Why you should always wash your towels separately from clothes
In a 2024 study from the University of Texas, researchers found that over 80 per cent of bathroom towels tested contained traces of bacteria.
Many people tend to wash all their clothes together at one go due to limited time, often skipping the sorting process, which puts delicate fabrics at risk of damage.
For example, towels dry your body and clean your hands, soaking up everything from soap to sweat, yet many people still throw them into laundry loads or buckets with other clothes.
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Experts say that is a mistake.
Speaking to The Eastleigh Voice on Wednesday, Agnes Kawira, owner of Tony’s Laundry Mart in Ruiru, said washing towels with regular clothes risks spreading bacteria, especially when using cooler water or overloading the washing machine.
Kawira explained that towels naturally trap moisture, and when left damp in bathrooms or laundry baskets, they create the perfect environment for microbes like E. coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and mould spores to thrive.
According to Kawira, towels should always be hung outside to dry in the sun after use.
“Washing towels separately isn’t just a matter of good housekeeping; it’s a crucial practice for maintaining hygiene, preserving fabric quality, and optimising the lifespan of both your towels and your clothes. People often underestimate how much bacteria and moisture towels retain after use,” said Kawira.
In a 2024 study from the University of Texas, researchers found that over 80 per cent of bathroom towels tested contained traces of bacteria.
“If you're tossing that towel into a load with your everyday clothes, especially underwear or children’s, towels should be washed in hot water, ideally 60 degrees or higher, to effectively kill bacteria and dissolve body oils.”
Kawira, however, noted that not all fabrics can withstand high temperatures. Mixing towels with delicates or synthetics lowers the wash temperature and reduces detergent effectiveness.
“Towels are thick, absorbent, and designed to withstand rougher conditions. Most modern fabrics are not, so you cannot expect them to be cleaned on the same level as you wash your delicate clothes like silk.”
Washing towels separately helps preserve the towels and other clothes by reducing pilling, lint transfer, and colour fading.
“Skip using fabric softeners on towels, because they are made of fats which coat the towel fibres and reduce absorbency,” Kawira added.
Kawira explained that if your towels smell, apply vinegar to remove the odour and soften the towel naturally.
“Once you are done, rinse thoroughly and hang them out to dry.”
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