Why You Should Never Wash Towels With Clothes – It might seem like an effective trick—tossing your towels in with your daily laundry. But combining towels with clothes in the washing machine is a habit worth breaking. Here’s why.
1. Towels Need a Different Wash Cycle
Towels are thick and highly absorbent, which means they need a longer, hotter wash to get fully clean. Most clothes, especially delicates, require a gentler cycle. Washing them together often causes under-washed towels or over-washed clothes—neither of which is ideal.
2. Lint Transfer Is a Real Problem
Towels shed a lot of lint, especially newer ones. When washed with clothes such as darker garments or synthetics—this lint can stick and create a chaotic, fuzzy nightmare. It’s a recipe for frustration, especially if you have to rewet everything.
3. Clothes Can Get Marred
Zippers, buttons, and embellishments on clothing can snag or wear down your towels over time. On the flip side, the heavy texture of towels leads to pilling or stretch out lighter fabrics. It’s a rough blender—literally.
4. Hygiene Matters
Towels are applied to dry your body, face, and sometimes even your pets. They harbor more bacteria, sweat, and d3ad skin cells than your everyday clothes. Combining them means you’re potentially spreading those germs to items you wear close to your skin.
5. Uneven Drying
Towels are bulky and require a lot of water, which makes them take longer to dry. If they’re washed in with thin clothing, you’ll either end up with soggy towels or overdried, shrunken clothes. Either way, your dryer works harder and your fabrics suffer. Washing towels and clothes separately isn’t just about freshness—it’s about protecting your laundry, expanding the life of your fabrics, and maintaining things truly fresh. For best results, wash towels on their own using hot water, a proper detergent, and a full soak cycle.