At first glance, kitchen towels and bath towels seemed like harmless laundry companions. They were both made to absorb moisture, both ended up damp, and both eventually landed in the washing machine. But their jobs were very different. Kitchen towels wiped counters, dried dishes, absorbed grease, and sometimes came into contact with raw poultry, pork, or beef. Bath towels, meanwhile, collected body oils, moisture, and dead skin. Still, that did not automatically mean they needed separate loads every time.

For months, Emma tossed lightly used kitchen towels and bath towels into the same laundry basket without giving it much thought. She used enough detergent, selected a warm cycle, and made sure everything dried completely. The system worked—until one evening, while loading the washer, she noticed something that made her stop. One kitchen towel was stained with grease, and another had been used while preparing raw chicken. Emma reached for both towels, then hesitated. Suddenly, the simple question of whether towels could share a load became much more important…