You Should Always Wash Your Towels Separately

Laundry can be an exhausting chore, which is why we’re always looking for ways to speed up our routine—like by cramming everything into just one or two loads. Modern washers are designed to handle larger capacities, making it all too easy to toss in every last item—towels included—and call it a day. But that shortcut can actually backfire. We consulted several laundry experts and they all agree: Towels should be washed separately. Here’s why.

Why You Should Wash Towels Separately

Towels might seem pretty harmless—after all, they’re just soft and fluffy pieces of fabric—but there are several reasons why washing them with your other laundry can be a bad idea. The number one reason? They can be quite a bit dirtier than other items you regularly wash.

“Towels can harbor bacteria more than other laundry because they constantly switch between wet and dry,” explains Michael Bogoyavlenskiy, CEO of Cleaning Express, a commercial and domestic cleaning services company. For this reason, Bogoyavlenskiy recommends washing towels separately from other laundry on a hot cycle, which will help get towels thoroughly clean while also protecting other laundry that can’t withstand higher heat cycles.

“When you wash towels separately, you have the ability to use hotter water and longer cycles towels need for a true deep clean,” says Scott Schrader, a cleaning expert at CottageCare.

Schrader adds that towels are heavier and more absorbent than other laundry items, and they shed often, which can impact other items in the load. “When you wash towels with lightweight fabrics, the lighter fabric will wear out faster, and it will be covered in lint every time,” he says.

So while it may be a bit of extra work to do separate loads, it’s beneficial for both your towels and your other laundry items. “Washing [towels] alone helps maintain their absorbency, keeps clothes lint-free, and prevents germs from spreading to other items,” says Alicia Sokolowski, a cleaning and laundry expert with over 15 years of experience as the president and co-CEO of AspenClean.

Some Exceptions to the Rule

Sometimes it’s OK to add a couple of other items to your towels-only laundry load. A good rule of thumb is to only pair towels with other heavy, lint-tolerant items—not lightweight delicates or synthetics, Schrader says.

“Cotton items such as bath mats, washcloths, kitchen towels, or cleaning cloths can be safely washed with towels,” Sokolowski says. “These items will handle the same water temperature and higher heat settings that towels require, ensuring a proper clean without risking damage to their materials.”