How Often Should You Change Your Bath Towel?
How often should you change your bath towel? As a general rule, wash it after about three uses, though after every use is the gold standard. Aside from underwear and bed linen, bath towels come into contact with the most intimate areas of the body daily. Despite this, we tend to treat them with little regard, flinging our towels over hooks to dry and then all but forgetting about them until it's time for the next shower or they begin to feel (or smell) like they could do with a clean. So how often, exactly, should we refresh our bath towels? Read on to find out.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- Wash your bath towel after about three uses; after every use is the gold standard.
- Let towels dry fully between uses, ideally on an airer outside the humid bathroom.
- Damp, dirty towels can harbour bacteria, mould and mildew that irritate skin.
- Wash towels separately in hot water, and wash your gym towel daily.
FIRSTLY, WHY IS IT IMPORTANT TO USE A CLEAN TOWEL?
Towels come into contact with the entire surface of the skin from head to toe. Their job is to absorb moisture, but – combined with dead skin and oils from the body – this can create a breeding ground for germs and bacteria. Due to their moisture-wicking abilities, towels also have a tendency to stay damp for extended periods – especially in humid and poorly ventilated bathrooms. This can give rise to mould and mildew, which can transfer onto the skin and cause allergic reactions and inflammation. Dirty towels can also transfer bacteria onto the skin, which can result in BODY ACNE and clogged pores. Plus, they begin to gain an undesirable odour, a sure-fire way to ruin an EVERYTHING SHOWER.
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HOW OFTEN SHOULD YOU WASH YOUR TOWEL?
In an ideal world, you would wash your towel after each use. This would be the gold standard best practice in the world of towel hygiene. However, we understand that life gets busy so some leniency can be applied. Washing your towel after three uses is the general recommendation. Keep your towel fresh in between washes by ensuring it dries properly. Bathrooms are humid environments, so you may wish to hang your towel on a clothes airer outside of the bathroom. If you experience a skin condition, like ECZEMA or severe body acne, it's advisable to swap your towel after each shower or bath. These skin conditions compromise the SKIN'S BARRIER FUNCTION, making it more susceptible to infection and inflammation.
WHAT'S THE BEST WAY TO WASH TOWELS?
It's best to wash towels separately from your other laundry, both to prevent lint transfer and ensure they're being completely cleaned. Use hot water and a dash of detergent formulated with enzymes to break down dirt and debris. Pop your towels in the dryer on a low heat to retain that soft feel as it will help to fluff up the fibres. If air drying, shake your towels while damp (and then again once dry) to prevent the fibres from stiffening. Hand and dish towels should be washed just as frequently, if not more so. Please wash your gym towel daily.
RELATED READING
Keep your bathroom ritual fresh with SHOWERS VS BATHS: WHICH IS BETTER?, SHOWER CADDY ESSENTIALS and HOW TO CREATE A RELAXING BATH AT HOME.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
HOW OFTEN SHOULD YOU CHANGE YOUR BATH TOWEL?
Wash your bath towel after about three uses as a general rule. Washing after every use is the gold standard, especially in humid bathrooms where towels stay damp.
HOW OFTEN SHOULD YOU CHANGE YOUR TOWEL IF YOU HAVE ECZEMA OR ACNE?
If you have a skin condition like eczema or severe body acne, swap your towel after every shower or bath, as these conditions compromise the skin's barrier and make it more susceptible to infection.
CAN A DIRTY TOWEL CAUSE SKIN PROBLEMS?
Yes. Damp, dirty towels can harbour bacteria, mould and mildew, which can transfer to the skin and lead to body acne, clogged pores, irritation and inflammation.
WHAT IS THE BEST WAY TO WASH BATH TOWELS?
Wash them separately from other laundry in hot water with an enzyme detergent. Dry on low heat, or shake them while damp if air drying, to keep the fibres soft.
HOW OFTEN SHOULD YOU WASH A GYM TOWEL?
Daily. Gym towels collect a lot of sweat and bacteria, so they need washing after every use.
HOW DO YOU KEEP A TOWEL FRESH BETWEEN WASHES?
Make sure it dries fully between uses. Hang it spread out on a clothes airer, ideally outside the humid bathroom, so it does not stay damp.