The One Spot In Your Bathroom You Should Never Hang A Towel To Dry

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We've all done it. After showering, you dry off, then sling the towel over the shower rod to let it air dry. It works until you start to notice your towel smells a little...musty. Not to mention it never feels quite dry. The problem? You're hanging your bathroom towel to dry in the wrong place.

While the shower rod is certainly convenient — it keeps the towel out of the way and ready for use the next time you need it — hanging it here actually prevents your towel from drying thoroughly. Why? Because the humidity from your shower floats up towards the ceiling. So, while the ends of the towel may dry, tricking you into thinking it's good to reuse, the middle of the towel is still damp. This damp portion is an ideal environment for germs, mold, and other gross things you don't want rubbing on your skin. These unwanteds are what cause towels to smell musty.  

If you're not supposed to use the shower rod, where should your bathroom towels go to dry? The key is to hang them so their entire surface area is exposed — and near a ventilation source. Fortunately, there are a few excellent options available to do this. The first? Hang your towels outside to keep them fresh for longer. This not only helps them dry evenly, but also the sunshine may even help sanitize them.

The next best choice is installing a towel bar, such as the USHOWER Matte Black Towel Bar or Command Bath Satin Nickel Towel Bar, for a renter-friendly option, near a good airflow source (your bathroom window or vent fan will work). While it might look good in magazine layouts, don't fold up your towels when hanging them to dry; instead, spread one towel per bar to ensure it dries evenly. If you're tight on space, towel hooks, such as Kruodop Hooks, may be a good option. But they come with a caveat: if you want dry and fluffy towels with a towel hook, make sure no damp areas are trapped within the folds. This might mean they'll need more time to completely dry, or you may need to rotate them halfway through the drying process. Regardless of the option you choose, be sure to leave your bathroom fan running for approximately 30 minutes. This helps increase airflow around the towels and reduces humidity in the room.