Simple Tasks - Bathroom Week - Towels

How many towels do you have? 5? 10? 20? 50+? Towels are one of those items that seem completely necessary, so why would we ever purge them? But a better question might be why do we need more than we can use in a week?

The general consensus among professional housekeepers and organizers is that a household should have 2 towels and 2 washcloths per resident plus 2 towels and 2 washcloths for each guestroom. So if there are 3 people living in your house, and you have 1 guestroom, you would have 8 towels and 8 washcloths.

For some people, especially those who reuse their towels, this is perfectly acceptable. They wash the towels once or twice a week without being overwhelmed, and that's that. Personally, my family needs at least 3-4 wash cloths per person, and my part-time farmer husband needs 4 towels for himself. The key to determining how many towels and washcloths you truly need comes down to two things:

1) How many do you use each day?
2) How often do you wash them?

Based on my twice a week wash schedule, I need approximately 12 towels and 24 washcloths for my family of 4 to be comfortable but not overwhelmed. Realistically, few people need 50 towels. When we have a surplus of something, we tend to use it until we run out. Do you really want to wash 50, or even 20, towels at a time? Probably not.

After you determine how many you need, how do you decide which ones to keep? Here are some things to keep in mind:

*Which size towels work the best for you?
*Do you need all of your towels to be identical to simplify the laundry routine?
*Do any towels have any unsightly stains or unraveling?
*Do your towels fit in your designated storage space?
*Do your towels actually absorb water when you dry off?
*Do you actually like the towels you have?

If you declutter threadbare towels that don't absorb water, toss those in your rag bag for textile recycling. You don't want to frustrate others with something that doesn't work! If your towels are usable but just unsightly, donate them to the local animal rescue. They go through a lot of towels with injured animals! And finally, if your towels look good and work well, donate them to your local homeless or women's shelter. Remember, always donate with dignity!