Clothes with zippers, hooks, or buttons can easily catch on towel loops, pulling threads and damaging both items. And towels themselves are rough on soft fabrics—causing pilling, stretching, or thinning. It’s a recipe for ruining your favorite hoodie or that cozy bath towel.

4. Bacteria Transfer Is a Thing

Towels absorb more than just water. They pick up sweat, d3ad skin, body oils, and sometimes even mildew if they’ve been left damp too long. Washing them with underwear, shirts, or baby clothes could mean cross-contaminating items you wear right against your skin. Yikes.

5. They Dry at Different Speeds

Throwing a bunch of towels in with lighter clothes can mess up the drying process. Towels are thick and hold on to moisture longer, while thin clothes dry faster. That means you’ll either end up with damp towels or shrunken shirts. Plus, your dryer ends up working harder than it needs to.

The Bottom Line? Wash Towels Alone.

If you want cleaner laundry, longer-lasting clothes, and fresher towels, do yourself a favor—wash them separately. Use hot water, a good-quality detergent, and a full, heavy-duty cycle just for towels. Your skin, your fabrics, and your dryer will thank you.