Let’s be honest: after a busy week, it’s tempting to toss towels and clothes into the same load and hit “Start.” But that innocent shortcut often backfires. While combining them might seem efficient, it can actually wear out your items faster, dull your favorite clothes, and even spread unexpected germs.
I used to do it, too—until I began noticing lint-covered tees, stiff towels, and clothes that just didn’t feel right after washing. That’s when I dug deeper and discovered there’s big laundry logic behind separating towels from clothing. Here’s what I learned.
1. Towels Demand a Tougher Cleaning Cycle
Think about how you use towels—they’re heavy, plush, and built for absorbing water. After one use, they’re soaked and laden with soap residue, body oils, and skin cells. To truly clean them, towels need:
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- Hot water to break down oils and removed build-up,
- Longer cycles so that all that absorbency is thoroughly cleansed, and
- Heavier agitation to get into those looped fibers.
Clothes, on the other hand, especially delicates, don’t require—or tolerate—this harsh treatment. A hot, prolonged wash may shrink, fade, or stretch your favorite shirts, socks, and underwear. So, when you combine towels and clothes, you end up under-washing towels (leaving them dingy) or over-washing clothes (leading to damage). Neither outcome is ideal.
2. The Menace of Lint
If you’ve ever pulled a soft, plush towel from the dryer, you’ve seen lint—tiny fibers that shed and cling. Mix towels and clothes, and the result is often an unwanted layer of fuzz that sticks to darker or synthetic fabrics. Suddenly, your clothes look worn out, unkempt, and fuzz-covered—definitely not the image you want, whether it’s for a family barbecue or a quiet night at home .
Lint isn’t just cosmetic. It can clog pocket seams, build up in dryer vents, and even make towels less absorbent over time. As towels shed fibers, they’re slowly losing their plush character. Separating laundry loads means less lint fallout and longer-lasting towels and wardrobe pieces.