My towels were disintegrating — but Walmart's new delivery service saved the (beach) day!
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I have a confession to make: I've been swiping beach towels from my parents for years. It started innocently enough, with me taking a towel home in a wet suit and forgetting to return it. But then I "accidentally" took another one home, and then another. Now, I have a full-on collection of inherited beach towels that have permanently taken up residence in my home.
The problem — other than my sticky fingers — is that these are older towels we're talking about. (I'd never take one of their newer ones. That just feels mean.) And, once Memorial Day hit, I made a terrible discovery: All of these towels are threadbare. Several have holes in them and more than a few seem to be completely disintegrating.
I live at the shore, and having good, reliable beach towels is crucial for making it through the day in comfort. I also have three kids, including one who is on a swim team, so we lean heavily on our beach towels. I briefly panicked when I discovered the sad state of mine. Was I really going to have to schlep three kids to my local store to load up on towels before we could hit the beach? And then I remembered Walmart+.
The retail giant’s free, same-day delivery service brings fresh groceries and all of the other great items Walmart offers — including beach essentials — to your door. I signed up for the risk-free 15-day trial and scored two more weeks to try things out after I answered a brief three-question survey. (After the 30 days are up, I learned, I can continue the service for $13 per month or $98 per year.)
The annual fee is similar to Amazon Prime, but I can also tack on produce, snacks and other must-haves like sunscreen and get them ASAP. Walmart just announced that the membership includes prescription perks, like free and discounted meds too.
I snagged a slot for the same day after my mini freakout — and fluffy, soft new beach towels were delivered to my door hours later. I've already started shopping at Walmart+ for other essentials — it's so easy!
Here's what I got during my beach towel haul.
Kaufman Four-Pack Velour Two Color Stripe Beach Towel
The Kaufman four-pack was the first thing that caught my eye. After all, we need a lot of towels and the bold stripes will look great draped over our deck furniture while they dry. They'll also look fab rolled up and stacked in our towel basket. The 30- by 60-inch towels are also a great size for everyone in my family, from my husband to my toddler, so we can get a lot of use out of them. Made of cotton, these towels have an incredibly soft feel — unlike the crunchy towels we've been using for too long.
Mainstays 100 Percent Cotton Watermelon Red Multi Color Printed Beach Towel
This adorable Mainstays watermelon towel is just $9! It's made of 100 percent cotton for a super-soft feel, and is a sizable 64- by 34-inches — big enough for any member of my family. I got this with my 2-year-old daughter in mind, though, since she has a serious love of all things watermelon. She can now wear her watermelon-print bathing suit on her watermelon towel while actually eating watermelon.
Batman Kids Terry Cotton Bath and Beach Hooded Towel Wrap
A good hooded towel is a must for kids after a long afternoon of swimming, and this one in particular is a sure to be a hit with my superhero-loving sons. The hooded Batman towel is part hoodie, part dress-up costume, with its signature grey color scheme of bold black and yellow accents. It's also made with soft and absorbent terry cotton, and even has pockets at each corner, making it easy for my boys to keep the towel securely in place — a huge perk, since they're constantly slipping out of "regular" towels.
Impressions Summery Stripe Fouta Beach Towel with Fringe
I'm (obviously) going to use the other beach towels I got for my family, but I also really wanted to have a towel that's "mine." The Impressions Fouta beach towel is it. The pretty striped number has tassels for a stylish feel, and it's oversized (35- by 68-inches), making it perfect for adults. The 100 percent cotton beauty has a flat weave construction on one side and terrycloth on the other, so you can mix and match textures. And — this is a huge perk — it folds up easily to stash in my bag.
Better Homes & Gardens 100% Cotton Reversible Cabana Stripe Oversized Beach Towel
As the tallest person in our family, my husband requested his own special towel. This oversized option from Better Homes & Gardens is 40- by 70-inches, which is at least a few inches longer and wider than your average towel. It's made of soft 100 percent cotton and features an antimicrobial treatment to keep it from getting mildewed. Another plus: It has a loop, making it easy to hang for drying.
Ozark Trail Foldable Beach Mat with Accessory Pocket
While I was loading up on towels, I realized that our beach mat is about a decade old. So, I picked out the Ozark Trail foldable beach mat to replace our ratty old one. At 70- by 70-inches, this mat can fit plenty of people at once — a huge perk with my family of five. It's made of durable and comfortable material that keeps sand off, even when little feet track it on the mat. It also has built-in handles and a lightweight, compact design that makes it easy to carry over dunes.
The reviews quoted above reflect the most recent versions at the time of publication.
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