A Twist on Towels: How to Get The Best Bang for Your Buck

As with all household linen staples, the savvy buy isn't the cheapest buy; the cheapest towels you can find tend to be the ones that feel the softest in the store, thanks to a last-minute fabric softener bath by manufacturers, but end up losing their plushness after a few washes and fraying, ultimately leading you to spending more money to replace them when their texture turns to sandpaper. So NOT Savvy.

Like threadcount with sheets, the fineness of a towel's texture is measured in twist, which refers to the amount of twists per inch of yarn. However, unlike sheets, a higher-twist pile does not necessarily mean the softest towel or even the best buy. The light and fluffy towels you drool over in the store are usually low-twist, while a high-twist pile is dense, heavy and more durable.

Buying Tips:

• It's okay to buy for softness, but look for weight as well--in heavy towels, the fibers are tightly woven, more durable, absorbent and will retain their texture longer.
• Look for "combed" cotton, which means that weak, broken threads have been removed leaving only the durable ones behind.
• Egyptian, Pima or Turkish Cottons are worthy buys for their rich, premium fiber textures
• Bamboo and Organic Cottons are excellent green alternatives with bamboo being a naturally microbial/mildew resistant fabric

Towel Care:

• Don't use fabric softener; it decreases absorbency and actually stiffens towels over time
• Add a dash of distilled vinegar to your towel load in the wash every now and then to remove any residue or mustiness