Gym towels help promote a clean and hygienic fitness center environment. Since facilities have different operational requirements, ERC Wiping Products supplies gym towels in various colors, sizes, and materials. Here are three signs your gym should upgrade to high-quality athletic towels:

1. Bad Odors

Over time, some towels begin to retain bad odors even after washing. Bacteria, mold, and mildew can build up in towels, especially if they were washed at low temperatures or not dried thoroughly. This often leads to a musty smell, and it potentially impacts overall hygiene in the gym.

The type of towel can also affect odor retention due to differences in fiber structure and how they manage moisture. Stocking your gym with multiple towel types supports various uses while minimizing odors and improving hygiene. Towels can also be purchased in bulk, allowing you to wash towels frequently while maintaining availability. Some towel options include:

• Cotton: These towels are highly absorbent, making them suitable for workout floors, aquatic centers, locker rooms, and showers. They typically take longer to dry, so regular washing and complete drying help prevent bacterial growth.


• Microfiber: These towels are also highly absorbent, and their ultra-fine, split fiber structure supports fast drying times. This makes them more resistant to developing odors, even when patrons use a single towel for their entire workout.

2. Low Absorbency

Gym towels that smear sweat instead of soaking it up can leave gym patrons sticky or equipment damp, impacting comfort and safety. Towel absorption is determined by material quality, weave, and thickness. Cotton towels with a terry loop weave increase the towel’s surface area. This supports higher water retention, and a loose weave helps water drain during drying.

Our cotton terry towels are available in medium and lightweight options. Medium-weight towels have a denser weave, making them plush and more absorbent. These towels are often suitable for pools and showers where there are high volumes of water. Lightweight towels are thinner and dry faster. They can be stocked in gyms for patrons’ use, whether they are laying them down on a bench, seat, or back pad during a workout or to wipe away sweat from their face and hands.

3. Poor Durability

Low-quality towels will fray, thin, or discolor quickly after repeated washing. This affects their effectiveness and can lead to negative perceptions of the gym's cleanliness. Even though the towel may be perfectly safe to use, people use visual cues to judge hygiene fast. If towels don't look clean, members won't want to use them, thus limiting towel access if usable stock falls below patrons’ demand. Regular towel replacement can also add to your gym’s operational costs.

Using towels appropriate for their intended purpose and maintaining them properly helps improve their longevity. Using single-use, pre-saturated gym wipes to clean dumbbells, machines, or other high-touch surfaces can limit over-washing other towel types. Avoiding scented detergents and fabric softeners helps prevent towel fibers from becoming clogged, which limits their effectiveness over time.

Find High-Quality Gym Towels

Gym towels should help you maintain a clean, comfortable, and hygienic facility. The right towels will help enhance the overall member experience by signaling an increased perceived value and professionalism. Our team at ERC Wiping Products will help you find the right towel for your needs based on information about your gym’s occupancy rates, services, and cleaning concerns. Contact us today to learn more about all our gym towel options.