Stop Putting Your Towels in the Hamper, Laundry Pros Say

Hampers are meant for holding dirty laundry (and keeping it nicely hidden away) until laundry day rolls around. However, when it comes to dirty towels, it might be time to reconsider throwing these items into your designated basket.

If you can’t wash your towels right away, there are better methods for storing them until you have time. Here’s why it matters, where to put them, and other items you should keep out of the hamper.

Why You Shouldn’t Put Towels In the Hamper

Laundry expert Zachary Pozniak notes it’s important to avoid crumpling up and throwing your towels in the hamper for a few reasons.

“Placing any damp or wet items in a hamper will essentially mean they take longer to dry, giving mold, mildew, and bacteria a wonderful environment to thrive in,” he says.

A wet towel that doesn’t get a chance to dry out between uses leads to you having a not-so-clean towel to dry off with, and a towel that gets smelly faster. That’s why it’s often better to store towels outside of the bathroom in an area that’s drier and won’t allow the material to sop up and hang onto moisture.

The same happens with towels that get left in the washing machine. But instead of throwing them back in the hamper and waiting to do another run, you have options.

“Downy Rinse or Tide Boost are excellent rinse products which will prevent clothes from getting mildewy and musty for up to a day in case you forget your clothes in the washer,” says Pozniak.

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What To Do With Dirty Towels Instead

If your laundry hamper is a no-go for towels, what should you do instead? It’s best to give your towels plenty of room to spread and dry out.

“Air dry damp items on a hanger, drying rack, or even a door in a pinch—I do this with workout clothes,” says Pozniak.

If you don’t have these built into your bathroom, there are various over-the-door hooks and standalone towel racks that quickly solve this problem. For bathrooms that harbor a lot of steam and moisture, a pull-out drying rack in your laundry room (or another dry space) can prevent towels from staying wet.

If you have a few extra minutes and your towels have been used several times, take the time to put your towels in the wash and start the cycle; you’ll avoid musty odors and a backlog of towels.

Other Items Not to Add to Your Hamper

There are a few other items that laundry experts, including Pozniak, say to avoid placing in your laundry hamper for similar reasons as wet and dirty towels. Avoid throwing the following in your laundry basket:

• Exercise clothing, especially synthetics
• Damp socks
• Clothes or towels with serious grime, stains, mud, or dirt on them
• Anything wet, damp, or sweaty
• Silk or delicate fabrics that can get damaged or snagged by other materials