An Expert Explains Why You Shouldn't Store Bath Towels In Your Bathroom

While it might seem like it would make the most sense to store extra bath towels right in the bathroom, according to experts, that is not the case. Because of the excess humidity and the increased presence of bacteria in your bathroom, it's best to keep them in another room where they can stay clean, dry, and far from the super-gross germ volcano that comes from your toilet when you flush it.

So while that's not to say your wicker basket in the guest bathroom full of folded white bath towels isn't cute and convenient, your guests would probably appreciate your hospitality much more if those towels were stored elsewhere. That's because every time you flush the toilet in your bathroom, bacteria become airborne and can make a home on your bathroom surfaces, including your clean towels. Gross.

Not to mention, bathrooms tend to be sources of a lot of extra moisture and humidity, which your towels can easily absorb and hold onto. If left in an overly damp environment for too long without being properly aired out and dried, they can begin to develop mildew and mold. Again, gross.

Using clean bath towels that have been stored in a bathroom can easily expose you to elevated levels of bacteria, which is particularly revolting to think about when you consider how many times a day the toilet in your bathroom probably gets flushed. Environmental microbiologist Dr. Kelly Reynolds says, "When you flush the toilet, we know the plume of aerosol can travel up to 6 feet in every direction, and at least 1 1/2 to 2 feet with low-flush toilets" (per Real Simple). "These bacteria and viruses can settle on towels and stay alive for days to weeks. If you're drying your hands or wiping your face with a contaminated towel, you could get sick."

In addition to bacteria contamination from being in close proximity to a toilet, Steven Ip from Cleanzen Cleaning Servies points out another problem: "[The towels] are prone to mold and mildew build-up," he says (per Homes & Gardens). This occurs due to high levels of moisture in the air from the shower and running water. This is especially likely if you have open cabinetry or storage in your bathroom where the contents aren't fully enclosed and protected from excess moisture. 

While it might seem counterintuitive to keep your bath towels somewhere that isn't your bathroom, it's much more sanitary to store them in a dry and well-ventilated room. 

Steven Ip suggests using an extra drawer in the bedroom for storage purposes (per Homes & Gardens). Otherwise, a hall linen closet is another safe option. While storing your bath towels outside of the bathroom altogether is what Dr. Reynolds considers to be "best practice" as well, she adds that if this isn't possible, you should at least stash them in an enclosed cabinet or in a container with a lid in the bathroom. "You need a barrier so the plume can stick to something else and not your towel," she says (via Real Simple).

If you simply can't store your bath towels outside of the bathroom or at least in a way that protects them from the air and bacteria within the bathroom, Ip states that you should aim to replace them once a week to guarantee you aren't spreading bacteria throughout your household and to guests.