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Good Questions: What Should I Use to Hold My Towels?

10.26bathroom.jpgHello AT,

I have a tiny bathroom with an appropriately tiny sink. I have adapted to the small space and found it holds everything I need and little extra. However, I have yet to find a place to keep my spare towels.

As you can see in the pictures, there isn't any cabinet space to spare. I don't have a spare linen closet either. I was thinking of using a hotel style towel shelf replacing the existing towel rack currently above the toilet. Strangely though, I can't seem to find a supplier...

 
 
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10.26bathroom2.jpg

The other option I've been considering is the wall mounted galvanized storage cubes from container store, but I fear they me be too intrusive with their sharp lines and unapologetic steel.

10.26bathroom1.jpg

I do have the nook where the trash is stored, but given it's location, I am not convinced it would be an ideal storage location. The other possibility is to install multiple racks on the back of the door. Any help?

Thanks! Greg

Good Links:

Lugarno & Culloden Towel Racks
TowelRacks.com
The Container Store

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Comments (31)

ikea grundthal shelves in their kitchen section also make good towel racks. they come in varying lengths I Could see 2 looking good above your existing rack.

posted by Clairepetrol on 2007-10-26 13:46:05
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I second the Ikea shelf idea... I have the Container Store cubes for floor storage and they are handy but they are big and would look bulky on your wall I think

posted by sf on 2007-10-26 13:50:01
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what about those over the door hooks? They have pretty stylish options. It's a cheap solution if you don't have the wallspace to drill holes.

posted by Lizz on 2007-10-26 13:50:35
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Target! "Polder Shelf/Towel Rack" for $24.99...

posted by kitties! on 2007-10-26 13:53:13
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I read somewhere that the sprays from a toilet flush can reach up to 6ft high due to the pressure flush/water conservation systems. Skeevy huh?

posted by coco on 2007-10-26 14:09:08
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I have a simple shelf from Home Depot mounted on decorative brackets above my door inside the bathroom. It holds my spare towels and a basket containing extra toiletries, toilet paper, etc. It's hardly noticeable, and regardless the basket keeps things neat.

posted by sue on 2007-10-26 14:09:19
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You could try to find a modern-looking etagere for over the toilet. I don't have a link (sorry!) but I know that they do exist!

posted by NLtoNUtoNC on 2007-10-26 14:14:41
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My bathroom has exactly the same layout. I don't know if you particularly want to have shelves on the wall but what I did was, I got a basket that fits above the toilet and placed the towels in it. I am very happy with it.
Kinda this idea:
http://www1.istockphoto.com/file_thumbview_approve/471301/2/istockphoto_471301_towels_in_a_basket.jpg

posted by gocce on 2007-10-26 14:15:09
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coco, the solution to that is simply to close the lid before flushing.

posted by cmcinnyc on 2007-10-26 14:19:39
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I say reclaim all of that wasted space that the trash can is using. That is such a prime spot for storage. Consider an under sink mounted trashcan.

posted by jamilkb on 2007-10-26 14:25:10
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The spray from flushing has been documented at radii up to 45 meters in all directions. Wall do not stop, but merely channel, the stream under doors and around corners. In small apartments it is common to find the particulate on dinnerware, table and kitchen counter surfaces. Flushing is like swabbing your home in toilet water.

posted by Rick on 2007-10-26 14:25:58
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just clear off the stuff on the counter and stacked fresh, rolled towels right there. simple.

posted by goodnightdean on 2007-10-26 14:27:08
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I'm always suprised to find that people don't close the lid before they flush.

posted by alexis on 2007-10-26 14:56:34
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rick-- do you not flush?

posted by 212gretchen on 2007-10-26 15:07:58
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lol @ 212gretchen... especially if you weren't being facetious. :-D

And alexis: I don't know anyone who does. (not that I follow my friends into the bathroom...)

posted by shani-o on 2007-10-26 15:28:46
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I find the feel of clean towels just above a stinky toilet not so appealing at all. If you really must put them there, be it in a closed cabinet. You know, it is advised to close the pot, not for nothing.
Good luck with your bathroom.

posted by Pommette on 2007-10-26 15:47:12
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Clean towels on top of a toilet? That does not sound appealing to me. If you really have to, then I'd say find a closed cabinet. Feels a little yucky, poo under the towels.

posted by Pommette on 2007-10-26 15:49:47
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My towels are mounted on an open rack over the toilet. They have not yet turned brown.

I prefered open shelving to maximise air circulation and minimise mold.

posted by Clairepetrol on 2007-10-26 16:10:09
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Can you keep them in cabinet under your sink? It's hard to tell from the photo, but it looks like there could be room there. If it's a bit dirty, or you're worried about water dripping from the pipes, you can use either plastic bins, or plastic under bed storage bags to keep them dry.

either way I feel your pain! My bathroom is so small there's only room for a handtowel. We have to carry our bath towels back & forth from the bedroom (although I suppose that does keep them safe from toilet spray!)

posted by overmama on 2007-10-26 16:13:56
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Sometimes it's more important to just NOT think about the spraying streams of "particulate", close the lid, put the towels on a high shelf, and get on with life.

I mean, just imagine the TOOTHbrushes!

posted by 212gretchen on 2007-10-26 16:19:12
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Just google hotel towel rack and you'll find numerous suppliers. We bought an 18" variety, which took some doing to find, but we had a narrow space. Can't remember where we got it [sorry], but we like it a lot. Here's a link to a 24" model. Keep in mind, the overall width is slightly wider than 24", which is the width of the shelf itself.

Good luck!

posted by Terry B on 2007-10-26 17:59:18
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Okay, here's an 18" version of the hotel towel rack available on Amazon.

Note that the wall mount actually makes it 19-1/2" wide.

posted by Terry B on 2007-10-26 18:09:08
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Try an etagere (apparently what they call those cabinet/shelf things that stand above your toilet)-- http://tinyurl.com/38zvmn

posted by meganificent on 2007-10-26 18:45:29
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Just google "hotel shelf" or "train rack" and you will get several options. Try this:

http://www.bizrate.com/bathaccessories/bath-furniture--bath-shelf/bath-hardware--towel-bar/products__att288357--288369-__att288358--288381-__start--30.html

There is a company called Ginger that sells to the trade but also to retail stores. You can do the search by supplier for your area and then call the store to see if they have the product you want. If not, they can probably order it for you.

http://www.gingerco.com/catalog.asp?type=cat&cat=198

Pottery Barn also carries some.
http://www.potterybarn.com/shop--bth--bthfix--bthfixgls--index.shtml

posted by Laura on 2007-10-26 20:01:24
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what about heated open towel rack on the door wall, high above. I bought a heated towel rack and have it outside the bathroom... love it.
Or, build/buy an enclosed horizontal box over the door.

posted by cecicela on 2007-10-26 22:30:26
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Thanks for all the input everyone. Train Rack was the crucial term I was missing in my searches. I think the Sutton Train Rack from restoration hardware is going to look perfectly!

posted by greg cerveny on 2007-10-27 00:14:44
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"the solution to that is simply to close the lid before flushing."

Unless your toilet has a gasket that offers a tight seal, closing the lid will not eliminate fecal water spray. Clean towels stacked out in the open are no longer "clean" after a flush. I have a small closet in a hall close to the bathroom where I keep my clean towels, but if I had to keep extra towels in the bathroom, I would use a wall-mounted cabinet that closed tightly.

I am no germ-phobe, but experiments I did in college definitely impacted how I store items in the bathroom.

posted by consumerq on 2007-10-27 00:22:53
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Experiments in college and not a germ-phobe? Thou dost protest too much. Methinks americans "germ" crazy.

posted by PPan on 2007-10-27 10:38:19
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Rick, you are awesome. Thank you!

posted by olya on 2007-10-27 13:59:20
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Have you thought about mounting a small shelf above the door for towels?

posted by Sisero on 2007-10-28 12:25:53
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