The main difference between the two is that electric towel warmers use—you guessed it—electricity, while hydronic towel warmers use hot water from your plumbing system to heat its exterior bars.

It might be hot, humid, and sweltering outside the doors of the Japanese restaurant you've just entered, but that rolled-up wet mini towel isn't meant for your forehead or any other part of your body ...

Editor’s Note: This article previously appeared in a different format as part of The Atlantic’s Notes section, retired in 2021. The toilet is the ultimate venue of control. It’s where you start to ...