Towels 101

By: Sal Zaino

Try to stay away from Egyptian cotton. Although the Cannon and Fieldcrest Egyptian cotton version is refined and usually okay to use. I can't guarantee its consistency. Try to find the version that does not contain Egyptian cotton.

I go to a Bath and Linen shop in any Mall or Department store. That's where you'll find the Cannon or Fieldcrest Brand. Do not buy towels in K-Mart or Wal-Mart. Most of those towels are seconds or imperfects. Cannon & Fieldcrest make a lower quality version of their towels for K-Mart, Wal-Mart and other big discount chains.

These towels say 100% Cotton but that is not, totally true. The nap is 100% cotton but the backing material has polyester blend in it. So if you press a little to hard on the towel you can get some fine scratches or swirls.

The point I'm trying to make is if a Cannon or Fieldcrest towel is selling in a discount store for $6.00 or less (approximately) it is not the good stuff.

Now for you guys that may have already purchased the lower price towels. Look carefully at your paint finish when you are using your towels. If you are not getting any swirls or fine scratches, then you are okay. Remember it's better to be safe than swirly.

Another problem I'm seeing is some of you guys are using powdered detergent to wash your towels. Powdered detergents contain granules that do not fully dissolve in the wash cycle and get trapped in the nap of the towels, these granules will scratch your paint finish.... Only use Liquid detergents like All or Tide. Also do not use Bleach or any kind of fabric softener.

You must use only white. Not colored towels.....Colored towels are not to be used because the dye leaves a chemical residue on the paint finish. Always wash your towels first before using. Use Liquid detergent and rinse twice.

You should cut the selvages(borders) off the perimeter of the towels. This selvage contains nylon and polyester stitching that could possibly scratch your paint finish. The towels will fray a little once this is done. But it's better to play it safe.

Drying the towels on high heat will make them hold a static charge. I use the regular heat setting and remove them a little damp and let them air dry. You can fluff the towel real good when it's dry to make it softer.

As the towels get older they will lose their nap and absorbency and will have to be replaced.

Hope this ends any confusion...

Sorry for being so **** about this. But I want you guys to always have a flawless, perfect paint finish.