Have you ever looked at a full laundry basket and thought, “Why not just throw everything in together?”
It seems like the easiest option.
But towels and everyday clothing don’t always belong in the same wash.
Towels are heavier, thicker, and often produce more lint than ordinary clothes. They can also require a different washing routine than delicate shirts, blouses, or other lightweight fabrics.
Separating them may take an extra load—but it can help keep your clothes looking better for longer.
1. Towels Can Cover Your Clothes in Lint
This is probably the most obvious problem.
Especially when they’re new, towels can shed a surprising amount of fiber during washing.
Those tiny fibers can stick to:
- Dark shirts
- Sweaters
- Leggings
- Delicate fabrics
- Other smooth clothing
Instead of coming out of the washer looking fresh, your clothes can come out covered in little bits of lint.
And the more often you mix the loads, the more annoying the problem can become.
The Simple Fix
Keep a separate towel load.
It takes a little more planning, but it means you aren’t spending extra time picking towel lint off your favorite clothes.
2. Towels Are Much Heavier Than Clothing
Think about what happens when a towel becomes completely soaked.
It becomes very heavy.
Now imagine several wet towels tumbling around with lightweight shirts and delicate fabrics.
That difference in weight can create extra friction and pulling during the wash cycle.
The result can be:
- Stretched fabrics
- Snags
- Increased wear
- Misshapen clothing
- Faster deterioration of delicate items
The source specifically points out that towels can tug and twist lighter garments during a mixed wash.
3. Towels Usually Need a Different Wash Routine
A fluffy bath towel isn’t made from the same type of fabric as your favorite blouse or lightweight T-shirt.
Towels are designed to handle repeated washing and drying, while some clothes need gentler treatment.
That’s why checking the care labels matters.
Instead of automatically choosing the same cycle for everything, consider:
Towels: their recommended cycle and temperature.
Everyday clothes: the cycle and temperature indicated on their labels.
Delicates: a gentler cycle when appropriate.
Separating loads allows you to choose the most suitable settings for each group.
4. Kitchen Towels Are a Special Case
Here’s something many people overlook:
A kitchen towel isn’t necessarily just another towel.
Kitchen towels can pick up:
- Food particles
- Grease
- Cooking residue
- Spills
- Other household grime
You probably don’t want those items tumbling around with your everyday clothing.
For that reason, kitchen towels are often best kept in their own laundry category or washed with other suitable household linens.
5. Towels Can Carry More Moisture and Grime
Think about what a towel does all day.
A bath towel absorbs water from your body.
A hand towel gets used repeatedly.
A kitchen towel may wipe up spills and food residue.
Because of the way they’re used, towels can accumulate moisture, oils, and microorganisms.
Keeping heavily used towels separate from clothing can therefore be a sensible laundry habit, particularly for kitchen towels.
6. Don’t Overload the Washing Machine
Even if you’re washing towels by themselves, there’s another mistake to avoid:
Stuffing too many towels into the machine.
Wet towels become heavy, and an overloaded washer may not have enough room for everything to move properly.
That can interfere with effective cleaning and rinsing.
Instead, follow your washing machine’s load recommendations and give the towels enough room to move.
7. Don’t Use Too Much Detergent
More detergent doesn’t necessarily mean cleaner towels.
Excess detergent can leave residue behind, which may affect how towels feel and absorb water.
Use the amount recommended by your detergent manufacturer and washing machine.
If your towels start feeling stiff or develop an unpleasant smell, don’t simply keep adding more detergent.
The problem may require a different washing or drying routine.
8. Dry Towels Thoroughly
Towels need to dry completely between uses and after washing.
Leaving damp towels sitting in a pile can encourage unpleasant odors.
After washing:
- Shake them out.
- Dry them according to their care instructions.
- Make sure they’re completely dry before folding.
- Store them somewhere dry.
If towels repeatedly come out smelling musty even after washing, it’s worth checking the washing machine itself for buildup or odor.
What Should You Wash With Towels?
A simple rule is:
Wash towels with other sturdy, similar items—not delicate clothing.
Depending on your household, that might include suitable bath towels, washcloths, and other durable linens.
Keep more delicate clothes in a separate load.
And consider keeping kitchen towels separate from bath towels when they’re heavily soiled.
What About Sheets?
Sheets are another category where checking the care label is important.
Some households wash sheets separately from towels because towels can shed lint and because sheets and towels have different weights and drying characteristics.
If you do combine them, make sure the fabrics and care requirements are compatible and don’t overload the machine.
The Laundry Mistake That’s Easy to Fix
The good news is that you don’t need to completely change your laundry routine.
Just create a few simple categories:
🛁 Towel Load
Bath towels, washcloths, and other suitable sturdy towels.
👕 Clothing Load
Everyday shirts, pants, and similar clothing.
🍽️ Kitchen Load
Kitchen towels and other heavily used kitchen linens.
🧺 Delicate Load
Items that require gentler washing.
This small change can make laundry easier to manage and may help protect your clothes from unnecessary lint and wear.
Final Thoughts
Throwing towels and clothes into the same washing machine can seem like the fastest option.
But the convenience may come with a downside.
Towels can shed lint, they’re significantly heavier when wet, and they can create more friction against lightweight fabrics. Kitchen towels can also carry food residue and grease that you don’t necessarily want mixed with your clothing.
So next time you’re standing in front of a full laundry basket, pause before tossing everything together.
Give the towels their own load.
That one small laundry habit can help keep your clothes cleaner, reduce lint, and protect your favorite fabrics from unnecessary wear.
