Organic cotton towels, bath towels & hand towels

Choosing organic cotton towels

Organic cotton towels are made from cotton grown without synthetic pesticides, and they feel soft and absorbent from the first use. Choose by weight and weave: a thicker towel feels plush after a bath, while a lighter or honeycomb weave dries faster and packs smaller. SilverGuard and Wild & Stone make the organic towels here, and So Just Shop and Sop make towels for the beach and sauna. We looked at each brand's materials and how its towels are made before listing it.

Organic cotton bath towels and hand towels

SilverGuard makes organic cotton bath towels, hand towels and a face cloth, woven with its IONIC+ silver thread. Wild & Stone makes hand towels in GOTS-certified organic cotton, which the brand says can be cut into strips and composted at the end of their life. A set of two hand towels and one bath towel per person covers most bathrooms, with a spare set for wash day. Pale colours show marks from makeup and fake tan, so pick a darker shade for the guest loo.

Baby, beach and sauna towels

SilverGuard makes a hooded organic cotton baby towel, which keeps a baby's head warm after a bath. So Just Shop sells the Assos Turkish hand towel in 100% cotton with a blue and white honeycomb weave, which also works as a light beach towel. Sop makes a lightweight black towel for the beach, the sauna or a treatment table, which hides marks from sand and travel.

Caring for organic cotton towels

Wash new towels before the first use to fluff up the fibres. Wash at 40 degrees with less detergent than you think, skip fabric softener and dry on a line or on low. Shake towels out before drying, so the loops stand up and stay soft. Organic cotton towels make a lovely housewarming or wedding present, rolled and tied with ribbon. Bathroom Accessories has soap dishes and storage, Soaps & Cleansers has soap, Baby & Kids Bath has baby bath care, and Eco swaps for home: The ones that actually move the needle has more ideas.