Can You Wash Underwear With Towels?

Yes, you can wash underwear with towels in some situations, but it is usually not the best routine for fabric care, hygiene control, or wash performance. Towels are heavier, rougher, and more absorbent than underwear, so they can create extra friction, hold onto moisture longer, and change how the load moves inside the drum. In most homes, it is better to wash underwear with lighter everyday clothing or in a smaller separate load rather than mixing it with thick bath towels.

If you are trying to decide whether this is safe at all, the short answer is that it can be done, but it is not the most underwear-friendly option. If you want the broader rule first, see is it safe to wash underwear with other clothes, because towels are one of those cases where “possible” and “ideal” are not always the same thing.

When washing underwear with towels is usually fine

Washing underwear with towels is usually fine when the underwear is durable, the towels are clean enough for a normal wash, and the cycle is not too aggressive. Cotton briefs, everyday underwear, and sturdier pieces generally cope better than lace, silk, or delicate elastic-rich fabrics.

It is more likely to work well when:

• the load is small to medium rather than packed tight
• the towels are not heavily soiled
• you use a moderate cycle instead of a harsh one
• the underwear is placed in a mesh bag for protection
• the water temperature suits both fabric types

If your goal is simply to wash everything together for convenience, it helps to remember that towels behave very differently from underwear in the machine. One is built to absorb large amounts of water and handle rough use, while the other often relies on softer fibres, stretch, and shape retention. That mismatch is the real issue.

Why towels are not the best match for underwear

Towels may look soft when folded in a cupboard, but in the washing machine they act like heavy, bulky items. They pull in water, become dense, and rub against lighter garments during the cycle. Underwear, especially pieces with elastic waistbands, delicate stitching, or softer fabric blends, can wear down faster in that kind of environment.

The main problems are:

• Extra friction: towels can rub against underwear and stress the fabric surface
• Elastic strain: heavier items can tug at waistbands and leg openings during the wash and spin
• Uneven drying conditions in the load: towels stay wetter for longer, which changes how the machine handles the full load
• Lint transfer: some towels shed lint that can cling to underwear

If you are already noticing fabric wear, stretching, or misshapen waistbands, it is worth reading does machine washing ruin underwear elastic and spin cycle effects on underwear elastic, because towel-heavy loads can make those problems worse.

Is it hygienic to wash underwear with towels?

From a basic laundry point of view, washing underwear with towels is not automatically unhygienic. Both items can come out clean if the detergent, temperature, cycle, and drying process are all appropriate. The bigger concern is not that towels magically contaminate underwear, but that the load conditions may not be ideal for either item.

For example, towels often do well on hotter or stronger cycles, while some underwear does better with gentler treatment. If you lower the wash intensity too much to protect underwear, the towels may not be cleaned as effectively as you want. If you raise the intensity too much for the towels, the underwear may wear out faster.

For the hygiene side of this topic, these pages are useful: does machine washing underwear kill bacteria, is hot water necessary for underwear hygiene, and can washing machines spread germs to underwear.

When you should avoid washing underwear with towels

There are situations where mixing them is more trouble than it is worth. If any of these apply, it is better to separate the load:

• the underwear is lace, silk, wool, or another delicate material
• the towels are heavily soiled, damp, or smell musty
• you plan to use a hot or strong cycle mainly for the towels
• the machine is already close to full
• the underwear has fit-sensitive elastic you want to preserve

For fabric-specific care, these guides are more relevant than a mixed-load approach: how to wash cotton underwear in a washing machine, can you machine wash lace underwear, washing silk underwear safely in a machine, and how to wash synthetic underwear.

What happens if you wash underwear with bath towels all the time?

If you do it occasionally, the damage may be minimal. If you do it all the time, especially on strong cycles, the effects tend to show gradually. Underwear may lose shape earlier, waistbands may feel less supportive, and the fabric may start to look tired faster than expected.

This does not mean one mixed load ruins everything. It means the repeated combination of heavy towel movement, moisture retention, and spin stress can shorten the life of underwear compared with gentler washing habits. If longevity matters to you, also read how long does properly washed underwear last.

How to wash underwear with towels more safely

Sometimes you may still want or need to wash them together. In that case, you can reduce the downsides by adjusting how you load the machine.

• Use a mesh laundry bag for the underwear
• Keep the load moderate rather than overfilled
• Avoid very rough or high-spin cycles if the underwear is delicate
• Choose a temperature that will not damage the underwear
• Do not include heavily dirty towels in the same load
• Dry the underwear in a way that protects elasticity afterwards

If you do not already use one, a mesh bag can make mixed loads much safer for delicate pieces. See should you use laundry bags for underwear for when that extra step is worth it.

It also helps to avoid common load mistakes. Towels make loads heavier very quickly, and that can affect drum movement and rinse quality. If you want to avoid that problem, read can overloading a washer damage underwear and common washing machine mistakes that damage underwear.

Best settings if you mix underwear and towels

There is no perfect universal setting, because it depends on the underwear fabric and how thick the towels are. In general, the safest compromise is a moderate cycle with enough cleaning power for the load but not so much force that delicate underwear gets battered around.

A few practical rules help:

• avoid the harshest cycles unless both the towels and underwear can truly handle them
• be cautious with very high spin speeds if the underwear contains delicate elastic
• choose detergent carefully so the load rinses cleanly
• separate delicate underwear even if sturdier cotton pairs go in

For a fuller guide, see best washing machine settings for underwear and washing machine settings.

What is usually better than washing underwear with towels?

In most households, a better option is to wash underwear with lighter clothes of a similar weight and care level. That keeps the wash action more balanced and reduces fabric stress. Another good option is to run a small underwear-focused load using a sensible cycle, especially if you care about hygiene, fabric lifespan, or fit.

If you are deciding between machine and non-machine approaches generally, see can you wash underwear in a washing machine, washing underwear in a washing machine, and hand washing vs machine washing underwear.

Should you wash underwear with towels if odour is a concern?

If odour is already a problem, mixing underwear with towels is usually not the best place to start. It is better to look first at detergent choice, machine cleanliness, temperature, drying, and whether moisture is lingering in the fabric after washing.

These pages are more useful if smell is part of the issue: how to prevent odor buildup in underwear, can a dirty washing machine make underwear smell, and how to clean a washing machine that washes underwear.

Final answer

You can wash underwear with towels, but it is usually not the best regular habit. Towels are heavier, rougher, and more demanding in the wash, so they can increase friction, stress elastic, and create a less balanced load. For sturdy underwear in a moderate load, it can be acceptable now and then. For delicate underwear, better fabric care, or a more controlled wash, it is usually smarter to keep towels separate.

FAQ

Can you wash underwear with towels on hot?

Sometimes, but only if the underwear fabric can safely handle that temperature. Many towels tolerate hotter washes better than underwear, so this is one of the main reasons the two are not always the best match.

Will towels damage underwear in the washing machine?

They can contribute to faster wear, especially through friction and heavier load movement. The risk is higher for lace, silk, stretchy fabrics, and underwear with delicate elastic.

Is it better to wash underwear with clothes instead of towels?

Usually yes. Lighter everyday clothes are often a better match because they create less rough movement than bulky towels.

Should underwear go in a mesh bag if washed with towels?

Yes, that is often a smart precaution. A mesh bag can reduce rubbing, snagging, and direct contact with heavier items.