Yes, you can reuse bath towels a few times (2-3 uses) if they dry completely between uses, but washing after every use is best for hygiene, especially in humid climates or if you have skin conditions, to prevent bacteria and mold growth that can cause odors and skin issues. Always hang towels properly to dry and wash them more frequently if they stay damp or if someone in the house is sick, says Health Essentials, Bed Threads, and Everyday Health.
It is alright to share a bath towel with a partner, but it is not recommended. Bath towels still trap the same particles as hand towels, so you would be sharing germs. Whether you share a bath towel or not, it still needs to be washed after three uses.
A towel becomes progressively dirtier with use after washing hands because it collects and concentrates the materials you remove from your skin and provides an environment that redistributes, holds, and sometimes grows microorganisms. Key processes at work:
“So what you want to do is change your towels at least three times each week because even on day three, your towel contains so much bacteria that you're better off washing or changing it. This can help with acne and many other skin problems,” the doctor advises.
Tips for good towel care
Wash after every third use, or sooner if you notice an unpleasant smell or persistent dampness. Keep this in mind for hand towels as well, which tend to get used more frequently than bath towels. Replace your towels every few years.
Housekeeping teams typically wash towels after every guest's stay, using commercial-grade washing machines, hot water, and powerful detergents. Larger hotels and chains often contract professional laundry services or have on-site facilities with high hygiene standards.
coli, Salmonella and Staphylococcus aureus can survive and persist for up to 16 days on a kitchen sponge and up to 13 days on microfiber towels.
According to experts, your towels should be replaced every two to three years as a general guideline, however, this can vary depending on how often you use your towels and care for them.
A good temperature for washing towels and sheets is 40 degrees, but a 60 degreewash will be better at killing germs. Changing your sheets and towels once a week can help to keep them fresh and clean**. Use ourlaundry tips section for guidelines on different fabrics.
Coliform bacteria were detected in 89.0% and E. coli in 25.6% of towels. The presence of E. coli was related to the frequency of washing.
However, most studies suggest that paper towels can dry hands efficiently, remove bacteria effectively, and cause less contamination of the washroom environment. From a hygiene viewpoint, paper towels are superior to electric air dryers.
Towels should be washed in the warmest water appropriate for the fabric according to the care label. Generally, warm or hot water is recommended for washing towels. Use a cycle specifically for towels or a normal/regular cycle.
The verdict: As a general rule, you should launder your bath towel (or swap in a clean one) at least once a week. The same goes for hand towels. And your washcloth? That needs replacing more often — at least a couple times a week.
Studies have shown that towels can quickly become contaminated with bacteria commonly found on human skin, but also with those found in our guts. Even after washing, our bodies are still covered in microbes and perhaps unsurprisingly when we dry ourselves off, some of these transfer onto our towel.
For example, towels made of cotton can be washed with cotton clothes as long as you're mindful of the weight difference. However, avoid mixing towels with clothes made of delicate materials like lace, wool, or synthetic fabrics. These will require gentler washing conditions and should ideally be washed separately.
Sanitizing towels and bed sheets
To wash bleach-safe bed sheets and towels, machine wash in the hottest water recommended using a good detergent and ⅔ cup Clorox™ Disinfecting Bleach in a traditional deep-fill washer, or ⅓ cup Clorox™ Disinfecting Bleach in a high efficiency clothes washer.
However, vinegar is a safer, eco-friendly alternative that effectively whitens and freshens without the harsh effects of bleach. Adding half a cup of white vinegar to the rinse cycle can help remove detergent buildup and restore softness.
Bath towels are the workhorses of the towel family, used daily and exposed to frequent washing. As a general rule, it is recommended to replace your bath towels every two to three years, with five years the maximum.
Cleaning your clothes in a washing machine on even a hot water setting of 60°C (140°F) can fail to remove potentially harmful bacteria – a finding that could also be contributing to the rise of antibiotic resistance.
A good rule of thumb is to wash your jeans after about 10 wears, unless they are visibly dirty or start to smell. Between washes, spot clean any stains with a mild soap and a damp cloth or an old toothbrush.
Additionally, according to a 2024 survey of 1,376 hotel managers by Wellness Heaven, which asked them which items are most commonly stolen, towels top the list, with 79.2 percent reporting guests nipping the cozy threads. They were followed by bathrobes, hangers, pens, and cosmetics, rounding out the top five.
How Often to Wash Bed Sheets. Medical experts recommend washing your bed sheets once per week. This is seen as the standard, although the average person will typically wash them once every two weeks (which is still good).
Signs That You Aren't Cleaning Your Clothes Enough