Microfibre Towel FAQs
What makes microfibre towels so absorbent?
Microfibre towels are significantly more absorbent than their natural fibre counterparts and can hold several times their own weight in water. There are several factors that contribute to their absorbency:
- Microfibre towels are made of ultra-fine filaments, approximately 1/300th the width of a human hair. This creates an enormous surface area compared to natural fibres, allowing the towel to hold more liquid than natural fibre towels with large fibres.
- The minute channels between fibres act like a sponge, trapping moisture, dirt, and grime through capillary action.
- Microfibre is made from a blend of polyester and polyamide (nylon). Polyamide has hydrophilic (water-attracting) properties, further boosting microfibre towels’ absorption power.
What can you clean or dry with a microfibre towel?
Microfibre towels have near-endless use cases for both cleaning and drying. They’re available in various sizes and suitable for cleaning or drying surfaces ranging from large machinery to delicate items like spectacles. Microfibre towels are useful to have around the home, office, studio, or workshop.
The exceptional softness of microfibre towels makes them comfortable and practical choices for both the bathroom and gym. Microfibre also makes a great material for doggy towels and blankets, making post-walk bathtime a bit more tolerable.
At Paragon Microfibre, we like to think that the list of things you can’t clean or dry with a microfibre towel is shorter than the list of things you can. Avoid using microfibre towels on very rough or jagged surfaces that can snag and damage the towel, and make sure to use enough cleaner or detergent when wiping down excessively oily or greasy surfaces. Do not use microfibre towels on surfaces that are hot enough to melt the fibres.
How to take care of microfibre towels
Microfibre towels, whether referring to bath towels getting twice-daily use or tea towels in regular rotation, can last for years when taken care of. To keep your towels fresher for longer, only hand- or machine-wash them in warm (up to 60°C), or cold water with a mild detergent and allow them to air dry or tumble dry at a low-temperature setting. High temperatures, bleach, fabric softener, and other harsh chemicals may harm the towels’ absorbency and expected lifespan as they break down the fibres.
How long do microfibre towels last?
Paragon Microfibre products can last for up to 500 machine wash cycles without any noticeable loss in softness or absorbency. Even with regular use, this means years and years of drying that is soft on skin and gentle on surfaces.
Can you help if I want to place a larger order?
Yes, we can. We supply large volumes of towels to businesses across a range of industries. Whether it’s for trade use, resale, or distribution, we can offer competitive pricing, reliable availability, and flexible delivery options. Just reach out with your requirements and we’ll prepare a tailored quote.
Can the microfibre towels have my company branding on them?
Definitely. We offer a range of custom branding options including logo labels, custom colours, and bespoke packaging. This is ideal for companies looking to promote their own brand or create a retail-ready product. Minimum order quantities will apply—get in touch and we’ll walk you through the options.
Can I have towels without any labels at all?
Yes, we can supply our towels completely unlabelled. This is a popular option for resellers, detailers, or businesses that prefer a clean, neutral look. Just let us know by putting a note in the 'order notes' section found in the cart or email us and we’ll take care of it.
Is it ok to just buy small quantities of the towels?
Absolutely. Whether you need just a few for personal use or want to test them before placing a larger order, you’re welcome to purchase in any quantity. All of our towel products are available to buy directly from our website with no minimum order required.
Understanding GSM
Our guide to understanding Grams per Square Metre (GSM)
What does GSM stand for?
GSM stands for Grams per Square Metre, and it’s the unit of measurement used to indicate the weight and density of fabrics such as towels, bed linen, paper, and other flat products available in different thicknesses.
The higher the GSM, the thicker, heavier, plushier, and more absorbent the towel will be. Lower-GSM microfibre towels, on the other hand, are thinner, lighter, and dry faster. Each has its own best use cases.
Understanding GSM ratings in microfibre towels
- 300-400 GSM: Lightweight towels
- 400-600 GSM: Medium-weight towels
- 600+ GSM: Heavy, luxury towels
How do I choose the right GSM microfibre towels?
Choosing the right GSM microfibre towel is fairly straightforward.
Lightweight (300 to 400 GSM) towels fold down small and dry very quickly, making them ideal for camping, your gym or sports bag, or beach days. While you do sacrifice a little bit of absorbency compared to higher-GSM towels, even low-GSM or lightweight microfibre towels offer more absorbing power than natural fibre alternatives.
For everyday bath towels, most people reach for a medium-weight towel (400 to 600 GSM). They’re more than absorbent enough to thoroughly dry a person several times over, while not taking too long to dry. It’s the ‘happy medium’ for many households.
For a more luxurious or spa-like feel, go for a high-GSM option (600+ GSM). They’re ultra-thick, plush, and absorbent, ideal for wrapping up after a bath or shower when you want maximum comfort. As a downside, the higher the GSM, the longer the towels will take to dry.
Microfibre Towel Buyer's Guide
Consisting of microscopically-thin split fibres, microfibre towels are significantly softer and more absorbent than their natural fibre alternatives, and even lower-GSM microfibre towels outperform cotton, bamboo, or linen towels when it comes to pure drying power.
In this guide, we'll cover everything you need to know about buying microfibre towels, helping you choose the best type, size, and weave for your needs. Whether looking to upgrade your bathroom with luxuriously soft body towels, quick-drying grab-and-go gym towels, or something comfortable for your pets after a muddy walk, Paragon Microfibre has you covered.
The three most important considerations when choosing microfibre towels
While a mantra of always bigger, heavier, and plushier might sound appealing when it comes to towels, in reality, there are times when smaller towels or ones designed with a specific task in mind can help you achieve the same results in the same amount of time—with less water, less drying time, and less effort when it comes to washing and storing.
When buying microfibre towels, it's important to keep the intended tasks in mind and choose towels in the right GSM, size, and weave.
GSM (Grams per Square Metre)
If you scroll up and select any of our towels, you will notice a GSM rating of anywhere between 200 and 1,000, with most towels carrying a rating of 400 to 450. These numbers indicate the towel's mass in grams per square metre of material, with higher numbers representing thicker and plushier towels.
Low GSM Microfibre Towels
It's important to remember that even low-GSM microfibre towels (approximately 200 GSM) still offer exceptional absorbency. On the lower end of the GSM scale, you'll find beach and gym towels that fold down to a compact size and dry quickly. Lower-GSM towels also make great travel companions, especially with regular use. Just rinse and wring them out, hang them up for a few minutes in a windy spot, and you're good to go!
Medium GSM Microfibre Towels
Most personal towels found around the home, whether it's for the face, hair, or body, will sit in the medium GSM range (400 to 500). Medium GSM towels offer a good balance of softness, durability, and drying power. While they're not as thick and luxurious as high GSM options, in most cases, you can use a medium GSM microfibre towel to fully dry your body in the morning and evening with enough time for the towel to fully dry throughout the day.
High GSM Microfibre Towels
Nothing in your home is as soft or absorbent as a high quality, high-GSM microfibre towel. From around 600 GSM, microfibre towels get increasingly thicker and more luxurious, with 1,000 GSM large body towels often seen in luxury spas and salons. On the extreme end of the GSM scale, 1,600 GSM towels are bulky and take up a lot of space, but offer unparalleled absorbency and drying power.
Size
Microfibre towels are available in a broad range of common sizes, including:
- Extra large (200x100cm): Extra-large, low-GSM swimming towels are ideal for beach or pool days. They're big enough to fully dry yourself multiple times and also double as comfortable picnic blankets.
- Full body towel (150x75cm to 180x90cm): Ideal for wrapping up after a shower or drying off at the pool.
- Hand and hair towels (90x45cm to 100x50cm): Smaller, more compact towels are ideal for drying your hands or hair. We recommend getting a couple and switching them out as needed. These smaller towels are incredibly versatile and handy to have around the home.
While nothing terrible will happen if you use the wrong size towel, struggling with excess material and a bigger wet towel when you're done is unnecessary.
Weave
A microfibre towel's weave determines how it feels, how it lifts and handles debris, and how much moisture it can absorb. Picking the right weave makes drying faster and can help you keep your towels in an as-new condition for longer.
- Most microfibre towels, especially body towels, use a Terry weave for a soft feel and maximum absorption. Their looped surface is soft on the skin, plush, and capable of holding on to large amounts of moisture.
- If you're looking for something that packs down to a compact size, a suede-finish microfibre towel should fit the bill. These lower-GSM towels can hold up to 4 times their weight in moisture and wring out to 90% dry.
- Waffle weave towels have a distinctive grid-weave pattern that results in thinner towels that dry more quickly. You'll typically find waffle weave towels in the kitchen.
- Diamond weave microfibre towels are often found in car care kits, offering streak and scratch-free drying on both glass and auto bodies.