Fabrics and Textiles: Are bamboo bath towels noticeably better than regular cotton bath towels?

We have bamboo towels and they are incredibly soft. I love them! I think they are softer than cotton, but this also makes them a little less long-lasting. Worth it, I think.

As far as mildew goes, I think they are about the same as cotton. They are both cellulose-based fibres.

Hang the towels to dry in between showers, that will help a lot. I put 1/4 cup of bleach in the wash water (front loading washer) to kill mildew and remove the smell. Not EVERY wash, just once in a while. You can bleach once a month or more if you notice mildew smell or if you are sneezing more than normal. Use real chlorine bleach, not the colour-safe stuff. You don't need to use bleach every time you wash them if the towels are dried properly between uses.

Bleach of course will fade the colours, but it's the only way. This is why I use only white towels, which look and smell fantastic after bleaching. Also, do not add fabric softener to your towels, this decreases their absorbency.