If you are short on space, linens and towel storage can be a drag. For those of us who don't have cavernous linen closets, here are clever ways to harness the glut of linens and towels and helpful tricks for storing these bulky items.
Where to store extra linens:
• under the bed
• at the end of the bed in a storage ottoman, trunk or bench
• in closet on hangers next to your clothes
• in a freestanding armoire or cabinet (could be in the hallway or anywhere)
• in suitcases (which are bulky and usually empty anyway)
• between the matress and the box spring.
• Beach towels can be stored separately with your bathing suits and sarongs if your linen closet space is limited.
• Blankets can be folded and spread across the end of the bed. It looks pretty and takes up less storage space.
Organizing your linen closet
• Divide up your shelves with labels according to bed size (twin or queen or whatever) or by room. That way you don't have to pull out and unfold 10 sheets just to find your King size set.
• Keep the linens tidy and compact by stashing them inside their matching pillow case.
Taming the glut of linens
As with any organizing process, it's not all about how and where you store things. It isn't all about the labels and the cool containers and organization systems. The first step has to be carefully assessing what you have and doing a big purge. And while you do this, spend some time thinking about your spending and hoarding habits!
• Embrace duvet covers. You keep a single insert and mix up the covers. Much less bulky than having multiple colored or patterned comforters.
• If you are short on space (or even if you aren't), step back and asses your stash of sheets and towels. Consider limiting yourself to 1 or 2 sets of sheets per bed. Wash and reuse and put right back on.
• If you do have more than one extra set, make sure that after you wash your sheets you slip them at the bottom of the pile.
•Every time you buy a new set of sheets or towels, get rid of an old one. You probably know a college student or housekeeper who would be happy to take some off your hands. No need to hoard. It's like having 4 pairs of black pants but only wearing one pair because it is the most flattering. Time to give the other three away. I never understood why people have so many sets of extra towels and sheets! This is a country where linens come pretty cheap. Those sales won't suddenly stop and render you destitute and towel-less. Resist the urge to stock up on linens next time you see a big sale. The sale will come back again!
• Keep a set of towels in each bathroom. If you still have leftover towels, be honest with yourself: If you haven't used the towels in months or years, it may be time to rethink your buying habits! Buy what you use. Not what you think you need or what you can't resist because of a sale. (This applies even to those who have the money and the space for McMansion size walk-in linen closets. Just because you have the space doesn't mean you have to be a wasteful consumer. Honestly, I think this is the problem with this culture of abundance and excess. No matter how big our space, we buy to cram it full. Living simply is better for you and for the environment!)
(Image: Matt's Eclectic Luxury)
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We are lucky to have a deep shelved closet in our bathroom. I keep only what amount of towels that fit on one shelf and sheets as well. I stay up with laundry for our family of four so really I figure we don't need more than 10 towels even with guests coming. I don't hoard linens I figure keep what you need and have an extra on hand. Throw them out or repurpose when older.
Kinda threw up in my mouth a little thinking of storing things between mattresses - dust mites! gross!
Sheets last longer if they "rest". Strip you beds, remake, and launder. No need to have more than two sets per bed!
I think I have some purging to do. Thanks for the post.
Veterinary offices are usually great places to donate towels and linens!
I know this because I just inherited a TON of unnecessary towels and linens when my parents moved to a smaller house.
And, of course, always know where your towel is.
@violentcello :)
You're right, REPRESSED, and Humane Societies are happy to receive them too.
I want to purge, but I just CAN'T! Even when I know the linens or towels are a hot mess and should be tossed, I just can't seem to get rid of them. What if I need them for something really important? What if a friend unexpectedly gives birth at my apartment or something? I am a horrible failure in this department.
I third the idea about donating old or unneeded towels to an animal shelter or rescue place. They have all kinds of things they can do with them.
My problem is where to put wet towels you intend to use again. I hang them over the shower rod to dry but it's unsightly. One day I'll invest in one of those British heated towel bars. Sigh.
Your veterinarian might also take your old sheets and towels. Mine is glad to get them. They line cages with them, tear them up for rags, etc.
We have three sets of sheets and four towels (for two people, one bed). Since there will always be one set of sheets on the bed, and one or two towels hanging in the bathroom, that leaves two sets of sheets and two or three towels to store at any given time.
Which means that yes, I always know where my towel is ;^)
I like the 3/3 rule......3 sets of sheets and 3 towels per per person.
We're a bit guilty of having a lot of towels, but we use them. We avoid doing laundry all the time, so we make sure to have a lot of towels on hand. And of course, you can't be sure when you'll need even more towels, like when the dishwasher springs a leak :(
Two sets of sheets per bed...stripped, washed & returned to the respective beds straight from the dryer (who likes to fold sheets?) Rotated by season rather than each changing....one set for spring/summer, another for fall/winter. By the time they need replacing, I'm ready for a new look anyway:) Oops, I lie....I do have ONE extra set of white only because my inner creative self demands it. (you know, for those moments when inspiration strikes)
Towels are another animal altogether...I used to keep 2 sets reserved for guests but when the economy took a nosedive those got added into the daily rotation. Now ALL my towels need to go (like yesterday). Adding that to my 'to do' list as we speak...just realized I'd be horrified at unexpected guests...
Errrm, we're storing things between the mattress and the box-spring now? That seems really impractical and also probably a bit disgusting. Hey, why not store sheets and towels between your rugs and the floor? Between the sofa cushions and the sofa?
@Yonella - just hanging them on the towel rack on the wall? I'm not trying to be snarky - my house (and all my friends growing up) were towel reusers, and I can't imagine the number of towels one must have or the amount of laundry one must do if you get a fresh towel EVERY TIME you bathe..
Oh, and we have three sets of everything at my house - gives breathing room for laundry days and plenty extra for guests. (Unless those guests need two towels every time they shower!)
@Minuet24 --
Seconded! I grew up in a house where we each had our own towel bar, and now that I'm out on my own I wonder why the whole world doesn't do it. A damp towel dries a lot faster on a bar than a hook, especially in a little apartment bathroom like the one I have now. In a pinch, I've used over-the-door hooks and simply spread my towel across all the hooks. Haha!
Oops, I meant to say @Minuet 42. My bad!
I don't reuse towels between bathing - if they are still so clean after drying you, why would anyone ever wash it? Plus the same towel I use to dry off I use to wipe down the shower and wipe surfaces in the bathroom on my way out.
I also still have the same sheets sets as I did as a teen until now (I'm 26) and have only added another couple sets. In total we have six or seven in which most only get used for our bed (same linens are used for the guest bed, but since it's a futon it doesn't need linens usually). They all are in good shape.
My aunt had a saying, one set of sheets for the bed, one for the wash and one for emergencies! She was of the school where you only did laundry once a week. Animal shelters and rescue groups love to get your old towels and sheets!
Vets and animal rescues are good places to donate worn towels, but if your linens are in good shape, consider a group that supplies housing goods to people in transition (for example, The Community Warehouse in Portland, OR.) Linens are consistently their most-requested items.
We often have 10+ people staying at our house - that's an awful lot of laundry if people don't reuse towels (especially if you add beach/pool towels).
@Minuet42, I keep clean towels on my towel bar?
@EricaSullivan, wow, how much wall space do you need for multiple towel bars?
I don't throw away all my old towels & sheets. I keep a separate pile of old towels in my linen closet. I use them for a small flood or other emergency. I cut my old sheets into rags & use some for cleaning and others I take to the animal shelter.
Best tip I ever got was to store duvet covers in their matching pillowcase (along with spare pillowcases for double/queen/king sizes). I also put a matching fitted sheet in - I have 3 in total - so that when I go to change the sheets I'm grabbing one thing and it's all matched up. It also looks really tidy wherever they're stored - mine are currently in a cabinet under my microwave, still looking for a better option in my tiny flat so this article was of interest.
This really hits home. I moved from a house with lots of closets & a walk-in for clothes to a flat w/ none! Towels, linens, extra bath mats, bath stuff go in a skinny Billy bookcase in the dead-end hall I've converted to an open closet. What doesn't fit in that, gets donated! Same with the clothes, though I'm still unpacking those.
@Rachel C Brooklyn you are hilarious, I love your comment!!
How can you have only one set of sheet for your bed ? Wash them, dry them and put them back in the evening ? I'm a minimalist, but this is too extreme for me. I have two sets and use both of them at the same time when guests come over, since they fit both our bed and the guest bed. I figure that since I wash them, they are clean enough for guests. Plus, I have no dryer, so I need some time before a set is clean and ready to use.
As for towels, I use a great heater with built-in towels bars. Space efficient, and I love that soft heat you feel when you use your towels.
Wait, not everyone reuses towels??!!? Why on earth wouldn't you? You use them after you're clean, so they're going to stay clean for quite a while. Growing up we each had our own towel rack (6 people, one bathroom - it's possible if you use double towel racks and the back of the door) and our towels were washed once a week.
I do own two sets of sheets for my bed, but one's the standard woven cotton sheets and one's flannel. I do own about 5 pillow cases though.
Once I get into a real house were I could potentially have visitors, I'd probably have two sets of sheets for each bed (flannel and not) along with an extra for each size of bed.
I also currently own four towels. One's for everyday use, one's for beach use, one's smaller and I often use it for putting over my pillow if I go to bed with wet hair, and one's a junk towel.
And since I go to the laundromat to do laundry once a week, I strip everything at once and put it all back on the same day.
But seriously, you should reuse towels! Just think about how much water you're saving.
amen to that. this was inspiring. i've been on a spring cleaning kick and linens are definitely a problem in our house. i will purge them tonight.
I just brought two garbage {it's just me here with no storage!} bags of big, decent towels to the Humane Society...Some dog is loving my striped beach towel! It feels good to get rid of in a useful, thoughtful way. We all need to consume less and think more. Excellent article.
@Yonella --
Well, the place I'm in now is just me, so I don't need much wall-space for one towel bar. :) The bathroom in the house I grew up in was quite roomy, so there was space for our four towel bars.
I would KILL for a heated towel rack. Some day!
Why didn't I think of storing my extra stuff in the suitcases! Thank you, thank you for that suggestion.
As for heated towel racks, if you can, get one or even two. I bought mine about six months ago and haven't regretted it. It's kept in the bedroom and provides extra heat in the winter, dries the towels to perfection and I use it to dry my hand-washed bras on. I hate soggy towels.