Terry is actually a specific style of weaving. Most fabrics are made weaving yarn in two directions: vertical and transverse horizontal. Terry cloth is made using two warp beams: the ground warp, which helps form the base of the towel, and the pile warp, which creates the loops of thread. These loops stand off the base on both sides of the fabric to increase surface area, enhance absorbency, and maintain a soft feel.
Traditional terry cloth is woven from cotton; however, it can also be made from silk, linen, polyester and other man-made fibers, or blends. Nowadays, high-quality terry is often made of cotton, because, unlike other materials that weaken in water, the absorbent fiber in cotton gets stronger when wet.
Thanks to its fantastic absorbency, cotton terry is a wonderful choice for towels, bath mats, bath robes, beach and pool towels. Terry towels can easily be dyed or printed, as well as decoratively embroidered.
How to care for your terry cloth towels?
Fortunately, terry cloth towels are very easy to care for and can easily be laundered in your machine at home. With proper care, terry towels should last and retain their beauty and performance for years.
. Use a laundry detergent specially made for fine linen.
. Always wash your towels before using them for the first time. Sort your towels before washing by both color and weight. Wash towels separately from clothes and don't overload your machine.
. Follow the care guidelines from your towel's. Use bleach sparingly, if allowed, and only on a white towels or towel set. (Chlorine bleach should NEVER be used on any kind of colored towel. Use non-chlorine bleach if recommended on label).
. Avoid fabric softener or any kind of colored towel. Use non-chlorine bleach if recommended on label.
. Hang wet towels to dry between use to minimize mold and odor.
Over time, even luxury towels can lose some of their softness and absorbency. This is usually due to the minerals in hard water.