How many days in a row should you use a towel?

Author: Flavie Schuster  |  Last update: Wednesday, July 9, 2025

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.

How many days should you use a towel?

"Bath towels and hand towels should be laundered after every three uses," says Dr. Maender. "This helps remove the contaminants that can cause infections and reduce odor-causing bacteria." No one likes a funky-smelling towel, but potentially harmful microbes represent the important health concern.

Is it okay to use the same towel for 2 days?

Towels absorb a lot of water and remain damp for hours, which is the perfect breeding ground for unwanted germs. That's why towels should be washed every three uses.

How many times should you use a towel in a row?

Whether you share a bath towel or not, it still needs to be washed after three uses. Bath towels can last a little longer than hand towels because you don't use them as often a day.

How quickly do bacteria grow on towels?

“On day zero, when the towels are washed and still not used, you can still culture bacteria from the towel. On day one, the bacterial count increases. On day five of use, your towel contains so much bacteria, which I'm sure some of you can smell.

How To Make Your Old Towels Feel Like New Again

Is reusing towels sanitary?

Do you Wash Your Bath Towels Often Enough? Damp and reused towels are considered “breeding grounds” among microbiologists. Also, almost all bathrooms contain many elements that can lead to microbial life (water, warm temperatures, and oxygen), this is what makes them a perfect breeding ground for microbes.

Can diseases be spread through towels?

Bath towels may harbor different microorganisms that can cause infections. People need to wash their bath towels regularly to prevent the spread of these microorganisms. Many everyday household items, including towels, can harbor bacteria or other pathogens that may cause a person to feel unwell.

Is it okay to use a towel for a week?

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.

How often should you throw away your towels?

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.

Should you wash towels in hot or cold water?

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.

Is it OK to stay in the same clothes for 2 days?

There's no hard and fast rule for how many times you can wear clothing again, but experts say there are a few types that should be washed after every use: underwear, socks, tights, leggings and activewear. This advice also applies to any other clothes with stains, sweat, odor or visible dirt, Mohammed said.

Should you wash your towel after every shower?

How often should I wash my bath towels? 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.

How often does the average person wash their towels?

Many of us will pop them into the washing machine once a week, while one study of 100 people found about a third of them did so once a month. A few, according to one survey in the UK, admit to only doing it once a year.

Where to leave wet towels?

A heated towel rack is arguably the best place to hang your wet towels, as its primary purpose is to help dry towels after use. Hanging your wet towels on this device will help them dry faster, preventing mold, mildew, and bacteria from accumulating and ensuring you have a dry towel for next time.

Should you use a washcloth to wash your body?

If you love using your washcloth for showers, then Dr. Schlessinger recommends reserving it for use on the body. “The best way to wash your body with a washcloth is by using a gentle touch, don't scrub your skin too hard and avoid rubbing body acne or other skin irritations,” Dr.

What does the Japanese towel method do?

The Japanese doctor claimed the method could strengthen the core muscles, reduce back pain, correct bad posture, and even tighten up the waist.

What is the Spartan method?

The Spartan method is more than a historical curiosity; it is a powerful framework for achieving excellence in today's world. By integrating the principles of discipline, resilience, minimalism, community, continuous learning, and strategic thinking into our daily lives, we can unlock our full potential.

Is it better to not use a towel?

Your saving grace is moisture, in the form of body oil and lotion. Both are great at moisturizing, but body oil topped with body lotion is winter's match. This is where not using towels comes into the picture. Damp skin absorbs body oil significantly better.

How to sanitize towels?

While vinegar on its own is a miracle worker, it becomes a superstar when coupled with baking soda. To perform this deep clean, you'll need to run two towel-only loads. But, in this method, you load the towels with a quarter cup of baking soda first. Then run the washing machine on the hottest cycle possible.

How many days should you use one towel?

We would recommend a bath towel needs washing after every 3-5 uses, and that's a maximum! You may think your towel is clean as you're using it to dry yourself after a bath or shower, but realistically you're scraping off dead skins cells straight onto it.

Can you catch chlamydia from towels?

Chlamydia cannot be passed on through casual contact, such as kissing and hugging, or from sharing baths, towels, swimming pools, toilet seats or cutlery.

What happens if you use the same towel for too long?

In fact, studies have shown that towels can harbor bacteria such as Staphylococcus and Escherichia coli, both of which are commonly found on human skin and in the gut. If you go too long without washing your towel, these microbes can form biofilms that are difficult to remove and may even dull the towel's appearance.

Can STDs live on fabric?

Most sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) cannot be transmitted through clothing.

Previous article
Does hydrogen peroxide neutralize chlorine?
Next article
What happened to Fels-Naptha soap?