Best Quick Warmer: Keenray Bucket Towel Warmers

Let’s talk towel warmers!

These devices are designed to keep towels warm and toasty . . . and yes, some can add fragrance. With auto shut-offs, they do their job and then auto-stop to save electricity. FYI: most towel warmers are NOT used for drying wet towels. 

One safety tip: be careful with towels with embroidery or synthetic fibers. Towel warmers can melt or damage these towels.

We asked our parent readers for their favorite towel warmers—then we tried out a few ourselves. One of the more important features was how quickly the towel warmer did its job. On this score, the Keenray shined . . . it took only 5 to 6 minutes to bring towels to a toasty temp.

What We Liked

• Includes add fragrance disk in lid.

• Holds 2 oversize towels.

• Compact footprint.

• Looks stylish.

• Easy to use.

What Needs Work

• Not everyone likes the scent of the fragrance.

• Faux trim on base has its fans and detractors, who don’t like how it looks.

Best For Facials: ForPro Professional Collection Premium Hot Towel Warmer

This warmer is perfect for massage therapists, spas and other semi-professional uses. It heats towels to 158 to 176 degrees in about 30 minutes. And the large capacity (24 towels) is a plus.

What We Liked

• UV option for sterilization of towels.

• Water drip tray lets you use wet facial towels, unlike other warmers we researched for this article.

• Spacious.

• Stainless steel racks.

What Needs Work

• Long time to heat towels.

• Water can spill from drip tray when you open the door.

Best For Pajamas: Zadro Large Hot Towel Warmer Bucket

Yes, you can use a towel warmer for more than just towels—warming up pajamas on a winter night is a great additional use. And this model by Zadro is excellent for both towels and PJ’s, even bathrobes. We liked the fast warming time and little design features like the built-in cord storage.

What We Liked

• Auto shut-off is handy.

• Large capacity.

• Works with both towels and robes, pajamas, etc.

• Easy controls (1 button to turn on, 1 button for timer). 

• Takes about 15 minutes to warm.

What Needs Work

• Pricey.

Best Lightweight: LiveFine Towel Warmer

One popular use for towel warmers is for folks who have a hot tub or spa—putting on a warm towel when you get out of a hot tub into the cool air is nice. That said, nearly all the towel warmers we researched are designed for indoor use.

So to use one for a hot tub outside, you’ll need to carry the unit outside—and put it under an eave or other protected spot on a deck. Obviously, you can’t use this when it is raining or snowing (or otherwise exposed to moisture). But short-terms use on a deck, where you bring the unit in after use, seems acceptable.

For this use, we liked the LiveFine model—it is the lightest model we found in our research, weighing at just 10.45 lbs. That is perfect to move around.

What We Liked

• Easy to use.

• Quick to warm towels.

• Adjustable timer up to 60 minutes.

• Lightweight.

What Needs Work

• Faux wood on handle.

About the Authors

Denise & Alan Fields are consumer advocates and best-selling authors. The Fields have authored 12 books with three million copies in print, including the best-selling guide to baby gear, Baby Bargains.

The Fields have been featured and quoted in the New York Times, Wall Street Journal and Los Angeles Times.

As consumer products experts, the Fields have been guests on the NBC Today Show, Good Morning America and ABC’s 20/20.

How We Pick Products To Recommend

We often turn to our readers (3 million strong!) to find products to recommend. We ask our parent readers for their favorites and consider their real-world experiences in our recommendations.

When we test a product, we always purchase it with our own monies. We do not take free samples, as we believe that compromises our independence.

We also fact check manufacturer information with our own measurements. If a maker claims a product weighs X pounds, we will weigh it to make sure. If the battery life is supposed to be six hours, we will see how it stands up in the real world.

In some cases, we will do interviews with experts in the field to get additional feedback on products.

To get hands-on time with products, we regularly meet one-on-one with gear companies and even tour manufacturing facilities. (When we do this, we pay our own travel expenses).

Why Trust Us

We’ve been rating and reviewing products for the home and families since 1994. We do extensive research, evaluating products with an eye toward quality, ease of use and affordability.

We make our living from affiliate commissions, but we always recommend what we think are the best bets for our readers (not the ones that are the most expensive). We are always looking for products that offer the best bang for the buck.

Our independence is a key reason why we have been doing this so long. As we mentioned above, when we purchase a product for hands-on testing, we do so with our own money.

Here’s another key point: we don’t take money from the brands we review. No free samples, no sponsors, no “partnerships.” Our work is 100% reader-supported!