Spotted recently: kitchen and bath towels from Japan featuring the antibacterial properties of binchotan charcoal. The most common use of binchotan, which is charred Japanese oak, is to purify water. (See The Binchotan Boom: 10 Ways to Use Charcoal at Home.) But Japanese brand Nawrap has begun making towels with binchotan charcoal infused into the fibers, so they’re naturally resistant to bacterial growth—which, according to the company, means hardworking, often damp kitchen and bath towels will stay smelling fresh for far longer than they otherwise would.
Photography courtesy of Nawrap.
Above: Nawrap binchotan charcoal dish towels are a blend of rayon and cotton and have a textured surface for efficient cleaning.
Nawrap has been manufacturing cloth (originally mosquito nets) since the 1930s, and offers a full line of kitchen and bath towels with and without charcoal infused.
Above: The towels are several layers woven together to increase absorbency. They’re stiff when they arrive, but soften after a soak in water and will continue to soften with use. Above: Though the towels can be washed in the washing machine, Nawrap insists they not be put in the dryer. The main reason, the company told us, is because they will shrink. “Another issue is that because they are woven with a traditional Japanese technique and have anywhere from four to ten layers of material, the dryer will cause the fabric to crimp a bit.” Above: A set of two antibacterial Tea Towels is $22 at Amazon. But know that the dryer will not affect the cloths’ absorbency or antibacterial traits, Nawrap says. “The charcoal is permanently infused into the fiber, so you don’t have to worry about it dissipating.” Above: If you wash dishes with cloths (instead of brushes or sponges), read the positive reviews of Nawrap’s Natural Dishcloths on Amazon. A set of two is $16.95 at Amazon. Above: The Nawrap binchotan Body Wash Towel is a long rectangle—12 by 34 inches—so you can scrub in the shower; $15 at Amazon. Above: Beauty editors recommend you change your pillowcases often (to keep bacteria at bay). Nawrap’s binchotan charcoal pillowcase, shown in natural, could help; $32 at Amazon.
Above: The pillowcase is 18 by 26 inches, and will shrink by 10 percent after the first laundry wash. Above: Binchotan’s antibacterial properties are ideal for sweaty gym towels. The Neck Towel in natural is $13.95 at Amazon. For more in Japanese design across our sites, see:
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