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Here's how often you need to clean your bath towels (spolier alert: they're dirtier than you think)
Experts say that not washing your bath towels enough can leave you vulnerable to acne, viruses and more.
Like with everything else in your house, we all know that when your towel is clearly stinky and visibly dirty and you know it, just wash it. But what about the times when your towels look clean between washes? How often should you be washing your bath towels?
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Here's the thing: Even though you're "clean" when using your towel to dry off, you can still leave residue buildup and unwanted bacteria on your damp towel that may lead to a range of infections. In fact, the folks at the venerated Cleveland Clinic go so far as to call your bath towel a "germ magnet." Fun!
One small 2021 study sampled towels belonging to college students and found that E. coli was present in all of them (I mean, we're talking college students, but still ... yuck). The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) states that excessive moisture can trigger a mold allergy. Meanwhile, New York-based board-certified dermatologist Lily Talakoub, MD points out that not washing your towels frequently enough can lead to unwanted skin conditions like acne and yeast infections.
Yeah, that's a lot. To make sure your towels are sufficiently clean and don't become a breeding ground for all kinds of nasties, follow these expert-approved tips on how often and how to wash your bath towels.
How often should you wash bath towels?
The general rule of thumb is that you should be washing your towels at least once a week, says Dr. Talakoub.
The Environmental Protection Agency says that any surface exposed to water and moisture can build up mildew, mold, bacteria and other pathogens. And Because towels absorb a lot of water and remain damp for hours, they're the perfect breeding ground for everything gross.
You know what else is generally damp and moist? Your bathroom. Because damp towels are hanging out in your humid bathroom, there's even more potential for bacteria to grow on them.
How often should you wash face and hand towels?
While the rules are generally the same when it comes to washing face and hand towels, there are a few exceptions!
"If you have any history of acne, yeast infections or cold sores on the skin, then they should be changed daily," advises Dr. Talakoub. It's always better to be extra safe when it comes to your face and hands.
How to wash bath towels
Luckily, regular laundering is sufficient enough to clean your towels. Just make sure you're doing it properly.
Before you even open your washing machine, check the laundry tag on the towel. Since there are so many different kinds of towels out there, each manufacturer has different guidelines for your specific towel. The point of washing your bath towels is to make them like new, not to destroy the fabric after drying them on a high heat setting when the tag says to tumble dry low.
Once you've checked that out, it's super simple. Per the CDC, laundering with detergent and the recommended water temperature is a sufficient way to clean your towels. Just make sure to dry your towels completely and never leave your towels in the dryer overnight unless you're confident they're completely dry.
How to dry bath towels
With moisture being such a prime offender, this is just as important as washing them. Since unwanted bacteria and mildew thrive in a damp environment, you want them to dry as thoroughly and quickly as possible. This also means you shouldn't leave them in your dryer overnight unless you're one hundred percent certain that they are completely dry.
Between washes, you don't want to layer wet towel over wet towel on a hook or pile them up in the bathroom. A great way to make sure your towels are dry is to invest in a towel bar so they can properly dry out.
Over 3,000 Amazon shoppers have given this classic a perfect five-star review. It's totally self-adhesive, meaning it doesn't require a drill and is renter-friendly. It comes in seven different sizes in silver (above) and matte black.
And if you want to get extra fancy and thorough about your towel care, heated's the way to go.
Take your drying to the next level with this heated rack. Ten toasty bars make quick work of the plushest bath wraps. You can also look forward to a warm, hotel-like swaddling when you step out of the shower.
Takeaway
Unless you have a history of acne, yeast infections, cold sores or any other open wounds and infections, it's totally sanitary to reuse your bath towel between washes — just make sure you're washing or swapping them out at least once a week. However, if your towel is visibly dirty, throw it in the wash and grab a new one.
Herewith, some of our favorite towels on the market right now.
Oprah named these luxurious waffle towels one of her Favorite Things for the 2022 holiday season. This spa-like set features two bath sheets, two bath towels, two hand towels and four washcloths.
This affordable six-piece towel set is the No. 1 bestseller in bath towels on Amazon — and shoppers are in love. This 100% Turkish cotton towel set has over 40,000 perfect five-star ratings and comes in 20 different colors
Shoppers say that these 100% cotton towels are the closest thing to hotel-quality you can get on a budget. They're super absorbent and, say reviewers, they never get damp.
The reviews quoted above reflect the most recent versions at the time of publication.
