Laundry Experts Agree: You Should Always Wash Your Towels Separately

Towels are the overachievers of your home. They mop up water, sweat, skin cells, makeup smudges, and whatever mystery
substance your hands collected while you “just quickly” wiped the counter. Then we toss them in a hamper and expect
them to come out of the washer fluffy, fresh, and ready to audition for a spa commercial.

Here’s the thing laundry pros keep saying (and your lint roller quietly agrees): towels should almost always get their
own load. Not because towels are snobsbecause they’re linty, heavy, and weirdly demanding. Wash them with clothes
and you’re basically inviting a bull into a china shop… where the china is your black T-shirt.

The quick answer: towels are “lint-givers,” heavyweights, and germ magnets (in a normal-human way)

Towels behave differently than most clothing. Their loops shed lint. They hold a lot of water. They need stronger
agitation and thorough rinsing to get body oils out. And they typically do best on cycles and drying settings that
are tougher than what your everyday clothes can handle. When you mix towels with lighter fabrics, the whole load
becomes a compromiseand laundry is not the place for awkward compromises.

7 reasons you should always wash towels separately

1) Lint transfer: the “snow globe” effect on your clothes

Towels shed lint. Lots of it. If you wash towels with shirts, leggings, or anything dark, you may open the dryer to a
magical winter wonderland of fuzz. Some fabrics are especially “lint-receivers”think knits, corduroy, and many
synthetics. If you’ve ever peeled towel lint off a hoodie like it was a second job, you already know this pain.

2) Towels can beat up delicate fabrics

Those soft loops that feel great on your skin can act like gentle sandpaper on lightweight clothing. Add zippers,
hooks, and delicate seams to the mix, and you’ve got abrasion, pilling, and stretched-out fabric that looks tired way
too soon. Towels do best with other sturdy items that can handle the same level of agitation.

3) Different “ideal” settings: towels want a deeper clean than many clothes

Towels are thick and absorbent, which means they can trap body oils, leftover detergent, and that musty smell that
shows up when they don’t dry fast enough. Many laundry experts recommend longer cycles (often a normal or towel
cycle) and the warmest water that’s safe for the fabric. Meanwhile, a lot of clothesespecially activewear,
stretch fabrics, and delicatesdo better with cool water and gentler agitation. One load can’t be “heavy-duty spa
reset” and “treat my blouse like a cloud” at the same time.

4) Hygiene: avoid cross-contaminating clothes with “towel stuff”

Towels regularly touch damp skin and humid bathroomsprime conditions for funky odors. Kitchen towels may also touch
food surfaces, hands, and spills that can include bacteria. Washing towels separately won’t turn your washer into a
hospital sterilizer, but it does reduce the chance that towel grime and microbes hitchhike onto your everyday
clothing.

5) Towels drink water and detergent like it’s their hobby

Because towels are so absorbent, they can hog water and detergent in a mixed load. That can leave lighter clothing
less thoroughly rinsed (hello, detergent residue and itchy fabric) while towels still come out not-quite-fresh.
Keeping towels together helps the washer balance water levels, agitation, and rinsing for that specific fabric type.

6) Drying becomes a mess: overdried clothes, underdried towels

Towels take longer to dry than T-shirts. If you dry a mixed load long enough for towels to fully dry, you may
overdry your clothesleading to shrinkage, fading, and fabric wear. But if you stop when clothes feel done, towels
may stay damp in the middle and develop that “why do you smell like a basement?” vibe. Separate loads mean better
drying, fewer odors, and fewer casualties.

7) Color bleeding and dulling: new towels can be dramatic

New towelsespecially darker or richly colored onescan release dye. Washing them with clothes is a gamble you
didn’t agree to. Separate towel loads (sorted by color) help protect your wardrobe and keep your whites from turning
into “vintage off-white with personality.”

What “wash towels separately” actually means

For most homes, this means:

• Bath towels + hand towels + washcloths together (sorted by color)
• Kitchen towels in their own load (or with other cleaning cloths), especially if heavily soiled
• Microfiber towels/cloths separately from cotton towels (microfiber attracts lint and can get clogged)
• Bath mats separately if they’re heavy, rubber-backed, or extra grime-prone

How to wash towels the right way (so they stay fluffy and absorbent)

Step 1: Sort by color and fabric

Do at least two piles: whites and colors/darks. If you use microfiber cloths, keep them
separate from cotton terry towels so they don’t come out looking like they fought a lint monster and lost.

Step 2: Don’t overload the washer

Towels need room to move. If the drum is packed, water and detergent can’t circulate well, and towels won’t rinse
completely. A good rule: the washer should be comfortably full, not stuffed. Think “towels at a dance party,” not
“towels in a subway at rush hour.”

Step 3: Choose the warmest water that’s safe for the towel

Many cotton towels do well in warm or hot water, but always follow the care label. Some experts note that very hot
water all the time can wear fibers faster or cause shrinkageespecially with certain blendsso warm water plus a
quality detergent is often a smart sweet spot for routine loads. Save hotter settings or sanitizing cycles for times
you truly need them (like illness, heavy soil, or lingering odors).

Step 4: Use the right amount of detergent (usually less than you think)

Too much detergent can build up in towel fibers, making towels feel stiff, less absorbent, and more likely to hold
onto odors. Measure detergent based on load size and soil level. If your towels feel waxy or smell “clean-ish but not
clean,” detergent buildup may be part of the problem.

Step 5: Skip fabric softener and dryer sheets for most towel loads

Fabric softeners (and many dryer sheets) can coat towel fibers, reducing absorbency over time. Towels have one main
job: dry you off. Coating the fibers is like putting a raincoat on a sponge. If you want softness, focus on proper
rinsing, correct drying, and occasional deep-clean methods rather than relying on softeners.

Step 6: Add an extra rinse when towels are funky

If towels smell musty, feel stiff, or you suspect buildup, an extra rinse can help remove leftover detergent and
trapped grime. Some households occasionally use laundry “rinse” products designed to help remove residue. If you use
DIY methods like vinegar, consider using them sparingly and be mindful that some experts warn frequent vinegar use
may damage certain washer components over time.

Step 7: Dry thoroughly (this is where freshness is won or lost)

Towels must dry fully to avoid mildew odors. Shake towels out before drying so they fluff and dry evenly. Clean your
dryer lint filter every time (it helps airflow and reduces drying time). Use a heat setting appropriate for the towel
fabricoften medium or low-to-mediumthen remove promptly so they don’t sit in a warm, steamy pile plotting their
next musty phase.

How often should you wash towels?

There’s “ideal” and there’s “real life,” so here’s a practical approach many pros recommend:

• Bath towels: every 3–5 uses, or about once a week (sooner if they don’t dry fully between uses)
• Hand towels: every few days (more often in busy bathrooms)
• Washcloths: after 1–2 uses
• Kitchen towels: often daily, and immediately after cleaning up raw meat juices or messy spills

The biggest factor is drying: if a towel stays damp for long periods, wash it sooner. A towel that dries quickly and
fully between uses can go a little longer without turning into an odor factory.

Common towel problems (and how to fix them)

Problem: “My towels smell bad even after washing.”

Usually it’s one of these culprits: too much detergent, not enough rinsing, overloading the washer, washing in water
that’s too cool for the soil level, or towels not drying fully. Also, a dirty washer can transfer odors back onto
fabrics. Try a slightly smaller load, measure detergent carefully, add an extra rinse, and make sure towels dry
completely. If odors persist, consider a periodic washer-cleaning cycle and a deep-clean towel wash (following product
labels and care instructions).

Problem: “My towels feel scratchy and stiff.”

Stiff towels are often a residue issuedetergent, minerals from hard water, or softener buildup. Start with less
detergent and an extra rinse. Dryer balls can help towels feel softer by improving airflow and reducing drying time.
Overdrying can also make towels feel crunchy, so aim for fully dry but not “baked into a crouton.”

Problem: “My towels don’t absorb water anymore.”

That’s often a sign of fiber coating (frequently from fabric softener or dryer sheets). Take a break from softeners,
focus on thorough rinsing, and consider a residue-removal approach occasionally. Also, make sure you aren’t using too
much detergentbuildup can reduce absorbency just as effectively as softener can.

When is it okay to bend the “separate towels” rule?

If you’re in a pinch, you can sometimes wash towels with other durable, lint-friendly items of similar
weight and color. But avoid mixing towels with:

• Activewear and performance fabrics (they attract lint and prefer gentler care)
• Delicates (lingerie, blouses, anything labeled gentle)
• Dark clothing you love (lint will find it)
• Microfiber cloths (they’re lint magnets)

And if you’re deciding between combining towels with sheets or keeping them separate: separate is usually better.
Sheets can wrap around towels, reduce agitation, and make drying uneventwo fabrics, one chaotic burrito.

Final takeaway: towels do better when they get their own lane

Washing towels separately isn’t about being fussy. It’s about getting cleaner towels, protecting your clothes,
avoiding lint drama, and preventing that musty smell that makes you question your entire adulthood. Give towels their
own load, and they’ll repay you by actually drying you offlike they promised on day one.

Real-Life Towel Laundry Experiences (What People Notice When They Separate Loads)

In real homes, the “wash towels separately” advice usually becomes popular right after a lint-related incident. You
know the one: someone washes towels with a load of dark clothes and opens the dryer to discover their favorite black
tee now looks like it rolled through a cotton-candy factory. The fix is simpletowels in their own loadand the
results are immediate. Suddenly, the lint roller isn’t working overtime, and your clothes stop carrying around a
fuzzy souvenir from laundry day.

Another common experience is the “mystery towel smell” problem. People swear they used detergent, they used warm
water, they used a normal cycleso why do the towels still smell a little… haunted? Separating towels often solves
this because the load gets the agitation and rinsing it needs. Mixed loads tend to get overloaded fast (towels take
up space and water), and that can lead to leftover detergent and trapped body oils. Once towels are washed together
(just towels) in a not-stuffed washer, the difference can feel almost unfair: less odor, more fluff, and towels that
smell like “clean” instead of “clean-ish.”

People also notice their clothes last longer when towels are no longer invited to the party. Delicate items don’t get
rubbed by towel loops. Athletic wear doesn’t come out covered in lint (or clogged, if it’s microfiber-heavy). Even
jeans and hoodies benefit because they aren’t spending a full cycle getting smacked around by a wet, heavyweight
terry-cloth blanket impersonating a small sea creature.

There’s also a surprisingly emotional win: drying becomes easier. A mixed load is a drying nightmareeither you dry
long enough for towels and your shirts overdry, or you stop when shirts are done and towels stay damp in the middle.
Once towels get their own dryer cycle, many people find they can dial in the right heat and time without cooking
their clothes. Add dryer balls, shake towels out before drying, and you get that “hotel towel” vibe without needing a
hotel budget (or a towel butler).

Finally, there’s the “new towels are drama” phase. A lot of households learn to separate towels after a brand-new
navy towel mysteriously “enhances” lighter fabrics with a faint bluish tint. Washing new towels separately (and
sorting towels by color) helps prevent dye transfer. It also helps towels start their life with a clean slateliterally
removing manufacturing finishes that can reduce absorbency at first.

The overall experience is pretty consistent: fewer laundry annoyances, better-smelling towels, less lint, and more
predictable drying. And if laundry day is already a chore, predictability is basically a luxury item.