Random questions about towels

WinesNot Whines · May 2011

How many sets do you have? And how often do you replace them? I've noticed that a couple of the towels we got for our wedding (5 years ago) are getting a little ratty and they aren't as soft as they used to be. Do you think 5 years is a good life for a towel that is used regularly? We rotate between 3 sets. I'm thinking of ordering some new ones and also getting a new set to add to our rotation.

Pam&John · May 2011

I have a few sets (I am too lazy to go upstairs and count)... "set" is subjective, though. In the past, I have bought or received sets and I'd say they last 3-5 years, so yours are probably at the end of their useful life.

They're not really a "set," but I buy the white towels in bulk from Costco now, bc they match everything and don't shed (I hate dark towels for that reason). The ones we're using now, I bought a few years ago and they are going strong. I also rotate my towels every three days bc I'm a bit obsessive (I think we've already covered that). I like clean towels. Judge away.

QueSrah · May 2011

We rotate through four sets of towels - partly because we're lazy about laundry, and partly because we couldn't narrow down the four colors we liked at the time. They're still doing pretty well, though a couple in different sets are starting to fray. (Though I guess four sets vs. three means they have gotten a little less wear than yours, since we're both still using wedding gifts from the same year.) DH is making noises about getting new ones, but I'm trying to push that off because I think they're still fine.

julie5220 · May 2011

Sets? We just have a bunch in the same color (plus a few old ones from hubz' college days, eww.) We've had them since 2006. I think that the time is not as relevant as the condition. That depends on the frequency of use and washing, and the original quality. If you need new ones, you need new ones. Ratty, unsoft towels gots ta go!

smacb · May 2011

Sounds like you're ready for new ones. We have way more then I want to admit to. We had a lot and then we got a ton as wedding presents. We had two cross country moves where it took longer then expected for our stuff to show up and I picked up some extra towels. Most of the extra ones I boxed up as back ups for when the current ones wear out. I think it depends on the towels. Target towels tend to wear out after a few years. I have some really nice Ralph Lauren towels that look great after 10 years.

annabear07 · May 2011

We have several sets (~8) of towels from the wedding, before the wedding, and even college, so the age range is from 12 years to 2. Only one or two are showing their age and will probably be tossed soon. Strangely these are not the 12 year-old towels. I don't know what they are made of but they are like new. Wish I would have bought a ton of those! It sounds like your towels are near the end of their life. I think the Macy's white sale is coming up soon. that would be a good time to restock!

SecretServiceWife · May 2011

I wouldn't go by a timeline for towels - if you don't think they're nice anymore, it's time for new ones.

We rotate through 3 sets, and our oldest ones (6 years) are in a heck of a lot better shape than the ones we bought 3 years ago (they're the same brand, so that pisses me off). Our 3 year old towels are still soft, but the hem (?) is fraying on all of them.

victoria1212 · May 2011

we have 10 (or possibly 12) white towels that we have gotten all in the last 4 years. we are going to be getting new ones soon because some of them are not wearing so well. However, my DH is the neat freak and tends to bleach all of our whites....

WinesNot Whines · May 2011

These are nice towels (Hotel collection from Macy's) so I kind of feel like they should last longer, but there are only 2 towels (out of 10) that are looking old, so I guess that's not so bad. And they're the hand towels, so they get more use than the bath towels.

megstoo · May 2011

We rotate and have either 3 or 4 sets although it's time for me to buy another set or 2. We don't rotate the hand towels or wash clothes nearly as often- just the bath towels.

Temp790631812507809 · May 2011

We have two bath towels in the color DH likes and 6 in the color I like. DH's towels are only a couple of years old, and they look fine, but he wants new ones b/c they still have a lot of lint. Mine are mostly wedding/shower gifts and they also still look fine (5 years later) though some are more faded than others. I try to rotate them so they wear more evenly.

We might just get all new ones for the new place, the ones we have don't really match.

bh2720 · May 2011

I must have good luck with towels. The towels we got as wedding/shower gifts (now 5 years old) are all in great shape. They are Wamasutta (sp?) brand from BBB.

I have much older towels that I bought when I got my own place after college and while they don't look brand new anymore, they are still in good enough shape that I use them as guest towels.

mssaint · May 2011

I have some towels that I bought at HomeGoods just about two years ago that look terrible and some that I got for our wedding five years ago that look great.

Once a towel is fairly ratty or worn, it goes into the basement for use as a flood towel (I have overflowed our utility sink a few times). My feeling is that you can never have too many towels.

I also love buying them, but I think we have 3 sets of 2 that are in regular use. Then I have 2 sets of 2 that are backup use. And DH always mixes them up.

LondonMouse · May 2011

We rotate between 2-3 sets. Our oldest is almost 5 years old - the ones we received as wedding gifts and they are starting to look a bit worn. I say retire them if they look questionable. You also might want to see if your local vet or animal shelter needs towels.

hollace · May 2011

We have 4 bath towels (I believe the hotel collection from Macy's) that we got for our wedding in 2005 that we haven't ever used because we're still rotating through my 4 bath towels from Martha Stewart that I have had since I started college in 1997 and bought at K-mart. Needless to say they've held up really well and I can see using them for years more. Who knew?? Meanwhile, Im a little sad that the hotel collection isn't going to hold up nearly as well. LOL. My suggestion would be to try the Martha Stewart collection at Macy's and see how they work.

belizeitornot · May 2011

We had been using 2 sets we got for our wedding 5 years ago, plus an older set that I'm not sure when I got and we didn't have a complete set for any longer. THe wedding towels are same as bh, Wamsutta. They are doing ok, but def. not as soft as I'd like and the washcloths are starting to fade and take on a pinkish hue. (they are a light tan color normally). We're pretty hard on towels in this house.

I just bought a new set at BBB recently and they're super soft but don't soak up water as fast as I'd like. Takes a few passes over a body part to feel dry. I also bought another set at Costco this week but haven't washed them yet.

Random questions about towels

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