Surgical towels and operating table covers rarely get much attention, but they are used in almost every case. Towels help define the sterile field, absorb fluid and handle instruments. Table covers protect the operating table and the patient surface, and they make the clean-up between cases easier. This guide covers what to look for in each and how they fit into set-up and room turnover. It uses the Bodygard surgery towel and operating table cover products as references.
What surgical towels are used for
OR towels are used in several ways during a case:
- Squaring off the incision site. Towels placed around the prepped area before the main drape help frame the field.
- Absorbing fluid on the field, the back table and the Mayo stand.
- Handling and drying hands, instruments and equipment.
- Padding and positioning small items on the field.
Because towels sit directly on or next to the sterile field, two properties matter most: absorbency and low lint.
Why lint matters
Lint is made of loose fibers shed from fabric. In the operating room, lint particles can carry bacteria and settle in the surgical site. Towels that shed less lint help reduce that risk. The Bodygard surgical towel page addresses this directly: each towel is made from greige cotton and is pre-washed and delinted, to help manage the risk of infections that can occur when bacteria attach to lint particles.
What to look for in an OR towel
| Factor | Why it matters | Bodygard surgical towel (per product page) |
|---|---|---|
| Material | Determines absorbency and feel | Greige cotton |
| Lint control | Lint can carry bacteria into the field | Pre-washed and delinted |
| Size | Must cover the area without excess bulk | 40 x 60 cm |
| Color | Blue or green towels reduce glare and stand out against white items | Blue |
| Pack count | Matches how many towels each case uses | 2 or 4 towels packed together |
| Use | Single-use avoids laundering and tracking | Disposable |
Pack count matters more than it seems. If your cases typically use four towels, a four-pack avoids opening two packages. If they use two, a four-pack wastes two towels. Look at what your teams actually use per case.
Sterile or non-sterile. Sterile towels are used on the field. Non-sterile towels can be used for jobs outside the sterile field. Check the labeling on the package for sterility.
Disposable or reusable. Reusable towels have to be collected, laundered, inspected and returned, and they can lose absorbency and shed more lint as they wear. Disposable towels arrive clean and are discarded after the case.
The Bodygard towel range also includes a scrim reinforced wipe, a reinforced wipe for tasks where a towel needs extra strength.
What operating table covers do
An operating table cover is a disposable sheet that goes over the table pad before the patient is brought in. It serves three purposes:
- Protects the table pad from blood and body fluids that could soak in or settle in seams.
- Gives a clean patient surface for every case.
- Speeds up clean-up. At the end of the case, the cover and whatever fluid it absorbed are removed and thrown away. Cleaning and disinfection of the table still follows your facility's protocol, but there is less to deal with.
What to look for in an operating table cover
Absorbency. An absorbent cover holds fluid in place instead of letting it run off the table or pool under the patient. The Bodygard operating table cover is part of the Myflon Clean line, with a Hydroknit super-absorbent cover. The product page states it can absorb up to 2.4 L of liquid.
A fluid-proof backing. The layer against the table should stop fluid from reaching the pad.
Fit. The cover should match your table dimensions so that it stays in place and does not bunch under the patient.
Patient comfort. The surface is in contact with the patient's skin for the length of the case, so it should be soft and should not wrinkle into pressure points.
Compatibility with positioning and transfer. Some covers are used with a transfer sheet so that the patient can be moved on and off the table on the same disposable surface.
How towels and table covers fit into room turnover
Room turnover is the time between one patient leaving the OR and the next one entering. The more fluid and soiled linen left in the room, the longer cleaning takes. Disposable towels and an absorbent table cover help because:
- soiled items go straight into the waste stream, with no linen to bag and send to laundry;
- fluid is held in the cover instead of being spread across the table and floor;
- the next case starts with a fresh cover and new towels, with no inspection or laundering cycle in between.
The Bodygard operating table cover page lists these benefits: shorter cycle time between surgery changeovers, better infection control, less cross-contamination, a protected surgery table with less clean-up, and better patient comfort. For a complete turnover set, see our operating room turnover kits.
Towels in packs vs towels ordered separately
Towels can be bought on their own or included in a procedure pack. Packed towels arrive sterile with the drapes, so nobody has to open a separate package during set-up. Towels ordered separately give more flexibility: the team can add towels when a case needs more than the pack holds, and use non-sterile towels for tasks away from the field. Many facilities do both. They build the typical towel count into each pack and keep separate towels on hand for extras.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Choosing a towel by price alone, without checking lint and absorbency
- Using a table cover that does not match the table, so it shifts or bunches
- Opening more towels than the case needs because the pack size is wrong
- Treating the table cover as a substitute for cleaning and disinfecting the table
Buying checklist
- Count how many towels each case type uses and choose the pack size to match.
- Confirm sterile labeling for towels used on the field.
- Check towel size and lint performance.
- Match table cover dimensions to your operating tables.
- Ask about absorbency, backing and patient comfort for table covers.
- Ask whether towels and table covers can be included in your standard procedure packs.
- Trial samples with your OR and environmental services teams.
Request a quote or samples
Bodyguard Advanced Materials LLC supplies hospitals, surgery centers and distributors from Miami, FL. Email sales@bodyguardus.com, call +1 (201) 881-2055 or use the contact page for pricing and samples of surgical towels and operating table covers.
22 October 2026
