Britons urged to stop keeping towels in the bathroom

Towels should not be stored in the bathroom, according to one expert (Image: Getty)

While bathrooms may seem like the perfect place to store towels, storage experts warn that this isn't actually the case.

Many everyday items can deteriorate or lose effectiveness when exposed to the room’s warm and humid environment, which, perhaps surprisingly, includes towels.

Instead, towels should be stored well away from the bathroom's humidity, and those that are left in the bathroom for use should be swapped out frequently.

And it's not just towels that should be stored away from the bathroom, explains Karl Graham, storage expert at Click Storage.

He said: "Your bathroom may seem like a good place to keep essentials close by, but the dampness and fluctuating temperatures caused by everyday functions, like showering, can have adverse effects on a surprising number of items. Improper bathroom storage can compromise both health and product quality."

Medications should also not be stored in the bathroom (Image: Getty)

Items that should never be stored in the bathroom

Towels

"Storing towels in the bathroom makes them more susceptible to developing mould, which is not only a hygiene issue but can also damage the fabric and emit a terrible smell," says Graham. 

Instead, he suggests storing towels in a linen closet or hanging them on the back of your bedroom door.

Medications

Many people store their medications in their bathroom cabinet, but this is far from ideal, according to Graham, as he explains: "The humidity and heat can cause medications to break down faster, making them less effective or even unsafe."

Rather than storing them in the bathroom, Graham argues that both prescription medication and over-the-counter items should be kept in a cool dry place, suggesting instead a kitchen cabinet or bedroom draw.

Battery-powered devices

Graham adds that any device that is battery-powered should not be stored in the bathroom, nor should the batteries themselves, as they can corrode and even explode if they get damaged.

To avoid this, store devices in a dry, well-ventilated area when not in use, like a linen closet or a shelf outside the bathroom.