The Inside Info On Quality Linens For Your Home

We all want hotel quality linens in our home: luxurious bedding, thick, soft towels and cushy bath mats are the kind of little treats that make all the difference. But don't think you have to spend hundreds or even thousands of dollars to feel like your home is the Hyatt. Absorbency, fluffiness and long life, luckily, have little to nothing to do with price when it comes to towels and other linens.

Some of the most popular brands don't have exorbitant price tags. For instance, Lands End's Super Supima Cotton towel, coming in at $16, is a perennial favorite. Another good choice is JC Penney Home's towel, which comes in at a mere $7.99. Things to look for in a good to mid quality towel are the same across the board: you want the towel to retain its size after being dried and not shrink inches from its original size, and softness is key. Some towels get scratchy after being laundered because the manufacturer's softening sizing is washed out.

So how do I know what to buy?

The Good Housekeeping institute is a good source to turn to before you go linen shopping. The institute regularly ranks towels and other linens on a number of criteria, including color rub off, bleeding, fading and pilling, average absorption and shrinkage. Good Housekeeping also offers a number of helpful hints for pleasurable and successful towel shopping.

Don't choose the towel that's the softest in the store, because the aforementioned softening chemicals can trick you. Instead, check the tag: if it's 100 percent combed cotton, you're in good shape. Look for thick, tightly packed loops and make sure the base of the towel is invisible. Pick up the towel: if it's heavy, its high quality. Double-turned edges with double stitching are worth the money, and will prevent the towel from fraying, shredding and becoming flimsy over time.