You're hosting a party, and as guests come in and out of the door, they need to dry their hands. Do you offer them a paper towel or a clothes towel to dry off?

When hosting guests, what is the best way to dry their hands - clothes or paper towels?

When hosting guests, the debate between using clothes towels or paper towels often arises. Each has its own set of pros and cons, which this article will outline. Ultimately, which option is best for you will depend on your own personal preferences and priorities.

Pros of Clothes Towels

Clothes towels offer a few pros when it comes to drying hands. One is that they are typically made of softer materials than paper towels, so they feel nicer against the skin. Guests can use the same towel multiple times, which cuts down on waste and makes cloth towels more environmentally friendly than disposable paper towels. Many people find cloth hand towels to be more aesthetically pleasing than their white, stark paper counterparts.

Cons of Clothes Towels

One potential downside of using clothes towels to dry hands is that they can be breeding grounds for bacteria if they are not properly cleaned and cared for. If multiple people use the same towel over time but not everyone washes their hands before using it or comes in contact with a contaminated surface, each subsequent person who grabs the towel may pick up germs from those earlier users. Another possible disadvantage of using cloth hand towels is that they can often be less efficient than paper towels when it comes to drying hands quickly. Compared to a few sheets of soft, absorbent paper towel, guests may take longer to dry their hands fully with a cotton cloth - especially as more water gets brushed off and flows down into the towel itself.

Pros of Paper Towels

Paper towels are a much more sanitary option for drying hands than cloth towels. If one person doesn't clean their hands properly before them with a cloth towel, they could easily spread bacteria to the next person who uses the towel. Paper towels don't have that same risk, as users will throw them away after use. Paper towels are much more efficient than cloth towels - guests can quickly dry their hands with a few sheets of paper towel.

Cons of Paper Towels

One of the primary cons of using paper towels to dry hands is that they can easily be overused. If every member of your household regularly dries their hands with a paper towel, you could quickly go through an entire roll in just a few days. Additionally, paper towels can be wasteful if you don’t properly recycle them. In terms of their environmental impact, using recycled paper towels is much better than using virgin paper towels, but even recycled paper towels still create greenhouse gases when they decompose in landfills.

Different types of clothes hand towels

There are a variety of choices when it comes to clothes hand towels. You can buy hand towels that are made of 100% cotton, which will be the most absorbent option.

Terry cloth hand towels are also a popular choice - they are made of a soft, looped fabric that is highly absorbent. Some people find that these towels feel a bit rough against their skin, so you may want to consider whether or not your guests would prefer a softer material.

Another option is to purchase microfiber hand towels, which are thin and lightweight and can dry hands quickly. They come in a variety of colors and patterns, so you can find one that will match your décor.

Different types of paper towels

When it comes to choosing paper towels for your guests, there are a few different things you can consider. The first is the type of paper towel - there are regular paper towels, which are the most common type, and then there are eco-friendly options like recycled paper towels or paper towels made from bamboo.

You can also choose between the traditional rolled type or the more modern and mostly seen in commercial bathrooms, the folded type, mostly known as multifold paper towels or trifold paper towels.

Regular or Eco-friendly Paper Towels

When it comes to regular paper towels, they are the most common type of paper towel. They are made of absorbent paper that is perfect for drying hands. They come in a variety of sizes, so you can find one that is perfect for your needs. Regular paper towels are also very affordable, making them a great option for those who are on a budget.

Eco-friendly paper towels are made of recycled materials, which makes them more environmentally friendly than regular paper towels. They come in a variety of sizes and colors, so you can find one that will match your décor. Eco-friendly paper towels are also more expensive than regular paper towels, but they are a better option for the environment.

Rolled or Folded Paper Towels

The traditional type of paper towel is the rolled paper towel, which is what you typically see in stores. These paper towels are made of a single layer of paper that is rolled up into a tube. They are very affordable and come in a variety of sizes.

Multifold paper towels or trifold paper towels are the more modern type of paper towel. They are made of multiple layers of paper that are folded into a rectangle. They take up less space than rolled paper towels and are often seen in commercial bathrooms.

How to decide if you should provide paper towels or clothes hand towels for your guests to dry their hands?

You want to provide a more sanitary option for your guests

Choose paper towels. Guests can use clean sheets each time.

Image showing eBun bamboo paper towel dispenser for multifold and trifold paper towels.

You want to be more environmentally friendly

You have the option of environment-friendly paper towels as well as clothes hand towels.

Clothes towels can be used multiple times before being washed and don’t create as much waste as paper towels.

However, paper towels may not be as bad for the environment as you think. You can choose paper towels that only use recycled materials or that are manufactured in an eco-friendly way.

You want to save money

Choose clothes hand towels. You can use them multiple times before washing them, as opposed to paper towels which are only meant to be used once and then thrown away.

You want to save time

Choose paper towels. Unlike clothes towels, after guests are done using the paper towels, you don't have to spend time washing them up and folding them and store them.