Do you mix towels and clothes in the same washing machine to save time and energy? By doing so, you may be harming not only your clothes, but also the health of the whole family. This common mistake is repeated over and over again in households, even though experts have been clear for a long time.
At first glance, it may seem that there is nothing wrong with washing towels and T-shirts together. After all, the washing machine washes and that’s it. But the reality is somewhere else. Towels are among the most stressed items in the home and that’s why they should be treated completely differently than ordinary clothes. However, if we ignore it for a long time, we are working on a problem that will manifest itself not only, but also in a higher incidence of bacteria.
Why towels do not belong in the same batch
Towels are heavy, absorbent and release a lot of lint when washed. When washing together, finer clothes are literally wrapped in fluff and lose their shape and appearance. Elastic materials, sportswear or delicate textiles suffer the most.
Another problem is the mechanics of washing itself. Heavy wet towels act as weights in the drum, pulling on light items of clothing. The result can be pulled seams, which will never fit the way they used to.
Drying also plays a role, if your washing machine offers this function. Towels take significantly longer to dry than clothes. If you dry them together, you have to choose a longer program, which can unnecessarily overdry and shrink normal clothes.
Hygiene that is forgotten
Towels come into contact with moisture, skin, sweat and dirt every day. After a few days of use, they are full of bacteria that normal washing at a lower temperature may not remove. That is why towels require a higher temperature and a different mode.
“We had a clear rule in the boarding house that was never broken,” says Žaneta Johnová from the Jizerské Hory, who worked in accommodation services for many years. “Towels were always washed separately and at a higher temperature. If this is not done, sooner or later guests will experience odors or skin problems.”
By mixing towels with clothes, you risk not only destroying the textile, but also transferring bacteria to the pieces you wear directly on your body.
Small habit, big difference
Washing towels separately may mean one extra washing machine, but it certainly brings a number of advantages. Clothes will last longer, towels will stay absorbent and the home will be cleaner. It is enough to change one old habit and you will recognize the difference very quickly. When it comes to taking care of your health, it is often the details that seem unimportant at first glance that make the decision.
