Unique Ways to Fold Your Hotel Towels

Created: Thursday, 02 August 2018 10:22

Creating a lasting impression on your guests is essential if you work in the hotel business. From the moment they walk through the doors, your building and rooms should boast cleanliness, beauty and professionalism. A strong impression can be created with the help of unique towel folds, including fancy, stored and animal-shaped folds. When your guests walk into their private room, they'll feel safe, cared for and comfortable when they see thoughtful folds.

Cultivating a welcoming atmosphere requires a combination of a few specific things. For example, you can work with all your employees to improve the guest experience through folded bedclothes, interesting towel and washcloth designs, vacuumed carpets, and a neatly arranged space. All details work together to create a cohesive and visually attractive space for your guests, encouraging them to interact with your business and come back in the future. 

The fold of your towels impacts the perception of your business. Neat and thoughtful folds show sophistication, class and care rather than neglect or disrepair. Explore some tips and tricks for folding your towels in unique ways to please your guests from the moment they walk through the doors.

Jump Ahead:

The Benefits of Folding Your Towels Correctly

In addition to simply creating a great first impression on your guests, proper towel folding brings many additional benefits and perks. Just a few of the positive implications of this simple task include:

• Beautiful display and storage: Nobody likes to look at a crumpled pile of towels. It's a messy sight that instantly drags the whole room down. Neatly folded towels, however, are beautiful to view.
• Handy storage: When wadded into heaps, towels can be a pain. On the other hand, towels that have been neatly folded store easily. In addition to this, you can fit far more towels into space if they've been correctly folded and organized.
• Fewer wrinkles: A wrinkled and stiff towel is a towel that nobody wants to use. They can be uncomfortable on the skin, and they also look unattractive. Prevent this altogether by folding your towels neatly.

• Easier hanging: When you fold a towel, you make it much easier to pick up and drape over the towel bar later when it comes time to shower. Otherwise, you'll have to spend time getting it straightened and arranged correctly. This way, the work is already mostly done for you.

Factors That Influence Folding Style

Of course, not every towel can be folded in the same way. What works for one towel won't always work for a different towel. To fully master the art of folding all towels in all situations, you'll want to learn which factors affect how towels can be folded. A quick guide is as follows:

• Size: Some towels are extra-long and others are extra fluffy. These and other factors will change the way you can fold them.
• Type: You can't fold a washcloth like you can fold a bath towel or even a hand towel. Each towel works best with certain types of folds and not with others.
• Storage: If you have minimal storage space, you'll want to try only folds conducive to these small spaces. You'll likely want to steer clear of any fancy folds that take up too much room.
• Intended Use: If you plan to hang a towel over a rack, simple folds may be the easiest and most practical. If you're looking for more of a decorative, whimsical use, however, you might want something more creative, like towel origami.

Where Should You Fold Towels?

Folding towels can be easy once you have the proper space to make your designs. Choose the right environment for your towel folding to ensure smooth folds and clean lines without wrinkles or lopsided fabrics. Evaluate the towel's shape and size and choose the appropriate space for folding it.

You have two standard choices when folding towel designs in your hotel — the air or a flat surface like a bed, countertop or table. While both options are excellent choices, it all depends on how much you want to be able to control the folding. If you are relatively new to towel folding, try starting on a flat table for the most accessible location. The location always depends on your personal skills and preferences.

For example, if you're practicing a more complicated fold, it may be wise to incorporate a table to help you get the edges right and the wrinkles smoothed out. However, if you're only doing a very simple fold, it might be easiest and even fastest to do it with your hands in the air.

To decide which is best for you, practice both ways on multiple towels with multiple different folds and see which you like best.

Folding Instructions for Different Types of Towels

Time to get to the nitty-gritty details. You're in the right place if you're looking for the best towel folding ideas. We'll review some simpler folds, more specialty folds and even extra special tricks, like towel animals and decorative towel folding.

1. How to Fold a Washcloths like Hotels

Because of their small size, there isn't a whole lot you can do with a washcloth beyond folding it into a basic square. To do this, complete the following steps.

1. Fold in half: Fold the washcloth in half one way, smoothing it and lining up the edges neatly.
2. Fold it again: Fold the washcloth in half the other way, smoothing it again and lining the edges up until it is a perfect square.
3. Store properly: Store neatly in a flat space like a drawer or shelf.

2. How to Fold a Hand Towel

Hand towels are also fairly simple to fold, as they are slightly larger than a washcloth. However, because of their rectangular shape, you'll want to pay attention to which side is which.

1. Shake out the towel: Shake out the unfolded towel to remove wrinkles. Lay it on a flat surface or hold it in your hands.
2. Fold the towel in thirds: Take one short side and fold it toward the middle, smoothing the fold into place and lining up the edges.
3. Fold towards the middle: Fold the other short edge toward the middle to align with your previous fold. Your towel should now be a third of its original length.
4. Fold the towel in half: Moving in the opposite direction, fold the towel in half so that it's now half its original width.
5. Store in a flat space: Store the towel in a flat place, like a drawer or a shelf. If you store the towel with the folded edges facing out, you'll easily remove only one towel at a time.

3. How to Fold a Bath Towel for Shelf or Closet Storage

If your bath towel will be sitting on a shelf until you plan on picking it up and draping it over a towel bar, then this is the fold for you. Remember that if your towel is extra long, you may need to add an extra fold to make this work.

1. Lay out the towel: Lift the towel by two corners of one long edge, with the finished side facing you. If you want a flat surface, lay the towel out with the finished side facing down. Smooth any wrinkles or bumps out of the towel.
2. Fold towards the middle: Fold one corner in toward the middle of the towel, about one-third of the way down the length.
3. Fold the next corner: Fold the other corner toward the middle as well, so it overlaps the section you previously folded, and its edges line up with the folded edge you created earlier.
4. Tuck the top edge: If you're holding the towel, tuck the top edge securely under your chin to hold the folds in place. Support the middle of the towel with your hands, then release the towel from under your chin, letting it fall to fold in half.
5. Make adjustments: Make any necessary adjustments to ensure the bottom edges are evenly lined up.
6. Fold in half again: Fold the towel in half the same way as in the previous steps.
7. Store the towel properly: Store the towel neatly in your linen closet with the folded edges facing out for easy access.

4. How to Roll Towels Like a Spa

If you're searching for a decorative rolled look or towel pyramid for storage or display, such as the look you might see at a spa, this is how to do it.

1. Fold the towel in half: Fold your bath towel in half lengthwise. Smooth it out and shake out any resulting wrinkles, lining up the edge neatly.
2. Roll the towel: Beginning at the short end, roll the towel until you reach the opposite end. Keep the roll tight as you go, and keep the edges lined up instead of accidentally veering off in one direction or another.
3. Store it properly: Store the rolled towel with the exposed edge down to prevent it from unrolling while in storage. Stack your rolled towels together in a towel pyramid or line them up neatly along a shelf.

5. How to Do a Fancy Pocket Fold for a Hanging Towel

Prepping the hotel room for incoming guests and looking for a way to make the hanging towels look just a little extra special? Are you wondering how to fold towels decoratively? Try some fancy towel folds to leave your guests with a great impression of your business. Here are some steps for making a pocket and fan hanging towel for your hotel.

1. Spread on a flat surface: Spread a hand towel out on a flat surface with the unfinished side facing up.
2. Fold in quarters: Take the short edges and fold them about a quarter of the way toward the middle of the towel. Flip the towel over, keeping the folds straight and lined up.
3. Fold towards the middle: Take one long edge — it doesn't matter which one — and fold it in toward the middle about one-third of the way. Fold the other long edge, overlapping your previous fold so the edges line up.
4. Rotate and tuck: Rotate the towel so that the pocket edge is facing you, and tuck the outer edges of the pocket into the top layer.
5. Flip and hang on a bar: Flip the towel to the other side and hang it over the towel bar, with the pocket facing out.

Next, you'll want to fold the washcloth so that it pokes out of the towel pocket just so. Here's how to do it.

1. Fold the washcloth an inch: Take any edge of the washcloth and fold it over about an inch.
2. Fold the edge backward: Keeping this fold in place, fold the same edge back another inch, the same way you would make an accordion-like pleat.
3. Keep folding and pleating: Continue this pattern of folding and pleating inch by inch until you've made it all the way across the washcloth.
4. Fold in half: Fold the washcloth in half, midway down its length. This should cause the pleats in the unfolded half to fan out.
5. Place the midpoint in the pocket: Gently place the folded midpoint of the cloth into the towel pocket so that the fanned pleats stick out.
6. Make adjustments: Make any minute necessary adjustments to get the look you're going for.

How to Fold Towel Animals Like Origami

Learning how to fold a towel animal gets you in an origami frame of mind. You can take any plain towel and create a fun and whimsical animal that can rest in a bathroom or on a bed. Guests are sure to notice and appreciate something as unique as animals. It's a great way to add a special touch to any room and is a huge hit with kids. Follow these steps to create fun and unique towel animal folds for your hotel rooms.

1. How to Fold Romantic Towel Swans

These romantic-looking towel swans can be just the thing to brighten up a honeymoon suite or even an ordinary hotel room if the occasion is right. It might look complicated, but with a little determination, you'll soon get the hang of it. Follow these steps to fold this shape yourself:

1. Lay out two bath towels: Take two bath towels, preferably white, although any color will work. Lay one towel out in front of you, with the long side facing you.
2. Fold the corners in: Grasp the top two corners of the towel and fold them in toward the middle of the towel, forming a triangle shape at the top of the towel.
3. Roll the edges to the middle: Take the long outside edges and roll them toward the middle, so that you have two long rolls that meet at the center of the towel. The ends of these rolls will form the wings, while the top with the triangle will form the beak.
4. Fold the towel in thirds: Fold the towel into thirds toward you, arranging it so that the beak is at the top of these folds and oriented away from you.
5. Make adjustments: Make any adjustments so the towel stays folded instead of flapping open.
6. Repeat with the second towel: Copy this procedure exactly with the second towel to form the second swan. Position the two so that they rest beak-to-beak and create a heart shape with their necks.

2. How to Fold Towel Snails

This fun bit of towel origami is always impressive, whether your guests are adults, children or both. Follow these instructions to create your snail:

1. Use a bath and hand towel: Grab both a bath towel and a hand towel. For the best results, choose two towels of different colors.
2. Make a swan shape: Use the bath towel to create a swan, exactly as instructed in the previous bit of towel origami.
3. Fold lengthwise: Fold the hand towel lengthwise, making it slightly wider than the swan.
4. Roll the towel tightly: Roll the hand towel widthwise into a tight roll. This is your snail's shell.
5. Tuck the roll into the swan: Tuck this towel roll into the swan, just between the head and the wings. Now, your swan has become a snail.

3. How to Fold Towel Snakes

A towel snake is an excellent option when learning how to make towel animals because it is quite simple. Start with a large bath towel and then:

1. Use a large towel: Start with a large bath towel.
2. Fold toward the middle: Fold the top corners toward the middle to form a triangle.
3. Fold in thirds: Fold one long end inwards about a third of the width.
4. Roll the towel tightly: Roll the towel from the same long end until you make a tight roll.
5. Pull the tip: Gently pull the tip from the top of the towel into a flattened snake head.
6. Use googly eyes: If you like, top it with novelty eyes to complete the effect.

4. How to Fold Towel Elephants

This will take a little more effort and time, but the effect is well worth it. You will need a hand towel, bath towel and googly eyes. A ribbon can also add a nice effect. While you can do this with white towels, grey towels can look especially effective. Once you have your materials, you will want to:

1. Lay the towel down: Lay out the bath towel lengthwise and fold each long end toward the middle, so the two ends meet in the middle of the towel.
2. Roll the narrow ends: Starting at the right side and then the left side, roll each narrower end toward the middle. You're rolling the towel from each end, so the rolls touch in the center.
3. Fold the towel in half: Fold the rolled towel in half, so you get an elephant's body with four legs. Gently push down and fluff out the legs so the towel body can stand independently.
4. Lay the hand towel down: Lay down the hand towel in front of you and fold the top two edges toward you, creating a triangle at the top.
5. Roll edges toward the middle: Starting from the left side of the triangle and then the right side of the triangle, roll each edge toward the middle of the towel.
6. Curve the edges: When you pick up the towel, you will have a long "trunk" and a triangular "head" of the elephant. Curve the top edges of the towel down to form ears and pinch the head part to create a more pronounced shape.
7. Put the head on the body: Place the head on the body once you are satisfied with the ears. Top with a ribbon and novelty eyes, if you wish.

5. How to Fold Towel Crabs

For a hotel by the sea, especially, a fun towel crab can look wonderful lurking in the bathroom or on a bed. You can make this fun crab with any color hand or bath towel, but bright red will look best. You may also want to have novelty eyes on hand to give your towel animal a little more personality. Here's how you can assemble it:

1. Lay the towel down: Lay out the towel lengthwise in front of you, so the longest end faces you and the shorter widths are on your right and left. Fold the towel lengthwise toward the middle. Fold the bottom of the towel away from you and the top toward you, so the pieces meet in the middle.
2. Repeat the process: Repeat the same process with the folded towel.
3. Untuck a third: On the right-hand side, untuck about a third of the towel, so you can see the first fold you made.
4. Roll the towel: Starting at the end you untucked, roll the folded towel toward the center.
5. Create a crescent roll: Put your hand on the middle of the roll you've made and tug on the ends, pulling them out and down. The rolled part should look like a crescent roll.
6. Fold the towel over: Fold the un-crescent part of the towel over the middle of the crescent roll, exposing the "claws" exposed. This top part is the shell. You can top it with your eyes to complete the look.

6. How to Fold Towel Rabbits

You'll need a few supplies for this adorable towel animal — a square washcloth or hand towel, a rubber band and a ribbon for added effect. A towel rabbit design pairs well with forest-themed hotels or during spring seasons. Depending on how large you want the body to seem, there are two common ways to fold a towel rabbit.

The first way includes the following steps:

1. Fold the towel in half: Fold the towel in half to make a triangle shape. Make sure it is evenly lined up on all sides. 
2. Roll it from the bottom: Roll the towel up and ensure it is very tight and secure.
3. Leave an inch: After rolling the towel, leave an inch of extra towel left on the top.
4. Fold the edges: Fold the edges of the towel in half and leave the extra inch sticking out from the top.
5. Fold the pointed edge: Fold the pointed edge upwards so that it resembles two rabbit ears. Pull the ears upwards and twist them around to your preference.
6. Use a rubber band: Squeeze beneath the neck and place a rubber band around the base.
7. Make the bunny teeth: Tuck the protruding round bit into the rubber band to resemble a mouth or bunny teeth.
8. Make the ears even: Make sure the ears are even and stick up to your preference.
9. Use a ribbon: Tie a ribbon around the rubber band and make it into a bow for extra effect.

The second way to make a towel rabbit includes the following steps:

1. Fold it diagonally: Fold the towel in half and make a triangle shape. Make the points offset so that it resembles Mt. Fuji. Pull on each point to make it straight.
2. Roll from the bottom: Roll the triangle shape from the bottom up until you reach around three-quarters of the way up.
3. Pinch the ends together: Pinch the two ends together to make the rabbit's ears and fold them in the middle. 
4. Give the ears some shape: Give the two ears some shape and volume to your preferences.
5. Secure with a rubber band: Secure the body with a rubber band around the rabbit's neck. For first-time folders, keeping the towel from unfolding during the next steps is especially helpful.
6. Open the two rolls: Open the two rolls that stick out from the body and cross them over each other. The rolls create your bunny legs.
7. Fold underneath the body: Fold the rolls, or legs, underneath the body and make them protrude from under the rabbit's chin. It should look like the rabbit is lying down. 
8. Fluff the backside: Fluff the rabbit's backside to create body and volume and set out for guests to enjoy.

Shop Hotel Towels at Towel Super Center Today

Of course, you can't fold your hotel towels like a pro if you haven't bought them yet. If you're shopping for the perfect place to purchase high-quality hotel towels in every size and style you could ever want, then we think you'll love what we offer at Towel Super Center. Browse our full selection today and stock your hotel with the best.