I gave one to DH years ago (bucket variety). He adores it and uses it daily. My dd wanted one but I'm not sure she uses it all that often anymore. I've used it a few times and must say it is heavenly while the heat lasts. Thumbs up from me.

We have installed a bar type towel warmer in each of our last 3 homes including our current main bathroom. It's hardwired and we keep it on 24/7. It's so nice to have a warm towel after showering and the towels dry faster.

I love them. I have installed them in a few homes in the past. Great for hand laundry too. In Maine, the W/D is right there and I put them in the dryer while I shower!

hmmm... I was leaning towards the bucket type because it seems less utility looking but maybe the bar type is dual purpose although I have a great drying rack in my laundry room.

So when you say installed you mean wall hung hard wired? Not sure I would go that route. I'd prefer the free standing I think.

We purchased an electric bar type that sits on the floor...or can be mounted on the wall & plugged in. LOVE IT!!!!!!!!!! All Winter long our cat Ivan sits under the towel. He loves the heat....as do we!

We buy super thick 100% cotton bath towels. They absorb well. Do you have hard water? Maybe fabric softener would help? or a 1/4 cup vinegar in the water?

Have you used fabric softener with your towels? It will interfere with absorption. My housekeeper would dump tons of softener in my bathroom towels and my kitchen towels. I called the manufacturer of Downy to find out how to get it out. They told me the only thing I could do was just keep washing them. It would eventually get washed out - and it did.

Also use the minimum of laundry detergent. 2 Tablespoons is sufficient for most loads with most water types.

We have somewhat hard water not super hard, never use fabric softener and use Charlie's Laundry powder, not even 2T per load. All of our towels are 100% cotton but only this one set does not absorb well. They are newish, but have been washed a few times. Maybe a vinegar rinse is in order.

Huh, i'd never seen the bucket type. I learned to love heated towel racks traveling in Europe. Yes, they have always been hard wired and attached to the wall. I don't view them as utilitarian looking.

Just did a search for your towel issue. It said to wash them in hot water with no detergent and one cup of white vinegar. Then immediately do another wash with 1/2 cup baking soda and no detergent or softner. Possible causes given were: too much detergent, fabric softner, some new towels have a finish that needs to be washed off and overloading of the washing machine.

Nearly all homes here in Iceland have the wall hung towel warmer, would not or could not live with out one. We of course have the water heated but you can also get them electric heated. Nothing better that to wrap your self up in a warm towel after a shower.

I never knew bucket towel warmers existed. I decided agains the wall mounted when remodeling our bathroom, really for no good reason.......other than I was probably research and decision making past my prime.. I am now reading about the bucket ones.

https://people.com/best-towel-warmer-11794387

#724 Things I've Learned on Forums

You mean I'm a bucket influencer? I sense a disturbance in the force!

The aroma therapy features in some of the bucket type is of no interest to me, give me plain jane unscented towels please.

I've found a few bucket type (2 from the list salonva linked) and 2 free standing rail type, all UL cert. Don't have the space for wall mounted unless I remove my large mirror and portable allows me to move a rack or bucket within reach of the shower or tub as needed. That seems the best and most flexible option.

I have a heated towel bar in my bathroom and love it. It has the flat panels rather than the round bars that some have. It takes some time to preheat the towel, but there's nothing like wrapping in a warm towel after a hot shower in the cold winter! It also helps heat the bathroom which is nice. I see where some people install them in their laundry room/mud room too to help dry mittens and scarves and such.

I've not seen the bucket type before, but, while I use the heat only in the winter, I use it as a towel bar to hang towels and washcloths dry all year long. Can't do that with a bucket.

I have adequate towel bars for normal drying so the extra hanging space isn't needed. The bucket could go in the linen closet in summer - although getting out of a hot shower to an air conditioned bathroom is reason enough for warm towels in the summer, too!

My hydronic radiator has bars around it. Honestly with the heated floor on I find the room gets too hot if the radiator is on so only in the coldest months do i use it. Maybe a barrel is the solution for me. This is what I have that is really just an over priced towel rack for us since it is always off.

We had freestanding towel warmers in every bathroom in our historic renovated home in AL 16 years. As soon as we renovated this historic home here in VA we added built in wall mounted in 2 bathrooms. We didn’t renovate the 3rd bathroom and don’t have a freestanding anymore. We don’t have enough company to worry about it.

I would never be without one. All towels etc smell terrible if left to dry by air alone.

I haven't considered it, but after reading all the positive comments, am tempted to buy one! Our shower is wide open to the rest of the bathroom and I freeze for the duration of my shower and after I get out.

We received an unsolicited bucket one as a gift from a family member one Christmas. We thought it was strange, were unsure about the floor space, etc. Once DH used it, I doubt he has taken a shower, winter or summer, without heating a towel other than the sad period when it died and we were trying to find a good replacement. It was late pandemic and the options were few. The one we selected had electrical issues and wasdangerous. It and a replacement were both returned and we were sent a different model. It has been working fine, but I can't tell you exactly what it is. I use it occasionally. We have also talked about installing a warming drawer in the bathroom when we remodel, but the one in our kitchen takes so long to heat up that the bucket seems like a better option. Our wall space is limited - to the point we use a quilt/blanket rack at the end of the tub for hanging towels.

@Bluebell66 you NEED one for sure! Open showers don't make sense to me - I'd always be cold. No way to even hang a curtail for a bit of enclosure?

DLM, my water is hard, and I add Borax to the washing machine. It helps with towels.

No need for towel warmers here in south FL. If I shower soon after an outdoor workout, I am barely using any heated water!

I am sure I would find a towel warmer useful if I lived in Iceland!

so what do you do with the towel after you use it?

Hang it up like you always do. If you have the wall towel warmer, you can leave it on for a while or use the residual heat to help dry the towel.

Exactly what lascatx said - I have large towel bars where they hang now to dry.