Towels: questions and Band 8 answers

I usually swap mine out every three or four days. I know some people wash them after a single use, but to be honest, that seems like a waste of water. As long as it dries properly on the heated rail in my bathroom, it stays fresh enough.

I tend to go for neutral shades like charcoal grey or beige. Bright colours often look a bit tacky to me, and white ones get discoloured far too quickly. Subdued tones just match the tiled walls in my flat much better.

Oh, definitely bath sheets. I find regular towels a bit skimpy, especially when you step out of a hot shower in the middle of winter. A massive, fluffy sheet is just so much cosier and actually wraps around you properly.

Not really a specific style, but my mum always insisted on heavy, pure cotton ones. She used to say cheap synthetic towels just pushed the moisture around instead of absorbing it, so we always had thick, absorbent ones in the airing cupboard.

Yes, actually. A close friend of mine moved into his first flat last year, so I bought him a set of plush hand towels as a housewarming gift. It felt like a practical yet slightly luxurious present that he wouldn't buy for himself.