A towel is a piece of absorbent fabric used for drying or wiping the body. It draws moisture through direct contact, often using a rubbing motion. In households, several types of fabric towels are used, including :
- hand towels (small towels placed by a sink for drying the hands),
- bath towels (large towels for drying the hair and body after a bath or shower) and
- kitchen towels, which are used for drying dishes.
In warm climates, people may also use beach towels, which are large towels used for drying off after swimming and for placing on beach surfaces. Common household textile towels are made from cotton, rayon, bamboo, non-woven fibers, and a few other materials.