The bathroom is usually utilized several times a day.
For this reason, it’s easy to overuse its items.
For example, most people know they are supposed to change their toothbrushes often. Yet some people rarely change theirs unless they’re broken.
Towels are other essentials that are often overused.
So, Is it OK to Use the Same Bath Towels for a Week?
A good bath or shower brings some relief. But, nothing can throw off all that hygiene like a dirty towel. Ideally, you need to wash or change the bath towel you use at least once every week and your washcloth several times a week.
Why Should You Wash Your Towels?
You need to clean your towels for various reasons.
One is that damp towels contain body secretions picked up from your nose, anus, mouth, and genitalia.
In the end, you are left loaded with various microorganisms that sit on the towel.
Dermatologists say that dirty towels harbor fungi, bacteria, and other germs that may cause skin problems.
So, you need to wash your towels frequently to kill off these germs and protect your health.
How Often Should You Wash Towels?
The answer depends on various factors.
If you bathe every day, it means washing towels twice a week.
You don’t need any particular cleaning routine. Regular laundry should be enough to get rid of dirt from your towels.
But when it comes to washcloths that you use to shower, you need to clean them after every use and dry them before using them again.
On the other hand, you need to change hand towels after one or two days since they are used more frequently, and sometimes wipe hands that haven’t been properly cleaned.
Some factors, however, may need you to wash your towels more frequently.
For instance, if your body towel has fluid on it, you need to wash it after a single use.
Additionally, since gym towels tend to soak sweat, they need to be washed after one use.
Also, wash towels that are usually kept damp in the bathroom after a single use.
Washing your towels frequently and allowing them to dry prevents bacterial and fungi growth.
Here are other considerations to help you determine how frequently to wash your towels.
1. How It Dries Between Uses
Germs love a wet environment. So, they will mostly grow in a damp towel compared to a dry one. Remember that all living things need water to survive.
Microorganisms aren’t different. The more they are supplied with high humidity, the more they will grow.
Hanging your towel in the bathroom exposes it to high humidity.
So, it will take quite some time to dry, which encourages the growth and survival of organisms.
It is never advisable to store your bath towel in the bathroom.
Hang them outside the bathroom to allow moisture to evaporate.
If you touch your towel and feel it is wet hours after you shower, please wash it first and let it dry.
2. How You Wipe Yourself
As surprising as it is, this factor determines how often you should wash your towels.
Your towel will have less debris if you wipe your genitals and butt correctly after showering.
So, it is unlikely to harbor germs and pathogens.
Therefore, teach yourself good wiping hygiene if you don’t want to wash it more often.
3. Skin Conditions
People with warts, toenail fungus, jock itch, and athlete’s foot need to wash their towels frequently to prevent germs from spreading to other body parts.
Dirty towels can worsen eczema or dermatitis by transporting bacteria to other skin parts and causing irritation.
Additionally, using a dirty towel increases your risk of lesions if you have acne.
Washing your towels frequently is advisable if you have any of these skin conditions.
What If You Don’t Wash Your Towels?
Unfortunately, our skin still carries some dirt and cells even after showering.
All these are dumped on the towel we use. So, it is crucial to wash your towel frequently. If you don’t, you risk bacteria multiplying on the towels.
Even though you wash off bacteria when showering, some will remain on the skin and stick to your towel when you wipe yourself.
When these bacteria are present, they begin to multiply. They will keep increasing with every use.
Remember that bacteria thrive in a dark and moist environment.
So a steamy bathroom is very conducive, especially since the door remains closed most of the time.
In the worst-case scenario, the dirty towel could give you an infection.
When wiping our bodies with towels, we tend to scratch the skin, providing a potential entry for bacteria.
It is not common to get a disease from using bath towels.
However, when you share towels, you increase your risk.
If you have acne-prone skin, it’s best to wash your towels after use, especially if your pustules are open. Remember that bacteria can enter through them and cause zits.
The Best Way to Wash Your Towels
Wash towels using the highest temperatures. 60°C is mostly recommended.
However, confirm the right temperature from your towel’s label to prevent shrinkage. But generally, a high temperature will kill germs that may be on your towel.
It’s OK to wash towels with regular clothes. However, don’t wash towels with underwear.
Usually, used underwear have bacteria from the genitals and feces.
And if you are not using bleach, your water will have some bacteria from these places.
Experts suggest you avoid using fabric softeners on towels as they reduce absorbency. However, if you want to use them, do so sparingly.
Lastly, remember to tumble-dry your towels to keep them fluffy and soft.
But shake them before you put them in the dryer.
And don’t put towels on the radiator as it will over dry them and make them hard.
References
https://www.today.com/series/one-small-thing/how-often-should-you-wash-bath-towels-t111625
