How would color coding bath towels actually save you money? It is well known that you can safely use a bath towel several times for drying off before you would beed a fresh towel. But when there is a communal supply of towels, it is much easier for your teenager to grab a fresh towel for every single shower, rather than re-using a towel. Why? Often they just aren't sure if someone else has used the towel they think is theirs, or they have forgotten which towel it is, so they grab a new one.

Instead, buy 2 or 3 towels for each member of the family, and select each in an easily recognizable color or pattern. That way there is no mistaking whose towel is whose. Then inform the family you will only do one load of towels a week, so it is up to them to make sure they make those 2 or 3 towels last the entire week, because there won't be enough for a freshly laundered towel after each bath.

Of course, there will be times when you might want to launder towels after each use, such as when a flu is going around the household, or if someone has a special need such as stitches that need to be carefully dried. But using the color coding method will help save money because you won't be needing to wash as many towels nearly as often.