Towel Storage

• Decorators use towels hung on towel bars as a means to display coordinating bath and hand towels. Towels can be highly ornamental or plain terry cloth fabric. Towels are typically folded vertically in half or with the sides folded toward the center before hanging. Towel bars allow towels to be stored while hanging. Towel bars also provide a storage place for towels to be hung after use. Hanging the towel on the towel bar allows air to circulate and dry the towel for another use. Wet towels that are folded or left on the floor can mildew, but hanging a wet towel on a towel bar reduces the likelihood of this.
  
  

Towels Easily Accessible

• Towel bars used for hanging bath and hand towels make towels easily accessible for drying hands after washing. Washing your hands after using the restroom is very important for cleanliness. The Iowa State University Extension reports that about one-third of the people using a public toilet do not wash their hands afterward. Paper towels are recommended in public restroom situations, but can also be effective in a personal, household environment. However, most people use washable, fabric towels at home. It's important to remember that your hands are only as clean as the towel used to dry them. Hanging towels on a towel bar keeps the towels off cabinets or floors and within easy reach.
  
  

Heated Towel Bars

• Heated towel bars are attached to the wall similarly to a typical towel bar, but heated bars are often electric-powered. The heated towel bar allows towels to be warmed while the owner is showering or bathing so the towel is toasty when the time comes to dry off. Heated towel bars should be treated with caution when in operation to avoid burns from the hot bars. Wet towels should not be placed onto a heated towel bar.
  
  

Hazards of Incorrect Use

• Towel bars are often used in place of grab bars. Grab bars are support bars installed to aid in sitting and standing around toilets, sinks or bathtubs. Cornell Cooperative Extension reports that about 26,000 injuries annually involve showers and tubs. Grab bars should be properly installed onto walls so the elderly and disabled can use them for support instead of grasping onto towel bars, which are not designed to support body weight. Towel bars used as support bars can rip from the walls, leading to injuries. Towel bars should be installed into the wall studs to avoid drywall damage, but even this secure installation is meant only for hanging towels and not for supporting the weight of a person.