Laundry Room
How Often Should You Wash Your Towels?
Photo by Freepik
Laundry Room
How Often Should You Wash Your Towels?
There’s nothing like stepping out of the shower and wrapping yourself in a fresh towel.
But keeping towels clean isn’t just about their fluffy feel. Towels harbor yucky dirt and bacteria; even clean towels can pick up on unwanted spores and particles, spreading them to the next person who needs to dry off their hands or body.
Dirty towels can also trigger eczema and dermatitis flare-ups, or spread contagious infections like pink eye or athlete's foot.
So, how often should you throw them in the wash?
How often you should wash bath towels
Bath towels can be prone to carrying dead skin, bacteria from biodegradable soap, and even fecal matter. The moisture from damp towels in particular is a breeding ground for yeast, bacteria, mould, and viruses—making it all the more important to ensure you thoroughly dry them.
A general rule of thumb is to wash your bath towels once a week, or every three to five uses. If they have a musty smell or you’re sick, wash them more often.
The best way to wash bath towels is by using the towel setting on your washer. This high-heat setting helps kill bacteria and germs in your fibre-dense towels, as well as eliminates built-up oils and residues.
How often you should wash kitchen and hand towels
Similarly, hand towels easily pick up on bacteria, viruses, and icky particles. Since these towels are more frequently used than bath towels, you’ll want to rotate them out more often.
Swap out your washcloth and hand towels every few days to keep them fresh. If someone in your house is sick, consider setting aside a separate towel for them to prevent the spread of infection.
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