Towels touch your skin every day, usually straight out of the shower when your pores are open and you are not thinking about textile chemistry. That is why certification on a towel is worth more scrutiny than certification on, say, a curtain.
OEKO-TEX is the standard most often applied to towels, and it is the one our peshtemals carry. Here is what it actually verifies, what it does not, and how it differs from the organic certifications you see on bedding.
What OEKO-TEX Actually Tests
OEKO-TEX STANDARD 100 tests the finished textile for substances known to be harmful to human health. That includes restricted dyes, formaldehyde, certain heavy metals, chlorinated phenols and a long list of other compounds.
The important detail is that it tests the finished product, not just the raw fiber. A fabric can start with clean cotton and pick up problem substances during dyeing or finishing. Testing at the end catches that.
Certification is also tiered by how much skin contact the product has. Items intended for direct and prolonged skin contact face stricter limits than items that do not, which is the relevant category for a towel.
What OEKO-TEX Does Not Cover
This is where honest information matters more than marketing. OEKO-TEX STANDARD 100 is a human health and safety standard. It is not an organic farming certification.
A towel can be OEKO-TEX certified without the cotton being grown organically. Conversely, organic cotton is not automatically free of problem substances added later in processing. The two certifications answer different questions.
If you want the farming standard as well, GOTS is the certification to look for. Our blankets and bedding carry GOTS certification, and our towels carry OEKO-TEX.
OEKO-TEX vs GOTS at a Glance
| Â | OEKO-TEX STANDARD 100 | GOTS |
|---|---|---|
| Main question | Is the finished fabric safe on skin? | Is the fiber organic and processed responsibly? |
| Tests for harmful substances | Yes, on the finished product | Yes, with restricted substance rules |
| Requires organic farming | No | Yes |
| Covers labor conditions | No | Yes, social criteria included |
| Naturloom products | Turkish towels | Blankets, quilts, sheets, bedding |
Why This Matters for a Towel Specifically
A towel is used wet, rubbed against skin, and washed constantly. Wet contact and friction are the conditions under which substances in a fabric are most likely to transfer.
Towels also go through heavy dyeing. Bright towel colors are common, and dye chemistry is exactly where restricted substances tend to appear. Testing the finished, dyed fabric is more meaningful here than in a product that is left undyed.
For families, and for anyone who reacts to fabric treatments, this is the practical reason to look for the certification rather than a general claim like chemical free, which is not a defined or verifiable term.
How to Check a Certification Claim
A genuine OEKO-TEX certification comes with a certificate number and the name of the testing institute. That number can be looked up in the OEKO-TEX public database, which is the point of having it.
Be cautious with vaguer language. Phrases like eco friendly, non toxic, natural and chemical free carry no defined standard behind them and no verification process. They are marketing terms, not certifications.
What This Looks Like in Our Towels
All three of our Turkish beach towels and peshtemals are woven from OEKO-TEX certified Turkish cotton, in one size of 36 x 67 inches.
They are flat woven rather than terry, so they dry quickly and fold down small, and the cotton comes from Turkey rather than from lower cost sources. We are a small family business in Florida and ship from here, with free shipping on US orders.
Caring for Certified Cotton
Certification covers the fabric as it reaches you. What happens afterwards is down to how it is washed, so it is worth keeping the routine simple.
Wash the towel alone the first time. Use a gentle cycle at 86°F (30°C) and tumble dry on low heat. If air drying, hang or lay it in a well ventilated area and avoid stretching the fabric while wet. Do not use bleach and do not dry clean. Avoid washing with jeans or anything that has small hooks.
Skip fabric softener. Beyond coating the fibers and reducing absorbency, it adds a layer of product to a fabric you chose specifically for what is not in it.
Shop Certified Turkish Towels
- Shop OEKO-TEX Certified Turkish Towels
- Shop the Beach, Bath and Travel Peshtemal
- Shop GOTS Certified Muslin Blankets
Read Next
For how a peshtemal compares with a terry beach towel, read Turkish Beach Towel vs Regular Beach Towel.
For the origins of the flat weave, read What Is a Peshtemal?
For the certification on our bedding, read What Is GOTS Certification?
The Bottom Line
OEKO-TEX STANDARD 100 verifies that a finished textile has been tested for substances harmful to human health, with stricter limits for products in prolonged skin contact. It does not verify organic farming, which is what GOTS covers.
For a towel used wet against skin and washed constantly, the finished product test is the more relevant one. Our Turkish towels carry OEKO-TEX certification and our bedding carries GOTS.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does OEKO-TEX certified mean?
It means the finished textile has been tested against a defined list of substances considered harmful to human health, with stricter limits applied to products intended for prolonged skin contact.
Is OEKO-TEX the same as organic?
No. OEKO-TEX tests the finished fabric for harmful substances but does not require the fiber to be grown organically. GOTS is the certification that covers organic farming and processing.
Which is better, OEKO-TEX or GOTS?
They answer different questions rather than competing. OEKO-TEX focuses on whether the finished fabric is safe against skin. GOTS covers organic fiber, processing and social criteria. Many products carry one or the other depending on the category.
Are Naturloom Turkish towels OEKO-TEX certified?
Yes. All three of our peshtemal models are woven from OEKO-TEX certified Turkish cotton. Our blankets, quilts, sheets and bedding carry GOTS certification.
How can I verify an OEKO-TEX claim?
A genuine certification comes with a certificate number and issuing institute, which can be checked in the OEKO-TEX public database. Unverifiable phrases like chemical free or non toxic carry no defined standard.