Terry in towels and what the loops do

Short answer: The loops in a towel are what absorb the water. The more and longer the loops, the more water the towel can hold, but the longer it also takes to dry after use.

How a towel works

A terry towel is woven with thousands of loops standing up from a denser base. Water is drawn between the loops by capillary action, and the large surface means moisture spreads quickly across the whole fabric. That is why the surface itself matters more for absorbency than the thickness of the yarn alone.

Weight and absorbency are linked

A heavier towel usually has more and longer loops and therefore absorbs more water per use. In return, it takes longer to dry and takes up more room in a bag or bathroom. For travel, a lighter towel is often the better choice. See bamboo towels in different weights and sizes.

Why bamboo dries faster

Bamboo viscose absorbs moisture directly into the fibre itself and releases it quickly back into the surrounding air. That is why a bamboo towel typically dries faster between uses than a pure cotton one, which also means it smells less of damp in a bathroom without much ventilation.

How to keep the loops open

Skip the fabric softener, which settles as a thin film around each loop and makes it less effective at absorbing water. Shake the towel out firmly before hanging it up or putting it in the dryer, so the loops stand up rather than lying flat against each other while drying.

Washing and temperature

Most terry towels tolerate sixty degrees, and an occasional hot wash keeps them fresh and removes built up oil from the skin. Day to day, forty degrees is enough if the towel is aired properly between uses and does not sit damp and crumpled for long stretches at a time.

Why new towels absorb poorly

A new towel often has a light production residue sitting in the fibres, which at first makes it repel water rather than absorb it. The residue usually disappears after two or three ordinary washes, after which the towel behaves as expected and absorbs far better.

Why air dried towels go stiff

When towels air dry without movement, the fibres lie flat and stiff against each other instead of staying loose and feathered. Ten minutes in the dryer after air drying can soften the fabric again, because the movement makes the loops stand up and separates the fibres from one another.

Towels in the home more broadly

Terry cloth is not only used for bath towels but also for guest towels, tea towels and robes, where the same looped construction gives softness and absorbency. See home and homewear in bamboo, where several of the soft textiles for the home are gathered in one place.

Connection to bedding

Although bedding and towels solve different tasks, they often share the same requirements for fibre and care, because both sit close to the skin every day. See bamboo bedding to compare how bamboo viscose behaves in a woven construction rather than the looped structure of a towel.

Frequently asked questions

Frequently asked questions

Why does a new towel absorb poorly

There is a light production residue in the fabric from the factory. It usually disappears after two or three washes, after which the towel absorbs as expected.

Should towels be washed hot

Sixty degrees occasionally keeps them fresh and removes oil from the skin. Day to day, forty degrees is enough if the towel is aired well between uses.

Why do towels go stiff from air drying

Because the fibres do not move and therefore lie flat against each other. Ten minutes in the dryer afterwards lets the loops stand up again.