Why You Should Never Wash Towels with Clothes: The Surprising Truth You Need to Know
It may seem like a time-saver—throwing your towels in with the rest of your laundry to get it all done at once. But before you toss your bath towels in with your regular clothes, there’s an important laundry lesson to learn. Mixing towels with clothes in the washing machine is a habit worth breaking. Here’s why you should keep your towels and clothes in separate loads.
1. Towels Require a Different Wash Cycle
Towels are thick, plush, and highly absorbent, meaning they need a much more intense washing cycle to get fully cleaned. They’re built to soak up moisture, dirt, and bacteria, so they need a longer wash with hot water to ensure everything is properly removed. On the other hand, clothes—especially delicates, fabrics like silk or wool—need a gentler cycle. Washing towels with your regular laundry often leads to towels that are still dirty or under-washed, while your clothes might be exposed to harsh washing, leading to fading, wear, or even shrinkage. The result? A mixed load that’s not cleaned properly.
2. Lint Transfer Is a Real Headache
If you've ever washed a brand-new towel with your clothes, you’ve probably noticed an annoying issue: lint. Towels shed a lot of lint, especially the first few times they’re washed. When you mix them with clothes, particularly dark garments or synthetic fabrics, the lint sticks, leaving you with a messy, fuzzy mess that’s hard to get rid of. It's incredibly frustrating to rewash your clothes or towels to remove the lint, and darker clothes or delicate fabrics can end up with that pesky fuzz stuck to them, making them look worn out or shabby before their time.
3. Clothes Can Get Damaged
Ever notice that your towels seem to get rougher over time? That’s because of the zippers, buttons, and embellishments on your clothes that can snag, scratch, or wear down the towel fabric. Towels, on the other hand, are thick and heavy, which means they can cause significant damage to lighter fabrics like cotton blouses, tights, or delicate knits. The heavy texture of towels can stretch out finer fabrics, leaving your clothes pilled, misshapen, or even torn. It's a rough combination that’s hard to fix, especially with sensitive materials.
4. Hygiene Is More Important Than You Think
Towels are used to dry off after showers, baths, and cleaning your body, face, and even pets. They come into contact with sweat, bacteria, dead skin cells, and even body oils. If you wash your towels with your clothes, especially those that are worn close to your skin, you risk spreading those germs to other garments. This isn’t just an inconvenience—it could cause skin irritation, rashes, or even infections if you’re particularly sensitive. By washing towels separately, you help prevent this cross-contamination, ensuring your clothes stay cleaner and more hygienic.
5. Uneven Drying and Overworked Machines
One of the most overlooked issues with washing towels and clothes together is drying. Towels are bulky and retain a lot of moisture, meaning they take a much longer time to dry than thinner fabrics. If you throw towels in with lighter clothing, the towels will take forever to dry, while your clothes could end up over-dried and possibly even shrunk. Your dryer has to work overtime, and the fabrics, whether towels or clothes, get more wear and tear in the process. Separating the two ensures each set of laundry gets the optimal drying time and reduces the strain on your dryer.
6. Extending the Life of Your Fabrics
Washing towels and clothes separately isn’t just about cleanliness—it’s also about preserving the life of your fabrics. Towels are often heavier and rougher than regular clothes, which means they can take a toll on more delicate items when washed together. By giving your towels their own wash cycle, you allow your clothes to stay in better condition for longer, protecting everything from color fading to fabric deterioration.
The Best Laundry Practices for Towels and Clothes
For the best results, wash towels on their own in hot water using a detergent designed for heavy-duty cleaning. Make sure they get a full rinse cycle to ensure any detergent, dirt, or bacteria is completely removed. Use a proper spin cycle to help remove as much water as possible, which will speed up the drying process.
When washing clothes, choose a gentle cycle that matches the fabric type. Cold or warm water is usually ideal for most clothing, and you can save energy by avoiding hot washes unless the clothes are particularly dirty.
Washing towels and clothes together might seem convenient at first, but the long-term consequences on fabric health, cleanliness, and dryer efficiency aren’t worth the shortcut. By taking a little extra time to separate your laundry, you’ll end up with fresher, cleaner clothes and towels that last longer. It’s a small effort with big rewards!