I Never Keep My Towel in the Bathroom and I Feel Like They Stay Cleaner for Longer

Working at a lifestyle magazine has certainly changed my habits slowly, but there are some things I’ve been doing forever that carry over: I don’t like having a TV in my home (though that’s about to change), I was doing some of my laundry wrong, and I don’t like to keep my towels in the bathroom.

Here’s why I stopped keeping my towels in the bathroom, and why I think you should stop, too.

Why I Never Keep My Towel in the Bathroom

Over time, it’s only natural that towels will develop a bit of a musty, mildewy smell. However, this was happening very quickly to my towels in a way that was very frustrating. I noticed that my towels would stay damp for hours after showering, and the more frequently this happened, the faster they would get stinky.

The bathrooms in my last three apartments have had no windows, and two of them haven’t had exhaust fans. This is when I started hanging my bath towels in my bedroom or closet, and the difference was immediately noticeable.

Now, the only towels I keep in the bathroom are hand towels, of course, and small towels for wiping down the countertops. Any face or bath towels are kept in better-ventilated areas.

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How I Keep My Bathroom From Getting Musty

The bathroom in my new apartment has no window or exhaust fan, so it’s up to me to take preventative action to keep the small space from getting musty.

I take long, hot showers, but don’t want that to be at the cost of my bathroom’s smell; my greatest weapon for this is using my dehumidifier every time I shower. We also keep the door to the bathroom open at all times when it’s not in use.

Lastly, a biweekly deep cleaning session keeps everything in tip -op shape, and doesn’t take too long thanks to the bathroom’s small size.

3 Other Things I Don’t Keep in the Bathroom

Admittedly, I am a pretty low-maintenance person and don’t have too many things to keep in the bathroom in the first place. However, there are a few things my roommate and I don’t leave in the bathroom (or in their usual spots in the bathroom) for hygiene and aesthetic purposes.

• Toothbrushes live in the medicine cabinet to keep countertops clear and from catching bacteria in the air.
• Medicines stay in the bedroom or first aid kit; I love my guests, but I know some of them are nosy. Plus, keeping them close to my bedside helps me remember to take them regularly.
• Makeup is not something I ever use, but my roommate keeps hers in her bedroom for the same reason we keep toothbrushes in the medicine cabinet.

What I Do Keep in the Bathroom

This list is quite small, both to accommodate the bathroom’s size and also to keep it from getting cluttered.

• Shower products like shampoo, body wash, and loofahs obviously stay in the shower at all times.
• Skincare and haircare products are housed in bins on shelves where they are easily accessible, but do not visually clutter the space.
• Teeth care like toothbrushes, floss, and retainers (yes, we use all three) stay in the medicine cabinet.
• Perfumes also stay in the medicine cabinet, but I cycle out seasonal scents according to what’s appropriate.
• Menstrual products and extra toilet paper are easily accessible to anyone using the bathroom by staying in the cabinet under the sink.
• Bathroom-specific cleaning products, like a plunger and toilet wand, also stay easily accessible next to the toilet.
• Small decor pieces like a plant and a homemade ceramic piece help the space feel less sterile and more homey.