How Often Should You Wash Your Towels? The Answer Is Shocking

Have you ever considered when it’s best to swap out your bath towels for clean ones? Most people wash themselves every day, so is there some sort of rule of thumb or guidance on the proper towel maintenance (if that’s even a thing)? 

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With all the debates on when to get a new toothbrush and when to clean your bathroom, it seems like no one really stresses the importance of washing your towels. So if you think you’re swapping your bath towels out for clean ones often enough, I bet you’re probably not. 

Why is proper towel maintenance important?


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When you dry off with towels, they get moist. This porous, damp environment is the perfect breeding ground for bacteria. A common bath towel can have yeast, mold and E. coli growing on it without you ever knowing it. Gross, right? Regular washing prevents bacteria from growing.

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When should you reuse or wash?

There are some variables regarding how often you should wash your towels. Consumer Reports says that under normal circumstances, a towel can be used three or four times before it needs to be tossed in the hamper. Now notice, I said “times” not “days.” So if you have multiple family members using a towel (like hand towels), it needs to be washed on the third or fourth use.

Also, the condition of the person using the towel matters too. If they’re sick, toss it in the laundry after one use. If it’s flu season, it’s best that every family member have their own towel — even if they aren’t exhibiting symptoms — to prevent the potential spread of germs. 

How often you wash towels also depends on how they’re dried after usage. If towels find themselves on the floor, the lack of air circulation will cause bacteria to grow quickly. To prolong the life of your towel, be sure to place damp towels on a towel rack. Better yet, crack open a window or turn on the fan to reduce moisture in the room.

Screenshot of cute terrier dog, white with brown on face and ear, sitting with towels in a laundry basket.

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What temperature is best for washing?

The Infection Control department of Mid-Western Regional Hospital of Ennis, Ireland, recommends washing towels in water that is at least 140 degrees Fahrenheit (60 degrees Celsius) or more to kill bacteria. So if you have a sanitize mode on your washing machine, use it. If not, you may consider raising the temperature on your water heater while washing that load. Be sure young children are supervised around sinks, tubs and showers while you do laundry, though, to prevent burns.

And, before you reach for the fabric softener, don’t. Fabric softener leaves residue on towels that makes them less absorbent. 





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