Dead skin cells, bacteria, and even sweat can accumulate quickly on your towels, so using a fresh one about every three days is a simple rule of thumb—for all kinds of towels. You can of course change them more often.
"A good thing to remember is to replace bathroom towels every two to five years and kitchen towels and washcloths every year or every two years, depending on their quality," explains Wischnia.
Ultimately, though, when a towel's threads begin to pull—or you notice a lingering odor, despite a careful wash—it's time to toss it; you can expect body and hand towels to last between two to five years depending on their quality. Wash cloths, on the other hand, should be replaced every one or two years, notes Winch.
Can I reuse a towel after one use? It's OK to reuse a towel a few times before you wash and dry -- and it's better for the environment, too. Reusing towels a few times is better for the environment and likely won't be a cause for alarm.
When towels are too old, they are no longer effective. They don't dry you thoroughly and are likely home to unseen germs and bacteria. How do you know when you should be replacing towels? In general, experts advise you should get new ones every two years.
Towels: 2 Years
Towels used on a regular basis will typically last up to two years before they fray and lose their absorbancy. If you want to increase their lifespan, consider rotating multiple sets and neatly hang towels to dry between each use. Both of these tips keep towels from multiple trips through the wash.
Gerba and Dr. Tierno recommend washing bath towels every two or three days. Hold out longer than that, and all those microorganisms will make your towel grungy. “You may not get sick after using a towel for two weeks, but that's not the point,” says Dr.
Dead skin cells, bacteria, and even sweat can accumulate quickly on your towels, so using a fresh one about every three days is a simple rule of thumb—for all kinds of towels.
Suggested Inventory – How Many Towels Do I Need? Adults: Four bath and two hand towels per week, plus two washcloths per day. Kids: Four bath and four hand towels per week, plus two washcloths per day. Guests: Two bath and hand towels for each guest, plus two washcloths daily.
Hotels and laundries have a chemical called Potassium permanganate which is a very strong oxidizer that can kill everything and also remove stains effectively. So now you know how hotels manage to keep towels white.
Having said that, if you don't want your linens to end up in a landfill, there are a few routes you can take to recycle towels and donate bedding you no longer use. This includes donation centers, churches, homeless shelters, animal shelters, the American Textile Recycling Service and TerraCycle.
Choose White Towels for a Minimalistic Look
White towels do not fade and tend to last longer as opposed to towels with darker colors.
Here's what should happen: The standard operating procedure is for towels and sheets to be changed between every guest, according to Joe McInerney, president of the American Hotel & Lodging Association (www.ahla.org). Towels are also swapped out every day at some, but not all properties. "Some do, some don't," he says.
But you may not have known that your new bath towel has a "break in" period before it reaches maximum softness and absorbency. In fact, it can take as many as three full wash cyclesfor your bath towel to feel great and absorb water the way it was designed to.
Do hang up your towels after each use to help them dry properly and prevent odor. After your shower or bath, hang your towel across a bar or shower rod so it can dry fully. This will help prevent bacterial growth and extend the time between washes.
Many doctors say a daily shower is fine for most people. (More than that could start to cause skin problems.) But for many people, two to three times a week is enough and may be even better to maintain good health.
Clean your bathroom once a week as a good rule of thumb. Kelly Reynolds, PhD, MSPH, professor and director of the environment, exposure science and eisk assessment center at the University of Arizona, recommends cleaning your bathroom at least weekly. More often than that might be overkill.
Roand says that blankets that are between sheets and don't come in direct contact with your body can be washed monthly, while large comforters and duvet covers should be washed at least every two weeks.
Dirty towels can carry a huge variety of microbes, and they've even been linked to spreading infectious disease. You can't keep your towels 100% germ-free, experts say, but you can limit the grossest ones by washing your towels—only way more often than you probably do now.
Solve a household debate: How many times can you use a towel before having to wash it? Three or four, say consumer and environmental health agencies. Any longer and towels can breed bacteria and mold. Hang your towels properly: Spread them out on the rack (not bunched up) so they dry thoroughly.
In essence, repeated use of the same towel will gradually encourage bacteria from several sources to accumulate. Without the proper drying time or conditions, wet towels can also cause mildew development. Inhaling mildew can cause illnesses or respiratory issues.
Let your towels air dry as much as possible, doing so keeps mold away—which helps keep your towels fresh for longer periods. Folding your towels and putting them away keeps them from collecting dust. A closet or drawer is ideal and will keep your towels as fresh as possible for when they're ready to use.