Some towels can be washed with clothes, but mixing every item in one load is not always a good idea. Lint, weight, color, and wash requirements matter: a new or heavy towel can shed fibers onto dark or delicate clothing and can make a load harder to balance.
Separate new or lint-shedding towels
New towels often shed more fibers during their first washes. If clothing attracts lint, such as some dark or synthetic fabrics, keep it separate until the towel sheds less.
Match colors and compatible wash temperatures
Do not mix a new dark towel with light clothing if dye transfer is still possible. Check care labels too: a delicate shirt that needs a gentle cycle is a poor match for heavy towels that need more movement.
Avoid loads that are too heavy or tightly packed
Towels hold a lot of water and become heavy when wet. Leave enough room for the drum to move the load; a packed mix can rinse poorly, spin unevenly, and leave clothes tangled.
Do not add fabric softener automatically
Repeated use of some fabric softeners can reduce towel absorbency. When towels and clothes share a load, choose products based on care labels and the result you need rather than automatically treating every mixed load the same.
Sources
- American Cleaning Institute — Laundry Basics — Laundry practices covering sorting, loading, detergent dosing, and care-label guidance.