the rule of twos applies to towels as well: two bath towels, two hand towels and two washcloths per family member. (have some extras for guests, but not too many.)”
The Ideal Number of Towels per Person
Keep three sets of towels for each individual who lives in your household—one in the wash, one in the closet, and one in use. This ensures there is always a towel in reserve for when you might need it.
A traditional linen closet for two people will have six bath towels, four hand towels and four washcloths, Dillinger says. This provides a sufficient number to have in a rotation – so you're not buying replacement towels too often – and keeps some handy for guests.
If you get a bit nervous about the number you've decided on though, because, for example, you want to be assured you've got enough blankets for very cold nights, or when the heat goes out, consider how many people there are in your home typically, and make sure there are about two blankets per person for that ...
“A good rule of thumb is two full sets of towels per person in your household,” Elks adds.
The Rules of Thumb to Follow
Some experts advise maintaining an even larger collection. "We suggest four bath towels (two in use, two in the wash) supplemented with two hand towels, and two washcloths—perfect for one adult," says Liz Eichholz, creative director and co-founder of towel brand Weezie.
The grand total of towels needed for a family of four is eight bath towels, twelve hand towels, and 28 washcloths. For guest towels , add four bath and four hand towels per person, plus 14 washcloths (if you're hosting for a week).
Minimalist wardrobes are more flexible. There is no set number of items. A minimalist closet could have 20 pieces or 200. What matters is you wear all of them – and they all bring you joy.
A capsule wardrobe can have as many or as few clothes that work for you, but commonly they have anywhere from 30-50 pieces. The capsule checklist I've put together has room for 44 items, including shoes and accessories, but you can always have more or fewer than that.
If you want a minimalist wardrobe, you can start with 7 bras. This will give you enough options while keeping your closet functional. With this strategy, you can have 4 everyday bras and 3 bras for specialty use (such as going to the gym or for wearing certain types of dresses, etc).
"A good thing to remember is to replace bathroom towels every two to five years and kitchen towels and washcloths every year or every two years, depending on their quality," explains Wischnia.
How often should I wash my bath towels? Dead skin cells, bacteria, and even sweat can accumulate quickly on your towels, so using a fresh one about every three days is a simple rule of thumb—for all kinds of towels. You can of course change them more often.
In summary, the number of towels you need depends on several factors, including the size of your household, your laundry routine, and your personal preferences. However, as a general guideline, you should have at least one bath towel per person, two hand towels per bathroom, and two washcloths per person.
Three or four, say consumer and environmental health agencies. Any longer and towels can breed bacteria and mold. Hang your towels properly: Spread them out on the rack (not bunched up) so they dry thoroughly.
A set usually consists of a bath towel or bath sheet depending, a hand towel, and a washcloth.
A good rule of thumb for the minimalist lifestyle is to keep about five pairs of shoes total, give or take. Five pairs of shoes that each serve a unique purpose will provide sufficient footwear for all of your daily needs without going overboard.
Two or three pairs of jeans. Only keep the ones that make you look and feel good. Three or four tank tops. For layering, and when the weather gets nicer, for wearing alone.
A minimalist wardrobe may contain as few as 5 outfits or over 100, which are rotated and swapped seasonally as a capsule wardrobe. The average number of items in a minimalist wardrobe seems to range from 20 to 50 pieces of clothing, which may or may not include undergarments and accessories.
The 90/90 rule for minimalism encourages you to keep only items you've used or will use within 90 days. This minimalist rule is all about timing. When using the 90/90 rule to get rid of stuff, you'll simply want to ask yourself two straightforward questions. Have you used this item in the last 90 days?
Since I am a minimalist and my fiance, although not a minimalist, has a capsule wardrobe, most of our clothes are in neutral colors and we need to do our laundry once a week to have enough clean clothes for the following week. I would recommend setting aside one or two days a week where you do the laundry.
If you are a minimalist or live in a small space you could easily get away with having 3 handbags. One small evening handbag, one mid size bag, and one tote bag. If you are going the route of having only 3 bags then I highly recommend that you purchase these bags in a neutral color: Black, beige, taupe, Grey or white.
While sharing towels can be convenient and as Glennon points out the towels often do not have someone's name on them, it is ultimately not a good idea to dry off with another person's towel. Sharing towels can spread germs and bacteria, lead to skin problems, and be a violation of personal boundaries.
Although a 100 percent cotton towel is still the best buy, expect to pay a premium for those on the high end. Marini says a 100 percent cotton bath towel with a high GSM starts around $70; a medium-grade one runs about $29 to $50. But good towels should last you up to 10 years.
The study also shows that 26% of couples start sharing towels within the first month of getting together. On the other hand, 36% say they'd never share towels.