10 Things You Should Never Wash With Towels
Ten items to avoid washing with towels to protect fabric quality and ensure hygiene.
Delicate clothing
Athletic wear
Baby clothes
Microfiber cloths
Clothing with zippers
Bedsheets
Socks
Underwear
Embellished items
Lightweight summer fabrics
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Towels may look harmless in the laundry basket, but they can easily ruin delicate fabrics, spread bacteria, or trap unwanted debris when washed with the wrong items. Their thick cotton fibers hold moisture, lint, and residue — all of which can damage other clothes, transfer odors, or reduce the lifespan of fabrics.
To keep your laundry fresh and your garments protected, here are ten things you should never wash together with towels.
1. Delicate Clothing
Delicate fabrics like silk, lace, and fine cotton can"t withstand heavy friction from towels.
Explanation:
Towels pull threads, stretch fragile fibers, and leave lint stuck on light surfaces.
Why It Matters:
Your delicate pieces lose shape and quality much faster, shortening their lifespan.
2. Athletic Wear
Sportswear relies on flexible, breathable fibers designed for performance — not rough agitation.
Explanation:
Towels" heavy texture weakens elastics and clings to moisture-wicking materials.
Why It Matters:
Your workout clothes lose their stretch, ventilation, and long-term durability.
3. Baby Clothes
Baby garments are soft and sensitive, requiring gentle care and a hygienic wash.
Explanation:
Towels shed lint and trap bacteria, which can easily transfer to infant clothing.
Why It Matters:
Maintaining cleanliness and fabric quality is crucial for a baby’s skin health.
4. Microfiber Cloths
Microfiber is designed to attract dust — which makes towels a bad wash partner.
Explanation:
Towel lint clogs microfiber fibers, reducing their ability to clean effectively.
Why It Matters:
Your microfiber cloths lose absorbency and become far less useful.
5. Clothing With Zippers
Zippers, hooks, or metal trims can catch on towel loops and cause snags.
Explanation:
The friction between metal pieces and towel fibers leads to rips and fraying.
Why It Matters:
Both the towel and the clothing item can get ruined in one wash cycle.
6. Bedsheets
Bedsheets require even movement in the washer, which towels interfere with.
Explanation:
Towels bunch up, trapping sheets inside and preventing a thorough, even clean.
Why It Matters:
Sheets come out poorly washed and may feel stiff or unevenly dried.
7. Socks
Socks are small and lightweight, making them incompatible with thick, heavy towels.
Explanation:
They get trapped inside towel folds and don’t receive proper agitation.
Why It Matters:
Socks may remain dirty or develop odors despite being washed.
8. Underwear
Underwear needs hygienic, separate washing — not a tumble with heavy fabrics.
Explanation:
Towels hold bacteria and moisture that can transfer to intimate garments.
Why It Matters:
Mixing them raises hygiene concerns and affects fabric longevity.
9. Clothes With Embellishments
Anything with beads, sequins, embroidery, or appliqué is at risk.
Explanation:
Towel texture tugs on decorative details, causing breakage and fiber pulls.
Why It Matters:
Your embellished pieces lose their decorative elements or become damaged beyond repair.
10. Lightweight Summer Fabrics
Materials like chiffon, rayon, and linen blends can"t handle towel friction.
Explanation:
Towels overwhelm lightweight items, causing wrinkles, pilling, and thinning.
Why It Matters:
The fabrics degrade faster and lose their crisp, airy feel.
Conclusion
Towels may seem harmless, but their texture, weight, and absorbency make them incompatible with many household fabrics. Washing them with delicate or specialized items leads to wear, hygiene risks, and fabric damage — issues that are completely avoidable with the right laundry habits.
By separating towels from fragile clothing, performance wear, and small items, you ensure your laundry stays cleaner, lasts longer, and maintains its quality. Smart sorting saves money, effort, and frustration in the long run.