Buying bath towels

Where to buy
High quality doesn't have to mean high prices. Specialty shops can charge upwards of $35 for a towel but you can find excellent towels, such as Seale's favourite Brazilian cotton towels, at stores like Winners, Linens and Things or the Bay -- at low prices. You can even find good, medium-quality towels, with matching face cloths and accessories, at stores like Wal-Mart and Zellers.

Seale says a good bath towel should cost you about $15 and decorative towels should cost between $18 and $22. An entire set of towels should only cost approximately $50 to $60 or less when large stores such as the Bay have half-price sales.

Pamper your towels
Your towels will last eight to 12 years if you take good care of them. Wash light and dark colours separately and avoid fabric softener because it can make your towels less absorbent. Always dry them in the dryer; otherwise, they will feel stiff and scratchy. It's also a good idea to keep your dark towels away from bleach or peroxide not only when you wash them, but also when you use them after applying creams or other makeup that might contain harsh chemicals. As for light-coloured towels, Seale recommends washing these with a bit of Javex bleach, especially if you use them to clean up after messy children.

And remember -- even when your towels have started to sport holes, you can still use them. Cut them into rags for cleaning and polishing. With long-lasting fabrics, affordable prices and low maintenance, there are no excuses for keeping those ratty old towels in your linen closet.

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