This is the worst place to hang a wet towel in your bathroom

If you are someone who believes in throwing a damp towel over your bathroom’s shower rod after bathing, you are in for an (un) pleasant surprise! You may unknowingly be setting yourself up for a moldy and unhygienic towel reuse. Yes, you read that right. You never know how much bacteria your shower curtain rod must be hiding, making it among the worst places to leave your towel. It is no secret that bathrooms have a humid environment and in that confined room moisture stays in the air for the longest, especially after a hot shower. The ends of a towel rod over the shower rod might dry quickly, but the middle part which is closest to the rod often remains damp. This uneven drying gives the central portion of the towel the perfect conditions to harbor bacteria. So never think your towel is dry enough as it might be carrying microbial growth. Sounds tacky and ewww, right? The hidden health risks

If you thought that just the smell is bad, think how much harmful bacteria these damp towels might be hiding. Unless the towel is completely dry, it remains moist for hours (or sometimes days) becoming a breeding ground for bacteria and fungi. Many experts warn that using damp towels might aggravate skin conditions and cause irritation.In humid bathrooms or poorly ventilated spaces, it is a major issue. The trapped moisture not only degrades the quality of the fabric, but also reduces the hygiene benefit. What’s meant to clean and dry might just be infecting you or transferring unwanted germs.The best place to dry towelSo where should you dry towels? Here are some better options:

Use a towel bar or rack: It is suggested to use a horizontal towel bar as it allows towels to hang fully spread. This ensures air circulation around the whole towel.Use hooks: Another alternative is using hooks, but only if towels aren’t bunched up as folds can trap moisture.Hang towels outside in the sunlight: Hanging towels outdoors in sunlight is the best option. So, make sure your bathroom ventilation is good if drying indoors. Always keep the exhaust fan running, at least for half an hour after showering (or after hanging towels). It reduces humidity. How often should towels be washed

Even if you hang them properly, towels shouldn’t be reused indefinitely. As other hygiene-focused sources recommend, towels ideally should be washed after every 3–4 uses.For households in humid or tropical regions (similar to many Indian cities), it may be wise to wash or change towels more frequently. It allows them to dry completely between uses. These small habits can bring significant changes. So next time you step out of the shower, make sure your towel is dried properly before rubbing it on your skin.