. A thinner sheet that dries fast in sun and wind is easier to carry and easier to shake clean before you pack up again.

For the home

At home, absorbency matters most, because the sheet gets time to dry between uses. Here it can be a little thicker and softer, so it takes the water quickly after a shower. Hang it spread out so air can reach it. You can see sizes and colours among our bamboo towels.

Sand in the loops

Shake the sheet thoroughly before it goes into the bag, and again before it goes into the washing machine. Sand caught in the terry loops acts like sandpaper in the wash and wears both the sheet and everything else in the drum. Dry sand shakes off more easily than wet, so let it dry first.

Washing after the beach

Salt water and sunscreen settle in the fabric, so a beach sheet benefits from a wash after every trip. Wash without fabric softener, which closes the loops and makes the sheet less absorbent. Use a normal dose and let it dry in the air. More on care in how to wash bamboo towels.

For travel

When travelling, the same applies as on the beach, only more so. A sheet that dries quickly can be packed the next day without making the rest of the suitcase damp. Roll it tightly and it takes up less space than folded. For ideas on the rest of your luggage, see our packing list.

Smell and damp

A sheet left damp in a bag or on a hook for several hours starts to smell. That is not necessarily down to the material but to the time spent damp. Take it out of the bag as soon as you get home and hang it up, even if it will be washed later.

The sizes in one place

There are many names for towels of different sizes, and shops do not always use them the same way. If you want to know what separates a guest towel, a hand towel and a bath sheet, and which measurements are most common, it is all explained in our guide to bath sheet and towel sizes.

How many you need

One bath sheet per person plus a spare covers most households. The spare can be used for the beach or for guests while the others are in the wash. More than that mostly fills the cupboard without being used. See other textiles for the home in home and homewear in bamboo.

Storage

Store bath sheets dry and airy, ideally rolled or loosely folded on a shelf. Never put them in the cupboard before they are completely dry, as even a little moisture can cause a smell that spreads. A bath sheet used often is better off hanging on a hook than folded away.