Suggested Inventory – How Many Towels Do I Need? Adults: Four bath and two hand towels per week, plus two washcloths per day.
The Ideal Number of Towels per Person
Keep three sets of towels for each individual who lives in your household—one in the wash, one in the closet, and one in use. This ensures there is always a towel in reserve for when you might need it.
The Rules of Thumb to Follow
"We suggest four bath towels (two in use, two in the wash) supplemented with two hand towels, and two washcloths—perfect for one adult," says Liz Eichholz, creative director and co-founder of towel brand Weezie.
How Frequently To Replace Towels. The frequency with which you replace your towels really depends on what you're using them for. "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 ...
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. Tierno.
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.
We would recommend everyone in the home having their own set of towels, made up of at least 2 hand towels, 2 bath towels and 2 bath sheets. This can vary slightly, particularly the larger sized towels.
“A good rule of thumb is two full sets of towels per person in your household,” Elks adds.
The short answer is no — you should use a separate towel for your face than the one you use to dry your body (like, you know, including your butt) after a shower.
The experts at Brooklinen agree. “We recommend washing bath towels after every three uses, or at least once a week, to ensure truly clean towels,” said Kate Elks, Brooklinen director.
However, the best space-saving towel folding method is the spa-style roll. Rolled towels take up significantly less space than flat folded towels. Rolled towels can be stored easily in other places if you have limited storage space.
When choosing a bath towel color, consider your personal style and the mood you want to create in your bathroom. Soft, muted colors such as lavender, light green, and baby blue create a calming atmosphere, while bright, bold colors like red and orange energize the space.
In general, showering every other day or every few days is enough for most people. Keep in mind that showering twice a day or frequently taking hot or long showers can strip your skin of important oils. This can lead to dry, itchy skin.
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.
"If you or others are using a blanket every day, you may want to wash it once a week or once every other week," says Dr. Engelmen. "But blankets that aren't coming into contact with the skin's oils and bacteria may only need a wash every month or so to eliminate things like dust and pet dander."
Luxury bath towels can run close to $100—but you don't have to spend that much. You can find quality bath towel options that tick all our boxes for $40 or less. The key is knowing the difference between a low-cost, low-quality option and an affordable, high-quality one, which you now know thanks to our handy tips.
In summary, the number of towels you need depends on several factors, including the size of your household, your laundry routine, and your personal preferences. However, as a general guideline, you should have at least one bath towel per person, two hand towels per bathroom, and two washcloths per person.
While only 9% admit they wouldn't want to wash in front of each other, this drops even lower to 5% after four to five years together. And completing the top three is sharing bathroom towels, with 84% of partners willing to use one another's.
Don't just leave your wet towels lying around after use or hang them on a hook somewhere, or throw them into the washing machine. The host may have a rule of his own to wash the towels according to the type. Either throw your towel in the laundry basket or ask the host. Be careful not to use your imagination here.
Bacteria spread through shared towels can enter the body through pores, cuts, sores, and wounds. These are some of the most common illnesses that arise from towels: The bacteria that causes staph infections grow quickly in damp conditions that towels cultivate.
Because bacteria and even mildew can be easily transferred through an overused towel, “You should use a separate towel for your face, and another one to dry your body after a shower,” Sobel says. “The products you put on your body, such as fragrances and hair products, should not also come in contact with your face.”
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.
You should wash your towels and washcloths after every 3-5 uses, although some experts say your washcloth should only be used once before washing. When it comes to replacing your bath towels and washcloths, there's no hard and fast rule. You just need to pay attention to the absorbency and softness.
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.