How often do you wash your bath towels?
The HH and I are having a debate. I wash our bath towels about every 3 days and the HH thinks I’m overdoing it.
Which is really funny because I think I can count on one hand the amount of times in the past 32+ years that I’ve seen my husband wash a load of towels. 😉 But he’s got an opinion on it, that’s for sure.
Anyway… My husband thinks I could easily stretch the towel washing out to once a week, probably even two.
The thing is that after using a towel they are all damp and moist–and yes, they get hung up to dry, but they certainly don’t dry at the same rate they would on an air-circulating clothesline or in a heated dryer.
Plus, if they sit too long between washings, towels can harbor all sorts of bacteria, right? Especially if the towel rack is anywhere near a toilet!!! Fact: Pretty much all bathrooms have toilets.
It’s funny, because I probably read somewhere years ago that you’re supposed to wash your towels every few days, and it just stuck.
According to several sites I checked online, towels have tons of dead skin cells, not to mention mold causing bacteria. Gross. What’s the point of cleaning your body if you are just going to shimmy it with a dirty towel afterward?
So, even though I feel slightly vindicated by my online search, I am reasonable enough to know that the internet isn’t always the end all, be all.
But, you my friends certainly are.
So which camp do you reside in: Team Mavis {wash towels every few days} or Team HH {wash towels every week or two}? Neither? Then, how often do YOU wash your bath towels? Curious minds want to know.
~Mavis
Elaine says
I wash every two weeks. They are hung to dry after use and never seem to be funky. I think I do this because that’s what my mom did!
Kathleen Paje says
every few days
Nancy says
My doctor told me years ago to use a clean towel and washcloth each time and to always wash them in hot water.
Elizabeth says
This!!!!!
Susan says
Yes!! I only use a towel or washcloth once! I do laundry every day.
I wipe the whole shower enclosure- including tracks- so that it is always dry
No scum, mold, or anything gross.
I dont like the idea of drying off everything and then using that towel on my face again and again!! Just gross!!!!!
Reg says
Exactly!
Melissa says
Team HH. We wash ours once a week
Patti Vanderbloemen says
Team Mavis!
I wash mine in warm water. Hot water kills the fibers, making them less absorbent. NEVER use fabric softener (same reason as warm water – less absorbent), but I do add 1/4 vinegar to final rinse cycle.
Tracy says
Team Mavis.
Marie ---NH says
I wash our towels about every 3 days in hot water and use vinegar instead of fabric softener.
Kath says
For all the reasons you mentioned, we wash ours twice a week on the sanitize washer setting.
Alice says
Team husband. You get out of the shower squeaky clean, Dry off so the towel isn’t dirty after a clean shower. Hang to dry. I think every other week is OK.
Vivian Sturdivant says
I use a fresh washcloth everyday and a clean towel every other day.
Di says
Every 3 days, just like Mavis….but then again when this was a debate in our house several years back, it is possible that I got my advice right here. 😉
Rosemary says
I use a fresh towel after every shower. I am deathly allergic to dust mites, and they feed on dead skin cells which are on towels after using them. My hubby reuses his towel as he does not have the allergy. All towels get washed once a week.
Lesley says
Every week or 10 days, and like many others here, I use vinegar in the rinse cycle. Which is also what I do when I wash thrifted clothes for the first time.
Dawn says
My mother washed them once a week because as she said “you’re drying off a clean body, just hang it to dry” so I do the same. It’s not very decorative but they gut hung on the upstairs railing to dry so they’re getting air circulated and I wash them in hot water with Lysol laundry sanitizer.
suzanne says
Once a week along with the sheets. Our toilet is in a separate cubby though and we both close the lid as our toothbrushes are kept on the counter. Guests not so much. We also use those salex Japanese body cloths which will remove a layer of skin if you’re not careful. I’ve never noticed a funky smell.
Mark says
We use a new one everyday. It’s just how I was brought up.
LaToya says
I was brought up the same way. But I can’t handle doing that much laundry. So, once a week for me.
Lori says
We use a clean towel and washcloth everyday.
Heather says
I wash a load of towels once a week, but it’s generally 4-6 towels total for 2 people for the week.
The bigger question is how often is everybody washing their sheets? And do you shower before bed so your clean or in the AM. LoL
Nancy says
Once a week, most of year. Sometimes more often during summer when really humid. Change pillowcases a couple times a week. Shower in am.
Mona R McGinnis says
Weekly. I also like hanging towels outside on the clothes line come summer to allow the sun to sanitize. So that means bath towels are reused between washings. Hand towels are put in the laundry after company has used them.
Annette says
I’m with you on the hand towels used by guests. If I’m having a crowd then I set out paper guest towels.
Kim says
Every three days, except for the teenage boy that needs a new one every day. Growing up we never re-used a towel – it went straight to the laundry. It wasn’t until I traveled internationally in high school that I found out people were hanging towels up to dry and reusing them.
Gail says
For us, it depends on where we are living. Moving around with the military, we lived where it was very dry (desert) and where it was humid.
When we lived somewhere dry – once a week. When we lived somewhere humid – at least twice a week.
Tammy says
Team HH. Once a week, same as I change the sheets. Yes, there’s a toilet in my bathroom, but in this house we close the lid before we flush to avoid spreading all those germs. I’m clean as I’ll ever been getting out of the shower, so I just don’t think the towel is going to get very dirty drying me off. Personally, I don’t need the extra work of doing them twice a week and every day seems like a jaw-dropping waste of resources.
Erin says
Washcloths get used once. Bath towels, twice at most. Hand towels – I usually swap those out every mid-day & evening. And we don’t use paper towels or napkins, so kitchen towels & cloth napkins get swapped out all day long. And I wash on the sanitize setting. I can’t imagine letting this sit for so long. Squeaky clean out of the shower or not, there’s still skin cells & lingering moisture while it dries. I just feel dirty if I dry off with an old towel!
Margo says
Usually once a week is all we wash ours. If you’re coming out of the shower clean, shouldn’t be a problem. We live in a dry climate and the towels dry fairly quickly once hung up. We also live in an area where water is expensive so I try to do full loads as much as possible with an HE machine.
Paula says
I do the every 3 days.
cat says
I use a new towel/ face cloth every day! I go back and wipe up any water spills on the floor, wipe the faucets off, so not reusing the towel until it’s washed.
eliz says
How does the bacteria get from the toilet to the hanging towels without touching?
Peg says
It’s the toilet flushing that spreads the germs.
eliz says
Oh, I didn’t know that. So if the lid is shut every time before flushing there is no problem?
Jaren says
It definitely helps decrease the spread of germs.
Lana says
We use clean towels everywhere in the house every day. Reusing towels is gross to me.
Carolyn says
Bed sheets and bath towels once a week. Kitchen towels are changed daily!
Patti says
Every Wednesday and Sunday, we also dry them for 20 min after using
Laura Z says
I use a clean washcloth every time and a fresh towel every other time. I’m with you — anything else harbors bacteria and dead skin cells. I’m big on saving water and power, but I’d rather take a shower that is a minute shorter and use a clean towel.
Marianne says
Once a week (minimum) unless the towel is visibly dirty
Denise says
We wash our towels every few days. You’re clean when you dry off anyway. Wash cloths are only used once and then in the hamper they go. I think as a society we’ve become a little obsessive about germs. Back in the day folks wiped off each day and took a Saturday bath. At least we don’t have to do that!
Cindy says
I suppose another question is how often do you shower? I use a towel per week but I shower 3-4 times a week.
JamieH says
I launder all out linens every three days on the hottest wash and hottest dry cycle my wash and dryer can perform.
It’s pillow cases. The thought of spending all week on the same pillow case just gives me the icks!
Kelli says
Wash cloths are used once and washed, hand towels washed every couple of days and bath towels are washed once a week. Kitchen towels are changed out during the day at least once. We always keep our toilet shut which makes a difference to me, the info I’ve seen on flushing a toilet with out shutting the lid is so scary!
Heather says
We do exactly the same at our house. We also put a small amount of bleach in when we wash the towels and wash cloths. They are both white so we do not have to worry about fading.
Nancy says
My routine: Use clean washcloth every day, use clean towel (hung to dry) every 2-3 days in winter – more often in summer when humid and not drying out as quickly. Wash load once a week in hot water and dry on high heat. Always put toilet lid down before flushing.
Nancy says
I forgot to add…kitchen hand towel(s) get only one day’s use. I also don’t wash dishes with a dish rag (is that what you call it?) They gross me out for some reason. And I love paper towels too much. I know, not good for environment so I am trying to lessen.
MB says
We change bedsheets and towels once a week, kitchen towels and napkins every day and we don’t use washcloths. When our son was post- transplant his towels got washed every day on sanitize but his sheets still only once a week per doctors. We live where it is dry so towels dry quickly. LA is too dusty to hang things out to dry unfortunately… Also when we travel we never have the housekeepers come into the room but we also never stay at one place for more than two nights because of vacation time.
Linda Sand says
I use a clean washcloth every time but a clean bath towel only once a week. We keep our toilet closed.
Kathy of PA says
I have a question for those who use vinegar in your laundry. Do you use distilled white vinegar or apple cider vinegar?
A friend wants to know…
Karen Picoult says
Use white vinegar. It helps remove any soap or detergent residue. Put it in your fabric softener dispenser just as you would the softener. The fabric softener does NOT allow the towels to absorb the moisture it is drying off your body.
Kathy of PA says
Thank you Karen for the information on the white vinegar! I will start using that.
Nance says
On HH team. Use hydrogen peroxide with detergent for laundry.
Sue says
I’m still trying to wrap my head around a husband opining on a household chore that’s not on his short list.
Bold move.
Cindy says
My guy does ALL of our laundry
Virginia says
You’re hilarious, Sue.
I’m in the fresh-towel-every-day camp. However, if my spouse enjoyed the fruits of my labor but argued they’d be satisfied using the same unwashed towels after several weeks of use, I’d insist they test that theory!
debbie in alaska says
once a week or every other week on towels. hand towels get washed more often.
sheets I change once a week or every other week … I also do the covers because dogs. I shower at night so I almost always get into bed squeaky clean.
Cheryl says
I wash towels every two to three days. The idea of weekly or every two weeks makes me gag. Hand towels and kitchen towels and washcloths everyday unless something happens and are dirty. You didn’t ask but sheets once a week.
Pat says
I’m with you 100%.
Lina Correa says
Once a week.
Donna says
I can go two showers per towel.
Vanessa Strawder says
Having raised 3 boys and not trusting just how clean they were after showering- I got into the habit of washing towels frequently and using a clean one each time.
Probably could do the “every 2-3 days” now; with the exception of wash cloths and hand towels- those I use clean to wash my face and wash when damp or if guests use.
Barbara Dougherty says
I wash them once a week.
Michele White says
Team Mavis.
Sue S. says
Bath towels weekly. All other towels every couple of days. I hang my bath towels by the gas fireplace and they get dried fast and hot.
Pamela Sheppard says
How often I wash them and how much I use them are two different things. I do laundry every 6 to 7 days except during the height of the summer heat. Then it’s more often. I use each towel 3 times to dry off after a shower. I have very hard well water and they start to smell or get stiff after that many uses. During the hot humid summer I usually only use them twice because they smell musty. Yes they are hung in-between uses to dry. Even though I am clean after a shower I don’t want to dry off with a towel that is funky.
Juana says
Team Mavis for sure!! I wash mine every 2-3 days.
Amy says
Every. Single. Day. I want my clean body to be dried by a CLEAN towel. Just thinking about using a dirty towel skeezes me out.
Cindy says
I wash my towels once a week but we only shower every other day. It’s an interesting thought.
Robin Martin says
I wash more often in the summer because the humidity and heat make them mildew faster. In the winter I only do them about once a week, the heat vents help to dry them and the added bonus puts moisture in the air. Plus we shower almost every day in the summer, and 2-3 times a week in the winter so it all works out for us.
Kathleen says
Team Mavis!
Linda says
winter- every 5 days Summer more often.
Brooke says
After EVERY use!
Beth W. says
Towels every 2-3 days, sheets once a week – hand towels daily :0) My husband would
keep using his but I pull it and hang him up a new one!
Chris says
Team HH. Saturdays are for cleaning all towels and sheets. I used to be all about my “expensive” thick plush bath towels. They would take forever to dry on the towel rack and in the dryer. When they don’t dry they start to smell. I’ve switched to “thin” towels and I love them. They dry much faster.
PNW Gramma says
We use our towels three times and then launder. Live in a super dry climate and commode in separate room. For many years washed after every use and then moved to the country where we were on a septic system and it couldn’t support that much water!
Michelle says
Do you know if water quality changes average length of time between uses? Since living in Central WA with hard water, I swear everything mildews faster than on the west side of the state. I will wash the bath towels after every other use. To me the towels begin to smell after that. No one else in the house smells the funk, however. I have a super nose though.
Michelle S. says
Team Mavis. We wash our towels every three days.
JulieP says
I must be the dirtiest person! Shower towels about every two weeks in winter every week in summer (we shower more) hand towels weekly but if I have a hot wash on, more often. Duvets and sheets fortnightly in summer less in winter. My husband although ‘retired’ still drives a truck a few nights a week when we are in UK so he sleeps separately, therefore, his bed weekly. Perhaps it’s a British thing my mum washed on Mondays once a week and sheets once a fortnight. She seemed to spend all day standing in the kitchen at her twin tub sorting washing out and even longer before she got that, so maybe subconsciously I decided I would never be a slave to washing, who knows! I like a clean bed and towels but not so much since the cost of power doubled.
Oh and toilet closed and flushed towels kept on bannister between showers so hopefully not too germy 🙂
Julie says
Maybe it’s the “Julie’s….?
I too wash our bath towels about every two weeks or even more in the winter and in the summer. Of course I wash them more often maybe every week maybe every week and a half but hand towels and kitchen towels are all sanitized after one or at the, two days…. I do find that if I sanitize them when I wash them even bath towels, they just stay clean or longer….. Sheets every two weeks or so.
Part of my desire to not wash them all the time as I had a cousin who washed them every time and they had great big fluffy towels, and the poor lady was Worked! To! Death! I don’t want to be married to my work.! 😉
Nancy D says
This is SO fun to read ALL the different ways methods used to handle laundering towels. I just read them to my husband and we laughed and tried to recall which method our moms used. Then we both recalled the continuous cloth towels that were in public places (especially gas station restrooms) that you pulled on a dirty section until a new dry section came out for you to dry your hands on. I pulled up an image of that online and we shuddered.
We live in a humid climate and wash every other day at least because drying them on the towel bar (separately and completely opened up flat) they still get a funky smell.
We have family from the South and they always take a quick shower before bed so they wash towels daily but sheets every two weeks. Thanks for the fun questions Mavis!
P.S. search: vintage continuous cloth towel dispenser 😉
Kathy says
This is kind of funny because I just read an article online Tuesday about how often to wash towels (if I remember correctly, the author is Team Mavis) .Apartment living certainly limits me to how often I wash things, since it costs me to use laundromat. Once a week BUT I use things like distilled white vinegar and Lysol Laundry Sanitizer. Each load I do, clothing, towels and bed linen (once a week on that too) get a shot of the sanitizer where bleach goes and the vinegar where softener goes. I also use as hot a water as possible for the towels and linens.
Gayle says
Once a week was enough probably because we both worked full time and the lovely day off was used to catch up with housework. 4 people living in the house meant at least 4 set of towels and washcloths. Of course clean towels were available if needed!
Tracy T says
Team HH
Jules says
Every Monday and Thursday. That’s when I do laundry, so everything gets washed then. When you live in the humid PNW, towels and washcloths start to smell after a few uses. My kitchen towels and dishcloth get changed out daily
tc says
I wash ours weekly and we are still alive, it must be a miracle. If we use a towel after a hike or at the beach we wash after that use because it will have dirt. If you get out of a shower you should be really clean and we hang our towels up.
Jackie says
Team HH!
Tracy L. says
Towels-team Mavis FOR SURE. I had a friend whose family couldn’t get rid of staph. The Drs said to wash towels more often and in HOT water and NOT to use them more than once. Problem was solved. So I guess that stuck in my head. But I also get the heebie geebies drying off with a “used” towel. Always a new towel and washcloth.
Sheets-Every week without exception. More often if someone has been sick.
Carrie Valentin says
Team HH