Although we all know that it's important to bathe or take a shower often, that habitual mindset doesn't always translate when determining how often we should be washing our towels.
There are ongoing debates about when's the best time to change your toothbrush and how often you should clean your bathroom, but no one really stresses the proper procedure for cleaning bath towels. If you're also unsure about how often you should be doing this chore, let's go down this rabbit hole together to get the answer. Even if you believe you're washing your towels enough, many reports may beg to differ.
When should you reuse a towel or wash it?
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, that says "times" not "days." So if you have multiple family members using a towel (like hand towels), it needs to be washed after the third or fourth use, which for most households happens in a single day.
Also, the condition of the person using the towel matters. If they're sick, the towel needs to be tossed into the dirty laundry and replaced after every use. During cold and 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 end up on the floor after being used, 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.
Why is proper towel maintenance important?
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.
What temperature is best for washing towels?
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.