10 Things NOT to Do with Your Bathroom Towel – Avoid These 10 Common Mistakes!
Using your towel after a shower or bath is one of the most common household tasks. After all, drying yourself with a towel is what you use it for, right? Well… not exactly. A bathroom towel might be called a “bath” because of its original intended purpose, but using it only once before throwing it in the laundry has been the number 1 cause of house fires throughout the country. We are back with more crazy facts about your home that you might not know or even think to look for.
So read our article and learn all the weird things that can happen in your everyday home!
1) Don’t wash it after every use:
A bathroom towel is made to absorb water, not to dry you off. If you use your towel every day, the fibers will get weaker and it won’t hold moisture or dirt anymore. That means that every time you try to make it absorbent again by washing it will only be a temporary fix.
2) Don’t forget to launder them regularly:
There’s a reason your mother always told you to wash your clothes after wearing them. After all, who knows where those clothes have been? In the same way, it’s important to wash your bathroom towels regularly. Although most people will put their towel through the laundry every week or two at the very least, some might even wait until they smell or see mildew.
3) Don’t use fabric softener:
The reason your towels don’t feel as comfortable as they used to is because of laundry detergent and fabric softener build-up. The formulas in these liquids coat the outside of the towel, which makes them less absorbent and scratchy. This is why you should always wash your towels (and all clothing) in cold water.
4) Don’t store them wet:
Moisture is the moistest enemy of textiles. You know when you get out of the shower, stuff your towel in the corner of the bathroom, and come back to find it damp? That’s because towels (and all fabrics) release moisture when they’re stored. The best way to keep them from completely wetting the wall is to hang them up, or lay flat on a towel rack, right after you use them.
5) Don’t put them in a hot place:
This might seem counterintuitive if you want your towels dry faster, but it’s actually better to store them somewhere cool so they can dry naturally. Think about it… how fast do wet towels dry on a clothesline? Or by just leaving it overnight? A warm environment will speed up the process and cause mildewing at least as fast as washing does. If you have no choice but to put it in a hot room, try turning on a fan nearby.
6) Don’t use it as a bath mat:
The bathroom floor is another common place for towels to wind up, but this should only be the exception rather than the rule. Using your towel as a bath mat can actually cause it to dirty faster because you’re constantly walking on it with wet feet. For one thing, it gives you more of an excuse to buy that really expensive plush bath rug! However, if you do need extra towels in the bathroom for guests or to give yourself something to step on after showering, just make sure they are designated as bath mats.
7) Don’t drape them over furniture:
Speaking of which… draping your towels over furniture is also another huge mistake people make when storing their towels after a shower. I know, it’s so hard to find space in the bathroom sometimes… But when you consider that they often sit in humid environments, and they’re touching all kinds of surfaces, it makes sense why mold and mildew would grow on them eventually.
8) Don’t let guests use your old towels:
Many people actually use towels until they fully wear out before buying new ones. However, if you’re going to be hosting guests for anything more than a day or two, you should really replace your towel every six months to a year like most experts recommend. If not, make sure you clearly label which towels are designated for guests and set strict house rules. About how long each person is allow to use them.
9) Don’t store different towels together:
All of the rips, tears, holes and loose strings you notice on your towel are your towel’s way of saying “I’ve had enough! I’m sick of being used as a bandage for every scratch and cut on this bathroom floor! I need some R&R!” Although it sounds strange to say it out loud, “stress” is actually one of the biggest reasons why towels age faster than they should. This is because all those little fibers are put under a lot more stress. When they rub against each other instead of something smooth like its own hook or rack. Stress also comes from heat… which brings us to our next point.
10) Don’t use the dryer:
Most towels today are made of cotton, which has microscopic (yet durable) scales. Along its fibers to make it extra soft. However… these little scales will come off when your towel is washed and dried in a machine. Because it’s simply too hot for them to handle. This can actually cause an allergic reaction if you’re sensitive to lint, so always air-dry your towels instead! Saves money on electricity, too.
Conclusion:
Keeping and caring for your towels properly can require a little bit of extra effort and patience, but it’s so worth it to keep them from looking worn-out and dingy. Make sure you check out our other articles on How to Clean a Bath Towel and how to Wash Clothes If you’re Color Blind.