I got into an argument with my sister because she insisted we should never wash towels with clothes. I always mix them — it saves time. That’s exactly what I told her. But Sylvie just crossed her arms. “Towels are heavy, they shed lint, and they rub against softer fabrics. You’re ruining your clothes.” I brushed it off… until things started happening.

First, my navy blouse came out of the wash covered in tiny white lint balls. Then my black leggings began to pill, even though they were fairly new. I kept telling myself it was coincidence — until the worst moment. One Saturday, I washed everything together like usual. When I pulled out my favorite cream sweater, it had shrunk so much it looked like it belonged to a teenager. My stomach dropped. Sylvie walked in, took one look, and raised her eyebrows. She didn’t have to say a thing.

That night, I finally researched it. Towels are thick and abrasive, they retain more water, and the heavy spin cycle wears out delicate fabrics. The lint is real too. Basically, I’d been damaging my clothes just to save a little time. The next weekend, I separated my loads. Towels in one, clothes in another. And it made a noticeable difference — brighter colors, smoother fabric, less wear.

A few weeks later, Sylvie called me in a panic because her washing machine wouldn’t drain. The filter was clogged with towel lint. Even she wasn’t perfect. We ended up laughing about it. Turns out, both of us had something to learn. Saving a little time isn’t worth ruining things you value — in laundry or in life.