18 Genius Ideas For How to Hang Wet Towels in a Small Bathroom
This post is all about how to hang wet towels in a small bathroom and towel display ideas.
What is that smell? You walk into your bathroom and there is a lingering smell of something but you just can’t place what it is. Your first thought is to deep clean your toilet but the odd smell remains. Your nose follows the mildewy wafts and 3 inches from your bath towel you’re hit with a stench that only days old sitting warm water and body odor can create.
The musty, sometimes crunchy, bath towel.
If you are thoroughly grossed out, I’m sorry but I’m glad you’re still here.
Throughout this post, you will learn all the best tips for the proper way to hang a wet towel, creative ideas to display your bath towels that fit your bathroom aesthetic, and the best way to clean your bathroom towels to ensure that hyper-specific moldy wet towel smell never graces your bathroom again.
If you have a small bathroom and need space-saving solutions and functional tips for your bathroom towels, you made it to the right place!
What to do with a wet towel after a shower
Before we get into the creative space-saving towel displays let’s dive into the basics; what to do with a wet towel after a shower (hand towels too!).
1. Turn on the bathroom fan. Circulate air to minimize mold growth in your bathroom
Before you hop into the shower, ensure your bathroom fan is on.
This will help to tackle the moisture from the steam of your shower. Keeping the air moving helps a lot with not having a stuffy bathroom. This is especially true for smaller bathrooms.
2. Open bathroom windows & door
Once you’re done with your shower, open up the windows and door to your bathroom so that even more air circulation and sunlight can come in.
Again, this helps with regulating moisture and minimizing mold.
3. Use a stainless steel towel bar rather than towel hooks or towel rings
Although towel hooks look luxurious, they are not as effective for drying out your towels as a towel rail is.
The goal is to spread out your towel as much as possible so that air can get to all the crevices and dry it out.
Fancy hooks work in hotels because the towels are washed every day.
4. Bring your towels outside in the sun
Ok so this isn’t the most practical tip depending on where you live and how the weather is but the absolute best way to hang wet bath towels is outside on a foldable drying rack or laundry line in fresh air and direct sunlight.
It will get your towel completely dry and keep them smelling fresh.
This drying rack is super sturdy and can hold a bunch of towels! I’ve had mine for a few years now and it hasn’t failed me.
5. Hang your towel over the shower curtain bar
If you are really trying to maximize space in your small bathroom you can always hang your wet towel over the shower curtain rod or shower door.
That way you don’t even need a specific towel display set up. This isn’t the most aesthetically pleasing option but it gets the job done in a pinch.
6. Use a towel warmer/towel rack to speed up drying time
This is optional but if you have the extra cash then it is a great option.
Towel warmers can be mounted on the wall to help dry out damp towels and hand towels. This speeds up the drying time and cuts down on bacteria growth.
A quick run in the dryer is also an option but shouldn’t be used all the time since it is a waste of energy.
7. Opt for thinner towels like Turkish towels
If you love a big fluffy soft bath towel, I don’t blame you! The only downside to these is that they can take forever to dry.
If you are worried about wet towels you can always switch to Turkish towels which are thinner thus, they dry more quickly.
8. Once your towels are dry, throw them in your hamper to be washed
When your towels are completely dry they can then be thrown in your laundry basket to be washed.
{Recommended post: 8 Non Toxic Ideas To Make Your Bathroom Feel Like A Peaceful Eco-Friendly Spa At Home}
Towel Storage Display Ideas For Smaller Bathrooms
Once your towels are freshly cleaned and dried, consider adding in one of these towel organization systems!
Having your towels organized and folded neatly just gives your bathroom that clean and calming vibe.
1. Decorative towel baskets or clear containers
There are so many basket options to choose from. I find wicker baskets to work best if you want them out in the open and clear containers are perfect to hide away in cabinets.
Rolling your towels or hand towels is the best way to make the most of your containers’ space. Smaller towels can be rolled up and put in mini baskets on your countertop for easy access.
2. Floating shelves
If you love a minimalistic style or want to show off the fun patterns of your towels you will love a simple floating shelf.
Open shelves are perfect as they use vertical space which saves space in a small bathroom. The only downside to these is making sure your towels are perfectly folded and don’t end up just stuffed on the shelf.
3. Tucked away in a cabinet or under the bathroom sink
If you are lucky enough to have a cabinet or sink space then just use that!
It isn’t as convenient as having your towels out on display but it will keep your bathroom looking organized. It also helps to have your fresh towels not exposed to any lingering moisture.
4. Above toilet organizer
Again, with the vertical storage options. Maximize space in your small bathroom with an above-the-toilet organizer.
This is perfect for smaller families since the shelves only hold so much. This option also offers easy access so you don’t have to run to the laundry room or linen closet every time you need a fresh towel.
5. Ladder rack for towels
For something more unique, consider adding in a ladder to fold your towels over.
These are great if you want the theme of your bathroom to have a more rustic or farmhouse feel.
You can get creative and even make a budget-friendly diy of this towel rack as well!
6. Linen closet or bedroom for towel storage
It is definitely more convenient to have your bath towels and hand towels in the bathroom but if you are really working with a tiny bathroom, don’t feel like you have to stuff everything in there.
Go ahead and find some organizers to store your towels in a separate room.
Although door hooks aren’t great for wet towels, the back of the bedroom door is a great space saving option for dry towels!
If you want to have extra towels for when guests come over you can store your towels in vacuum sealed bags in the guest bedroom. ONLY do this with towels that are completely cleaned and completely dry. They can be stored under the guest bed so that when guests arrive they have a fresh set of towels unused by your family.
7. Extra bar in front of shower curtain
For the ultimate space-saving solution you can place an extra curtain rod in front of your shower curtain for your towel to hang on post shower.
This option is perfect if you have very limited wall space.
Just be sure there is enough space between the extra curtain rod and your shower curtain for airflow.
8. Wall-mounted towel racks
Lastly, combine all the space-saving techniques for towels by using the rolling method and vertical display.
These keep your towels nice and tucked away and just look so chic.
If you have the room, freestanding towel racks are great compact options and can offer extra towel storage.
Bathroom towel display tips
Some towel displays are a necessity for wet towels while you can add in a more aesthetic flair when displaying dry towels.
It is important to consider this difference to ensure your towels are kept in tip-top shape.
Here are some extra tips for organizing towels in your bathroom:
- Invest in high-quality towels with designs you enjoy that can be incorporated into your bathroom decor.
- Keep some towels in your bathroom and the rest in a linen closet or your bedroom. This will keep them protected from moisture. You can rotate them when doing laundry to give equal wear and tear to your towels.
- Avoid free-standing towel racks since they take up floor space
- Be mindful of the material of the towel rack. Avoid towel displays made from wood, leather, or rope for wet towels. You will end up with a moldy towel display. Using these materials for dry towel storage is completely fine! Get creative with upcycling materials for unique bathroom storage displays.
How to brighten towels and how to get the musty smell out of towels
Skip the bleach and try a more natural solution for getting your stinky towels smelling fresh.
Aside from the occasional towel deep clean options we share below, make sure to only use your bath towel about 3 times. Towels you use on your face (like washcloths) should only be used once. The range of days can depend on the person. Some people only use towels once but never go over a week using the same towel. Of course, make sure your towels have time to dry between uses. This helps to cut down on bacteria growth. You don’t want that on your skin!
Here are some simple steps for how to make your towels smell better without bleach:
Non toxic laundry process for musty towels:
- Gather your white towels and hand towels
- Use your laundry detergent of choice. I love these laundry pods from Dropps.
- Then add in half a cup of baking soda or half a cup of vinegar. If you want even more scent you can add in your favorite essential oil.
- Use hot water and enjoy your freshened-up towels!
{Recommended post: 5 Incredible Zero Waste Laundry Detergents You Need To Try}
How to strip your towels to remove smell:
- Use a half cup of vinegar or baking soda
- Allow your towels to sit in a tub of water (fully covering the towels) for a few hours or over night. Warning. The bath water is going to look disgusting and might have an unpleasant odor!
- Drain the water
- Let your towels dry in the sun and then throw them in the washer with your favorite laundry detergent.
- Instead of dryer sheets, pop in some of these dryer balls for extra cozy towels!
Our favorite fast-drying towel recommendations
The most eco-friendly option is to use the towels you already own! Try to use the tips above to freshen them up and maintain them.
But if you are in need of some new towels, these fast-drying towels are what we recommend!
- Turkish towel: Nice and light and comes in so many beautiful colors. They are also made from organic cotton.
- Organic towels that are similar to more traditional towels but a bit thinner for faster drying.
How to responsibly dispose of towels
Once this waste breaks down it turns into microplastics that can spread into natural environments.
So what do we do with towels we no longer need?
One great option is to bring them to dog shelters. Many animal shelters are always looking for donations of towels to clean dogs and offer comfort for them as they wait for their forever home.
If you are trying to declutter and realize you just have too many towels you can donate them to Goodwill. As long as they are gently used, they will accept them. You can also do some research for your local area to see if there are charities that will accept your linens as well.
Lastly, for really stained towels you can simply cut them into smaller squares to use as cleaning rags.
There are so many ways you can ensure your minimalism and organization journey doesn’t further harm the planet!
Do you have any other creative towel storage ideas or tips for hanging wet towels? Let us know in the comments below!
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Stay well,
Maggie
This post was all about the best hanging plants and flowers for your sunny front porch.
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