Combining kitchen and bath towels in the wash is not always a hygiene mistake, provided the kitchen items were only used for clean dishes or freshly washed hands.
Lightly used kitchen cloths can safely join bath towels in the machine when washed with proper detergent and matching temperature cycles.
However, heavily soiled kitchen towels contaminated with cooking grease or raw meat residue should always be washed separately to prevent cross-contamination and odors.
Ensuring the machine is not overloaded and allowing all towels to dry completely prevents unpleasant smells and maintains optimal household hygiene.