Following a deep cleaning checklist can ensure your bathroom fixtures remain pristine. However, all those efforts might be wasted if you don’t declutter certain items. We’re not just talking about cleaning off your countertops (though that’s also crucial). It’s essential to address items that often go unnoticed but occupy valuable space in your bathroom, such as towels. While they may seem harmless, having more towels than necessary or holding onto worn-out ones can lead to clutter.
Specifically, you should only keep the towels you use regularly, including bath towels, hand towels, and washcloths if applicable. Additionally, store an extra set to avoid relying on your robe or dripping water across your home when heading to the linen closet. It’s also important to discard towels that are worn out, with holes, tears, or frayed edges. Consider removing towels that shed lint on your skin or those you no longer like. Repurpose some as cleaning rags and donate others to places like animal shelters.
Why you shouldn’t store extra towels in the bathroom
Storing extra towels in the bathroom can lead to clutter, but there’s more to it. Bathrooms are humid environments where mold and mildew can thrive. Keeping spare towels in such conditions can expose them to these issues, compromising their cleanliness. The moisture can also cause towels to develop unpleasant odors.
Even if you address mold by selecting the appropriate fan and enhancing ventilation, there’s still the concern of invisible germs. Bacteria and fungi from the toilet can become airborne during flushing and settle on towels without notice. For this reason, it’s advisable to store towels in cabinets or baskets with lids, rather than leaving them exposed on surfaces. This practice helps reduce visual clutter as well.
How many towels should you keep in your bathroom
There’s no one-size-fits-all answer to how many towels you should have in your bathroom. It depends on factors like available storage, the number of bathing spaces, washing habits, and laundry schedules. Store towels that fit comfortably in your cabinet or on a shelf without overcrowding. If you’re the sole user, keep a bath towel handy and an extra for times when the other is unavailable. For shared bathrooms, allocate one bath towel per person plus an additional one, and remove any excess.
Regarding washing habits, if you don’t wash towels daily, follow the guideline of storing just one extra. If you prefer laundering after every use, consider keeping two extras to reduce restocking frequency. Apply similar logic to washcloths. Since hand towels should be changed weekly (or every 10 days), two per bathroom should suffice. For guest bathrooms, stock towels only if you frequently host family or friends. If you prefer offering special guest towels, store them in your linen closet until needed.
