The debate you didn't know you cared about: How many towels should a couple own?

How many towels should a couple own?

It’s a simple question that sparked a fierce debate on Twitter this week when it was posed by a man having a disagreement with his girlfriend.

“Hello fellow adults,” a man named Abdul Dremali addressed the users of the social media platform. “My [girlfriend] and I have a question… what is the correct amount of towels to own?”

While you’re at it, here are some simple cleaning hacks to make your life easier…

The Boston-based marketing director explained that they were seeking clarification of an actual number of towels a household of two needs, as they had “zero frame of reference”.

“I said 10 and she looked at me like I was crazy,” Abdul said.

hello fellow adults. my gf and i have a question… what is the correct amount of towels to own? i said 10 and she looked at me like i was crazy. we have zero frame of reference on the appropriate amount of towels in a household of two.

— abdul (@Advil) February 17, 2019

That question was answered very matter-of-factly by New York-based journalist Yashar Ali, who gave the man specific quantities of each type of household towel.

As a couple you should own a minimum of the following

10 Bath Sheets
10 Bath Towels
10 Hand Towels
20 Wash Cloths

Preferably more https://t.co/CWqd8kp5vJ

— Yashar Ali ???? (@yashar) February 18, 2019

Now, to some people – including this reporter who has about six bath towels she and her partner use and about a dozen stuffed in a cupboard somewhere untouched – that towel total seemed excessive.

Many people baulked at the number, particularly of washcloths (known here in Australia as face washers), including model Chrissy Teigen.

20 wash cloths????? yashar. this is too many wash cloths. is this for the whole household?

— christine teigen (@chrissyteigen) February 18, 2019

The mum-of-two joked about sending the reporter a new washing machine for his birthday, because his will presumably wear out quickly based on all the loads of towels he’s cleaning.

The tweet was also eye-opening to many who had never heard of the term ‘bath sheet’. As Yashar pointed out, bath sheets are essentially just extra large bath towels.

Until tonight I had never heard the term bath sheet. I just thought bigger towels were what you bought when you had the chance to splurge.

— Tennille Uithof (@tennilleu) February 18, 2019

This total likely wasn’t, however, too many for one man, whose housemate shared that he uses a new towel every time he showers – which seems to be a thing if you experience skin conditions like acne.

My roommate uses a new one every time he showers and thinks it’s normal. Can someone confirm?

— Jason (@jasonms316) February 17, 2019

For those not happy with Yashar’s prescription, fellow journalist Lizzie O’Leary presented a far more reasonable towel tally.

6 big nice towels
6 nice hand towels
4 – 6 fancy hand towels
6 washcloths
3 gross towels doe dogs/mud/whatever
2 backups just in case

— Lizzie O’Leary (@lizzieohreally) February 18, 2019

Which of course started an entire thread of its own about a) the difference between “nice” and “fancy” hand towels (answer: fancy towels are the ones you only put out for guests); and b) all the uses and names for the towels you use on dogs and dirt.

All in all thousands of people participated in the conversation in just two days, prompting Abdul to amend his Twitter bio to “world’s biggest Towel Influencer™”.

my girlfriend wanted new towels and caused a worldwide crisis: a memoir.

— abdul (@Advil) February 18, 2019

While there doesn’t appear to be an official consensus on the number of towels, minimalists argue that you only need two of everything per person (and two bath mats per shower) – one to use, and one to use while your other one is in the wash.

How many towels are used in your household?