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Hammam towel in the car: seat protection, sun protection, changing and emergency towel

June 7, 2026

By the team behind Meri Saunaupdated November 6, 20268 min read

A hammam towel in the car is one of those things you only miss when you need it: after a spontaneous dip in the lake, when the seat is scorching in the midday sun or when you want to change in the car park. A flat-woven cotton towel takes up hardly any space when rolled, dries quickly and does several jobs in the car. Here you will find out what it is good for, what you should avoid for safety reasons and which towel fits best in the glovebox or door pocket.

Contents10

Why a hammam towel belongs in the car
Seat protection after swimming
Against hot seats and steering wheel
Changing in the car park
An emergency towel for every situation
Which hammam towel suits the car?
Keeping the towel fresh in the car
Summer kit: what should be in the car alongside your hammam towel
Conclusion
Frequently asked questions

Why a hammam towel belongs in the car

Different things matter in the car than in the bathroom. The towel often lies around unused for weeks, but then has to work straight away. A thick terry bath towel takes up a lot of space and takes a long time to dry after use. A hammam towel is thinly woven, rolls up small and releases moisture quickly. In our experience at the Meri Sauna, a hammam towel dries in about 30 minutes in the sun and in about 60 minutes indoors.

On top of that, a single towel covers many situations: seat protection, sun protection, privacy screen, picnic blanket and towel – you don’t have to pack something separate for every occasion.

Seat protection after swimming

Wet swimming trunks, dripping hair, sand on your legs: if you get straight into the car after a swim, you bring quite a lot onto the seat. A 180 × 100 cm hammam towel covers the seat and backrest completely. This is the best way to do it:

Fold it lengthwise: Folded once lengthwise, the towel is about 50 cm wide – right for most seats.
Drape it over the headrest: Fold the top end over the headrest so the towel does not slide down when you sit down.
Tuck it into the seat gap: Push the part on the seat cushion a little way into the gap between backrest and seat.
Hang it up after the drive: Don’t leave the damp towel in the car – spread it out at home.

Make sure the towel does not cover the seat belt and that you are buckled up normally. For seats with integrated side airbags the general rule is: don’t pull thick covers or layers over the side bolsters – a towel simply laid on, covering only the seat cushion and the middle of the backrest, is the better choice. If in doubt, check your vehicle’s owner’s manual.

Against hot seats and steering wheel

When the car is parked in the sun in summer, seats and steering wheel get very hot – especially with dark upholstery and leather. A light-coloured fabric lying on the seat or over the steering wheel while parked makes getting in much more pleasant.

Important: take the towel off the steering wheel before you drive off. Nothing should get in the way of steering or slip into your field of vision. Motoring clubs such as the ADAC also advise against wedging towels into a half-open side window to keep the sun out: electric windows have anti-pinch protection that can be affected by the resistance. For the windows, dedicated sunshades are the better solution.

Changing in the car park

Many lakes and beaches have no changing rooms, and the car park is full. With a hammam towel in the car you can create a small changing room:

Hang the towel in the open door: Open the rear door, lay the towel over the top of the door and roof and hold it in place at the window frame – with the car stationary and without raising the window.
Wrap it around your hips: For swimming trunks, it is enough to tie the towel like a wrap skirt.
In pairs: One person holds the towel while the other changes.

It is even more comfortable with a bathing poncho, in which you can change with both hands free. You will find a selection in our poncho collection.

An emergency towel for every situation

A towel that stays in the boot rescues many small situations:

Spontaneous swim: The lake on the way home looks too tempting – no problem with a towel on board.
Picnic: As a blanket on the grass during a break on a long drive.
Boot protection: Put it under sandy shoes, wet bags or the shopping.
Cold air conditioning: Passengers can lay it over their legs as a light blanket.
Little mishaps: Spilled coffee or a child who got wet in the rain.

Which hammam towel suits the car?

A light, compact towel is ideal for the car. The table compares our models:

Towel	Size / weight	Best for
Hammam towel SULTAN	approx. 180 × 100 cm, approx. 270 g	glovebox or door pocket, very light
Hammam towel ADRIA	approx. 180 × 100 cm, approx. 290 g	all-rounder for seat protection and swimming, five colours
Towel To Go	approx. 180 × 100 cm, approx. 270 g	comes in a round box that keeps it neatly stored in the boot
Mini hammam towel Diamant	approx. 90 × 45 cm, approx. 120 g	hands, face, covering the steering wheel
Beach towel Coastline XXL	240 × 200 cm, approx. 1.2 kg	family picnic, lining the whole boot

Our tip for the hammam towel in the car: one large towel for the seat and swimming, plus a small one for hands and steering wheel. Together they weigh less than a single large terry bath towel.

Keeping the towel fresh in the car

A hammam towel in the car often lies around for a long time. A few rules keep it from getting musty or fading:

Only store it dry: A damp towel in a warm car soon starts to smell. After swimming, always let it dry at home first.
Not permanently in the sun: On the parcel shelf or dashboard, strong colours can fade over time. In the glovebox or boot it is protected.
Don’t leave it lying loose: Loose items should be stowed away while driving. A rolled towel in a compartment or bag is safer than one on the parcel shelf.
Wash it regularly: At 30 °C, without fabric softener, air-dried – this keeps the cotton absorbent.

Summer kit: what should be in the car alongside your hammam towel

If you often head to the water spontaneously in summer, keep a small kit in the boot. Together with the hammam towel in the car you are ready for most swimming stops:

one large and one small hammam towel, rolled up dry
a bag for wet swimwear so nothing soaks the seat
sun protection and a hat
a filled water bottle – an insulated bottle keeps drinks cool for longer in a warm car
flip-flops or pool shoes

Everything fits together in a beach bag that you only need to empty and refill after swimming.

Conclusion

A hammam towel in the car takes up hardly any space and saves you many small annoyances: it protects the seat after swimming, makes hot seats bearable, serves as a changing room in the car park and is the towel for spontaneous swimming stops. Light models such as SULTAN or ADRIA fit in the glovebox. Take the towel off the steering wheel before driving, don’t wedge it into the window and only store it dry – then it is always ready to use.

Frequently asked questions

Does a hammam towel get musty in a hot car?

Only if it is stored damp. Rolled up dry in the glovebox or boot, it stays fresh. Let it dry at home after every use.

Does the towel fade in the car?

If it lies in blazing sun permanently, strong colours can become lighter. In a compartment or the boot this hardly happens.

Can I wedge a towel into the car window?

Motoring clubs advise against it, because the anti-pinch protection of electric windows can be affected. Sunshades for the windows are a better choice.

Is a towel on the seat allowed while driving?

A towel laid flat on the seat and backrest is common. It must not obstruct the seat belt or cover side airbags in the seat. If in doubt, check the owner’s manual.