What can I do about numerous wet washcloths?

Question

We are a family of 4 with two teenage girls. There seems to be quite a lot of wet towels and washcloths. I hate when wet textiles are added to the dirty clothes hamper. It can create mildew and foul smells. I have the family hang things up to dry after using them. The issue is, there are MULTIPLE wash clothes hung around the bathtub/shower daily. (This includes any clothes the girls got wet.) We have a small bathroom. We do have hooks to hang towels on and an over the door towel rack (where I hang those items that need to be hung to dry and my bathrobe.) What do you do with all your wet items? Anyone have a solution?

The Garden Frog with C Renee · Answer

Okay had the same issue when we had 4 kids at home. Instead of washcloths get them plastic scrunchy things for bathing. Then hang extra metal decorative shower hooks that are open on the back of the shower curtain for hanging the scrunchy. For the girls to wash their faces put up decorative hooks on the side of the vanity or wall. Hope you find a solution.

Samof5 · Answer

We always reuse our towels so they get hung up on hooks. My husband and I each have dedicated hooks and towel bars. For the kids bathroom we have lots of hooks but instead of a dedicated hook per child we use clothes pins with their names on them. When they hang up their towel they attach the clothes pin with their name on it to the towel. When they require a fresh towel they remove the old one the next day when they are ready to hang the fresh towel. This usually eliminates the wet towels in the hamper.

Linda · Answer

Add a second shower rod, inside the tub/shower area to hang the 'wet overflow.' It serves the same purpose as a towel rod, but out of sight.

Andria · Answer

I may have to try this. I am worried about rust, though. I know our current shower rod is beginning to rust. I have also noticed that they don't always remove things hanging from the rod before taking a shower. This causes a cloth that is drying, to become wet again, which increases the problem.

Marilyn Highley · Answer

Is there someplace you can put a small fan? Even if you have to install a shelf up high? I keep a small fan running almost constantly in my bathroom. It really helps with air circulation, to dry wet clothes/towels, and to keep mold/mildew out of the area. Even if you have an exhaust fan, it would still help.

Cynthia · Answer

I got another trash can that was just for used washcloths they can hang them over the edges to dry off and then they get put inside the trash can till laundry time.

Sandy · Answer

I have a towel bar at the back end of the shower over the tub. Wet washcloths all hang over each other there. Usually by the next morning they are dry, and then I put them in the laundry basket. Hope this helps. Mom of four kids.

Mary Insana · Answer

Get 2 large 3m stick up hooks and hang a plastic rod on the hooks. You can get a broom or mop from the dollar store that has a plastic handle and just cut the broom end off to the size you need. Hang this at the far side of the tub/shower farthest from the water and up about the height of a shower curtain. No parts to get rusty and a place to hang the wet items.

PAM PERRY · Answer

I keep a smaller laundry basket in the shower/tub for ONLY damp wet things. It's full in 1-2 days & then automatically goes into the washer~

LeeAnn Gerleman · Answer

Its been a couple of years, I would suppose you have figured out this problem. haha. I am a jeans, Tshirts, etc. person, and I don't have nice whites to wash, or fancy work clothes, so all of my washing is 'when the washer is full, I turn it on.' I wash up before I go swimming, don't shower until I get back. I wash the dog's faces with a dark washcloth in the am, etc. so I just toss them in the washer in the morning. I usually wash clothes twice a week, and I've never noticed any mildew on them or mildew smell when they are clean. but since I don't sort colors, it doesn't matter if they are all in there together.

Tracy Adkins Thibodeau · Answer

Same problem all girls. The wet washcloths are making me nuts. Finally color coded by girl so I could see who is using multiple each day. I am going to buy a rectangular serving plate for them so they are neat and in one place.

Kate · Answer

Get a wetbag, like those used by cloth diaperers or for swimming gear. Wet washcloths go in there, and then straight into the next wash load. You do have to keep on top of washing them within a day (two very occasionally), but you can hang it up.

Redcatcec · Answer

I would suggest a diaper bucket, put the wash cloths in and wash when ready.

Mogie · Answer

Hang your wet washcloths using hooks on the bathroom wall. One downside of this is water dripping on the ground. So you might want to also think about using a bathmat to catch water.

A till-out drying rack is a great solution for multiple washcloths.

A ladder also makes a great drying tool. You could even suspend a small wooden ladder above the bathtub for your drip-dry items.

Toilet paper dispensers. Who would have thought? One downside of hanging on the hook is lack of airflow (which could lead to mold). Bars intended for toilet paper can make a straight washcloth bar at the vanity!

Add a shower caddy that has plenty of hooks even dripping wet wash clothes will drip into the tub or shower and not the floor!

Deb K · Answer

Hi Andrea, I have hooks hanging t=on the inside of the bathroom door for just this purpose, this allows the towels to be used once more before laundering as well 😊

What can I do about numerous wet washcloths?

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What can I do about numerous wet washcloths?

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