There are a variety of towels available in the market according to the sizes and types of the towels. They include guest towels, hand towels, fingertip towels, and bath sheets. It is tricky to identify which one is suitable for you and what is the use of some particular towel. Fingertip towel and hand towel are mostly perplexing as they come in almost the same size and can be used for similar purposes. However, both towels have their own specific purpose and it is always recommended to buy them for your home, work and dining space. Fingertip towels and hand towels are not only for drying hands, they are also used for some other purposes such as you can use them for cleaning glasses, watches, printer rollers and other items.
What is a hand towel?
As the name describes, hand towels are used to dry hands after washing. They are mostly available near every sink. These towels are kept folded or draped by the sink or can be hung on a towel ring or a towel bar. The measurement of the hand towel is almost 28-30 inches long and 16-18 inches wide. Hand towels are bigger than washcloths or fingertip towels, but they are smaller than bath towels. Hand towels are mostly used with soft and durable fabric to bear the multiple uses.
There are a lot of uses of hand towels other than drying hands after washing.
- Hand towels are also used to pat your face dry after washing. You can also use them to dry up your arms or feet if you want.
- Hand towels are also used in kitchens to wipe the shelves or stove. You can also use the hand towels to dry up the plates after washing them. Another purpose of hand towels is to mop up household spills such as juices, cold drinks or syrups.
- If you stay at a hotel, they serve hand towels in every room with breakfast. It is a custom to provide at least one hand towel per person in every room. Most hotels use pleasantly folded premium quality hand towels with other towels in the room.
- Hand towels are also a necessity for spas and salons. These towels are very convenient to use during facials, nail services, hair treatments, and massages along with other services.
- Gyms and health clubs also provide hand towels. You can use them after a tiresome workout to wipe your sweat. You can also clean exercise equipment before using it to avoid germ transfer. Hand towels are also frequently used in sports clubs. Most players tuck these towels in their pockets for easy access. They use them to wipe the sweat from their faces and hands.
- There are a lot more uses of hand towels in homes, offices and businesses. However, for salon and spas, always remember to use washed hand towels to prevent transferring dirt or germs.
What is a fingertip towel?
Fingertip towels are slightly larger than washcloths and smaller than hand towel length. The measurement of the fingertip towel is mostly 11 inches wide and 18 inches long. Fingertip towels are mostly decorative and fancier types of towels, but they also serve some particular tasks. Fingertip towels are also called finger towels and folded neatly for guests. Fingertip towels are made according to the other towels of the room and can be decorated with beautiful colors to give a fancy look. They are mostly used for cleaning fingers and hands or for doing small cleaning jobs.
Fingertip towels are used for many purposes such as:
- Some luxury restaurants use fingertip towels to use before and after having a meal. Finger towels will elevate the dining experience by providing a luxury feel. Linen fingertip towels are recommended rather than paper napkins to use at a fine-dining restaurant.
- Fingertip towels are used for drying hands while preparing food in your kitchen. They are also used for drying dishes or wiping up spills. Fingertip towels can also be used as a lining for crackers, bread, rolls or snacks.
- Many gyms provide fingertip towels for using after exercise. You can also wipe the exercise machine before using it.
- Fingertip towels can be convenient for dusting or cleaning small items. They are very lightweight and you can easily use them for cleaning decorative items in showcases or racks.
- Fingertip towels for bathrooms are presented frequently along with bath towels or bath sheets. They are also used as guest towels. Fingertip towels are usually made in beautiful patterns and colors to appeal to guests. Keeping a basket full of fingertip towels in your bathroom will provide a luxury feel for your guests. You can also hang them in a fingertip towel holder to look prominent.
- Made in premium fabric and aesthetic designs, fingertip towels can be a wonderful housewarming gift. Some fingertip towels also contain some embroidery or monograms. You can also get personalized fingertip towels to make a memorable gift for your loved ones.
- Fingertip towels have many other uses such as you can use them for traveling by keeping them in the car. They can serve a lot of purposes from eating food to cleaning car dashboard or mirror.
- Finger towels can also be used only for decorative purposes to appeal to your guests. A beautifully designed finger towel will look really good hung along with other bath towels.
Differentiate between fingertip towels or hand towels:
The basic difference between a fingertip and hand towel is about the size. Fingertip towels are smaller than the size of a hand towel. Both are convenient to use for multiple purposes. However, hand towels are mostly used for daily uses while fingertip towels are usually used as a guest towel. As fingertip towels are made in a decorative way by giving them beautiful colors and patterns along with some embroidery, they are most recommended for presenting to your guests. Fingertip towels are smaller in size so they are most convenient to use. However, for kitchen shelves, stoves, spills or some other tasks, a hand towel will serve more efficiently due to its larger size.
How to take care of your fingertip towels?
Fingertip towels are mostly fancy or decorative with embroidery or delicate elements. Therefore, they need a very delicate wash cycle to keep them in shape without damaging the decorative elements. It is essential to take proper care of finger towels to maintain their absorbency and plush. Here are some basic tips to keep your finger towels in best condition.
- It is very important to read the labels attached to the towels so you can know about the care instructions.
- New towels are mostly coating with silicone finishing to give them a fluffy look. It can affect the absorbance of the towel. You can wash the new towels before use to remove any coating and make them soft again.
- Fabric softeners are not recommended for washing finger towels. They can cause residue or buildup that may affect the absorbency. If you strongly want to use fabric softener, you can use it after every 4 to 5 washes.
- Do not wash darker color towels with lighter ones as they can bleed some color and damage the lighter ones.
- Fingertip towels are frequently used so they catch a lot of bacteria and germs. Try to wash them with hot water to get rid of those germs and dirt.
- You can use vinegar to wash your finger towels. It contains natural acidic properties and it will kill the bacteria. It is also very effective to remove the buildup from your towels and give them a fresh fragrance.
- Always dry your finger towels in sunlight. It will help kill any remaining bacteria and remove any bad odor. It is very helpful in drying them properly because of air-ventilation.
- Keeping them in a good position at a clean place is also very important to increase the life of your towels.
Materials used for hand towels and fingertip towels:
Fingertip and hand towels are mostly made by using the same material. However, it also depends on the intended use of both towels. Here are some mostly used materials for making hand and finger towels:
- Cotton is the most used fabric for making all kinds of towels including fingertip towel and hand towel. Turkish or Egyptian cotton is the finest quality cotton used for these towels to serve in luxury hotels and spas.
- Bamboo plant fibers create a softer texture than cotton. Bamboo finger or hand towels are mostly used for sensitive skin types. Bamboo towels are also suitable for luxury bathrooms; however, they also serve a lot of other purposes.
- Linen towels contain fibers of the flax plant. It is a durable material that dries really fast. Linen towels are mostly used for kitchen or dusting purposes.
- Microfiber hand and fingertip towels are made from a polyester blend. They are very absorbent, quick-drying and lighter in weight. They are made with the smallest fibers, so they can be very efficient for car cleaning, dusting and other types of cleaning. Microfiber towels are mostly used by swimmers as they dry up the water very efficiently.
FAQs:
Q: What is a finger towel used for?
Ans: Finger towels are mostly used for kitchen counters, toe cleaning, general cleaning and even lining a serving dish.
Q: What is the size of a fingertip towel?
Ans: Fingertip towel dimensions mostly measured 11 inches wide and 18 inches long.
Q: Why do people use hand towels?
Ans: Hand towels are mostly used for cleaning dirt from hand or drying them after washing.
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