Stop Using My Decorative Towels!!!

[bicker]

I'm with those who vote for not putting out towels you don't wish used.

 

[sunlver]

This is never an issue here. We dont have fancy towels, at all. Every towel in this house is meant to be used. In our downstairs bathroom, we have one of those towel holders that is like ring shaped. I Have several small towels that I switch out. They are not fancy, sometimes I buy at dollar store, mostly I wait until on sale and on clearnace so I can get seasonal hand towels for the bathroom. Once OCt gets here, I will put my Halloween hand towel in the downstairs bathroom.

 

[Christine]

I guess I'm missing a portion of the "female decorating gene." I can't imagine buying a towel and it's sole purpose being a decoration and not to be used. I can imagine buying some really nice, albeit affordable, guest towels for when guests come so that my bathroom looks pretty but they would definitely be for use.

 

[Mom21]

My SIL has disposible towels in her guess bath.

What about something like this

http://www.lillianvernon.com/catalo...n=985&categoryId=&catTree=&clearance=&sid=eas


http://www.frontgate.com/jump.jsp?itemType=PRODUCT&itemID=2594&k=ZZ50867

I was going to post those same links. We bought the Lillian Vernon ones and they are very thick and nice for disposable. Not cheap if you entertain often, but nice for a party or something like that.

 

[NMAmy]

I guess I'm missing a portion of the "female decorating gene." I can't imagine buying a towel and it's sole purpose being a decoration and not to be used. I can imagine buying some really nice, albeit affordable, guest towels for when guests come so that my bathroom looks pretty but they would definitely be for use.

Eh, me, too, Christine. I don't think of towels as a decorative item but more of a utilitarian item. They can be pretty but they're meant to be used.

OP--don't the towels get dusty if they're not washed occasionally?

 

[Disney Ella]

I guess I'm missing a portion of the "female decorating gene." I can't imagine buying a towel and it's sole purpose being a decoration and not to be used. I can imagine buying some really nice, albeit affordable, guest towels for when guests come so that my bathroom looks pretty but they would definitely be for use.

I don't have that gene either. I understand that the person doesn't actually want me to use their fancy towels and I'm supposed to use another one, but it never made sense to me. Towels are purely functional items to me, not decorations. What confuses me is when there are fancy towels, but no other towels in the bathroom. Am I supposed to use the fancy display ones or did they just forget to put the towel I am supposed to use in the bathroom?

 

[jenrose66]

HaHa...sorry you are having this problem.

Honestly, I see a towel and I think wow, towels are for drying things. I'd probably see your pretty towel and think hey, these are very nice hand towels as I'm drying my hands on them

I see that you have the "other" hand towel placed by the sink. I may go to that first, however if many people had been drying their hands on that before me then the towel is wet and that's uncomfortable. I hate drying my hands on a wet towel...so I look for a dry towel or a dry spot on the towel.

In your case, the towel by the sink is wet, my eyes see your pretty decorative towels and I'd probably dry my hands on them...sorry.

 

[nuke]

When we have guests, we put out a basket of folded paper towels on the counter by the sink. They work well, everyone knows what they are for and everyone gets a fresh, clean towel.

My MIL did that for a party a few years ago and got many positive comments from her guests.

Yep works great!

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Have a roll of paper towels by the sink. That is what I do.

 

[amlet]

Maybe, name's signature on towels will help?

 

[Pooh67_68]

My aunt has decorative towels and then a towel by the sink, like the OP has.
But her guest know if the towel laying by the sink is wet, throw it in the laundry basket, open the laundry closet and get a fresh one.

 

[JerseyJanice]

My mother used to pin little notes on her "show" towels:

"DO NOT USE! THESE TOWELS ARE FOR SHOW!"

I hated that! I swore when I grew up and had my own home, I'd put out only things that were meant to be used.

 

[mtemm]

I've never heard of decorator towels not being meant for use by guests. in fact, I've always referred to them as guest towels...they weren't for everyday use, but for company. and I would never use a towel folded by the sink...I would assume it was someone in the household's personal towel that they left there without thinking.

If you do prefer them to be untouched, I love the idea of the basket by the sink with fingertip towels or nicer paper ones. I may use that in the future! (not to stop people from using my prettier guest towels, but because I think its a cute idea and a great choice for guests).

am curious for those who do use decorator towels that are not meant to be used...do you also have a rack for towels that you do use? (am really curious here).

 

[mtemm]

My mother used to pin little notes on her "show" towels:

"DO NOT USE! THESE TOWELS ARE FOR SHOW!"

I hated that! I swore when I grew up and had my own home, I'd put out only things that were meant to be used.

wow!

 

[mjkacmom]

This reminds me of when my mom had some guys working construction at her house. She had a fluffy terry towel hanging next to the sink, and some cotton hand embroidered towels hanging by the toilet, and the guys kept wiping their filthy hands on the cotton ones. She finally removed them.

OP, to be honest, I don't think I would gravitate towards a towel laying next to the sink - towels are hung for a reason. Get disposable, or at least a towel rack for the one you want people to use.

 

[MIGrandma]

If your bathroom towels are tied like that, and you have a handtowel laying right by the sink that is the towel I would use. To me, it's obvious that the decorative ones are just that...decorative...and not to be used.

Reminds me of my Christmas napkin story. Our kids were young, maybe 10 and 12, and we had friends (family of 5) over for supper. My son piped up just as we were sitting down to eat, "oh, don't use THOSE napkins...they are just for looks." So embarrassing! The family never let me forget that. I had left the napkins on the table, I didn't mind the family using them but my son didn't know that. The napkins were "off limits" for the kids to use during the week, but they were for guests. He didn't get that.

 

[squirrlygirl]

Aren't the fancy towels hanging up the guest towels? When I was little my grandma always had these perfectly folded beautiful towels hanging up when we visited...after many visits worrying whether I should be using them, I finally just asked. She looked shocked that I didn't know. Of course we're supposed to use them! Guests don't use the same towels the family uses. So, with that being what I learned, I would use the fancy towels, too.

I would pass up a towel laying on the counter. In our house it's a sign that one of the children has used it to wipe toothpaste off their face

 

[golfgal]

Can you move your towel bars around so the decorative towels are away from the sink and then hang a smaller towel bar near the sink for towels you want used?

 

[ICF]

a towel is a towel....if you dont want people to use it, then dont put it up.

I guess if it really bugs you that much put up some yellow police tape over then say DO NOT CROSS!

 

[java]

Decorative "TOWEL" really are meant to be used no?

But I do only buy ones that people can use.

In the past I have used the decorative paper towels- printed ones next to the sink. But now I don't have a vanity in that bathroom just a pedestal sink- so I can't use those.
Wait until you have kids in your new house and they are using the towel to wipe the dog!