Why You Should Never Wash Towels With Clothes
At first glance, tossing your towels in with your regular laundry might seem like a clever time-saver. After all, everything gets clean in the end—right?
Wrong.
Washing towels and clothes together is one of those common household habits that can do more harm than good. From hygiene issues to fabric damage, this “convenience” often leads to more laundry headaches down the line. Here’s why it’s time to break the habit:
1. Towels Need a Tougher Wash Cycle
Towels are thick, dense, and designed to absorb a lot of moisture—which also means they absorb a lot of grime, sweat, and bacteria. To get them truly clean, towels need a hotter, longer wash cycle with a high-speed spin.
Clothes, on the other hand—especially delicates or synthetic fabrics—are better suited to gentler, cooler cycles. Washing both together forces you to compromise, either under-washing your towels or damaging your clothes.
Result? One load, two disappointing outcomes.
2. Lint: The Fuzzy Saboteur
Ever pulled a black shirt out of the wash only to find it covered in fuzz? Blame the towels.
Towels, particularly new ones, shed lint like crazy during a wash. When thrown in with your regular clothes, this lint clings to lighter fabrics—creating a mess that often requires rewashing or a serious lint roller session.
Pro tip: Wash towels separately to keep your clothes looking sharp—not like they wrestled a dust bunny.
3. Mutual Destruction: Towels vs. Clothes
Towels are tough and textured, which can be bad news for more delicate garments. When they tumble together, friction builds—and with it, damage.
Zippers and buttons on clothes can snag the towel loops. Meanwhile, the heavy, rough weave of towels can cause your clothes to pill, fray, or stretch out of shape.
It’s not just laundry—it’s a battlefield. And both sides lose.
4. Towels Carry More Bacteria Than You Think
Think about what towels go through: drying off sweat, soaking up water, and sitting damp in the bathroom for hours. They’re a breeding ground for bacteria, mildew, and dead skin cells.
When you toss them in with your clothes—especially underwear or items worn close to your skin—you risk cross-contamination. Essentially, you're sharing towel germs with your favorite t-shirt.
Clean should mean clean—not re-spread dirt.
5. Towels and Clothes Dry Very Differently
Towels take longer to dry because of their weight and thickness. Clothes, especially light ones like t-shirts or workout gear, dry much faster.
So what happens when you mix them in the dryer?
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The towels stay damp, trapped under lighter items.
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The clothes get over-dried, leading to shrinkage, wear, and fading.
Either way, your dryer works harder and your energy bill goes up. And your laundry? Still not quite right.
The Bottom Line: Separate Loads, Better Results
Washing towels and clothes together might feel like a time-saving hack—but in reality, it can cost you more time, effort, and money in the long run.
For the best results:
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Wash towels alone on a hot cycle.
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Use a strong detergent and ensure a full rinse and spin.
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Dry them separately to avoid over-drying clothes and under-drying towels.
Your laundry will come out cleaner, your fabrics will last longer, and you’ll avoid the fuzz-covered frustration of lint-covered leggings.
Sometimes, separation really is the key to a healthier relationship—especially in your laundry room.