Hang wet towels in a well-ventilated area, spread out on a towel bar, hook, or heated rack, or even over a shower curtain rod, to allow air to circulate and dry them quickly, preventing mildew and odors; avoid bunching them up or putting them in a hamper. A towel bar or hook inside the bathroom is common, but a well-ventilated closet, a bedroom door hook, or even drying outside on a line are good options for better airflow.
With multiple easy-access hooks, coat racks are ideal for hanging damp towels to dry or for storing extras within reach of the shower. Borrow a coat rack from your hallway to use in the bathroom as a sophisticated and convenient towel hook.
The "bathroom towel trick" usually refers to a popular, space-saving, and decorative towel rolling method that makes towels look like spa rolls, creating tight cylinders that store neatly and look elegant in bathrooms, often by folding in triangles and tucking the end into a pocket. Another less common "trick" involves using a towel for jawline exercise, where you bite down on a folded towel to strengthen jaw muscles, or a cooling method with a wet towel near a fan.
In this guide, we go over six simple towel storage ideas to keep all your towels clean and dry.
Mold can begin growing on wet clothes within 24-48 hours under optimal conditions. Timeline factors include fabric type, moisture level, temperature, and contamination with organic matter.
In the Bathroom
A towel rod works best since it allows the towel to dry faster. You can also use a simple hook on the wall or at the back of the door. The most important thing is to make sure the towel is spread out to speed up drying. So don't fold it up or leave it in a pile in the corner.
According to Energy Saving Trust, sticking to 4-minute showers, with the help of a timer, could save 17,000 litres of water per year. This water saving would save money on both the energy needed to heat the water, and on the cost of the water itself, if you have a metered water supply.
Do Towels Dry Better on Hooks or Bars? For the shortest drying time, opt for a towel bar instead of hooks, and hang one towel spread out across the length of the bar. The more surface area exposed to the air, the faster a towel will dry—and the less likely it is to mildew or smell.
Air-drying is not bad for your skin! There's no reason you would need to towel off after getting wet, other than the water may get on your clothes or make you a little colder. And as we've covered, air-drying can actually have benefits, so the answer is really quite the opposite!
A towel helps darken the room for better sleep. 2️⃣ To Prevent Odors or Smoke Whether it's someone smoking nearby or strong cleaning chemicals, a towel helps block unpleasant smells from creeping in. 3️⃣ To Protect Against Smoke in Emergencies In case of fire, smoke can quickly enter through door gaps.
Horizontal racks are best for maximum airflow—but try to steer clear of back-of-door hooks whenever possible. "Putting it on a hook or keeping it bunched up leads to folds in the towel that aren't exposed to air," says Lewenhaupt, "which doesn't allow the whole towel to dry properly."
The Tea Towel Trick
To prevent water from dripping back onto food in a slow cooker, some people place a clean, folded kitchen towel or a few layers of paper towels between the lid and the pot to absorb moisture. If you use the technique, make sure you still have a tight seal between the lid and the pot.
The best way to dry wet towels is to hang them on a heated towel rack, which is designed to dry your towels and provide them with some warmth before use. However, it is also important to hang them up in a well-ventilated area, even if you don't have a heated towel rack.
9 New Ways To Store Your Towels
Great towel rack alternatives include towel hooks (for simplicity), ladder racks or leaning shelves (for style & space), towel rings, over-the-door hooks, and even using baskets or open shelving for neatly rolled towels, offering versatility from minimalists to those needing more storage without drilling.
'To dry towels faster, be sure to hang them in front of any entrances with good airflow, or warmer spots in your home including radiators, windows, and doors,' suggests Deyan. 'Don't worry too much whether these locations have hot or cold air, both will do the trick.
Wash towels at 40°C (warm) for regular cleaning and to preserve softness/color, but use 60°C (hot) for a deeper clean, sanitizing to kill germs, especially if someone is sick, to remove oils and bacteria, but be aware it can wear them out faster. Use a good detergent and avoid fabric softener to maintain absorbency.
Yes, towel racks are still widely used and preferred in thoughtfully designed bathrooms.
The most common cause for a high water bill is running water from your toilet. A continuously running toilet can waste up to 200 gallons a day or more depending on the volume flow down the drain. This can cause a terrible increase to a family's typical water use, so fix toilet leaks as soon as possible.
Limit shower time to 4 minutes. Try using a timer or playing a 4-minute song.
If you don't wash your body, it makes it easier for germs that cause actual skin infections to flourish. If you didn't wash at all, dirt, sweat, dead skin cells and oil would start to accumulate, and infections or ongoing skin conditions can become more serious, more difficult to manage, and harder to undo.
The best place to hang your wet bathroom towels would be anywhere where there is 𝗴𝗼𝗼𝗱 𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻, 𝗯𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 and has 𝗺𝗮𝘅𝗶𝗺𝘂𝗺 𝗮𝗶𝗿𝗳𝗹𝗼𝘄. Why? Damp towel is practically a petri dish (favourable place) for bacteria and mold to grow.
Hooks are your best friend.
Simply add some hooks above a toilet or on any open wall space to make room for extra towel storage. This bathroom design in a 200-square-foot vintage airstream proves you don't need a ton of space to secure the storage you need.
You can either roll or fold bath towels for storage and neither approach is inherently better. Some people appreciate the appearance of a neat stack of folded towels, while others prefer the space-saving benefits of rolling. Both methods prevent wrinkles and make it easy to access your linens.