When it’s laundry day, the temptation to toss every single towel into one mega-load is incredibly real. But can you actually wash your bath towels and kitchen towels together? More importantly: should you?

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We took this burning question straight to South Jersey, and the responses did not disappoint. While some of you are team “throw it all in on hot and pray,” others were absolutely horrified at the mere suggestion.

The Great South Jersey Laundry Debate

For many locals, combining loads is the ultimate time-saver. If you’ve got a hectic schedule, dividing towels feels like an unnecessary chore. But according to experts, mixing your linens is a major hygiene risk.

Think about it: your kitchen towels are on the front lines battling food grease, raw chicken juices, and E. coli. Meanwhile, your bath towels are absorbing body oils and bathroom moisture that come with the consequences of cleaning yourself. When you wash them together, you run a serious risk of cross-contamination. Suddenly, those nasty kitchen germs are transferring onto the towel you use to dry your face. Gross, right?

How to Properly Wash Your Linens

If you want to keep things sanitary, separate your loads. Wash kitchen towels on the hottest setting with an enzyme-based detergent to break down grease. For your bath towels, keep them on a warm cycle to preserve the fabric while still killing bacteria.

If you absolutely must mix them in a pinch, use the highest heat setting and add a splash of white vinegar or a laundry sanitizer to clear out those stubborn odors and microbes.

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