That towel has been hanging in the bathroom for a while...
Forget the sniff test - how often should you really be washing your towels?
Photo by LumenSoft Technologies on Unsplash
Bath towels
Bath towelscan get stinky fast, especiallydamp towelsthat haven't been aired out properly on a towel rack. If you're using yours every day to dry off after a shower, it can be used up to three or four times before you should replace it with a newbath towel.
If you or yourfamily memberssweat a lot during the day, or you have kids who've been playing outside, then consider throwing thosedirty towelsin thewashing machineon ahot watercycle more frequently.
If your towel is covered in stains and rips, then it is time to consider throwing it away for good. Come on, treat yourself to somefresh towels!
In fact, Charles Gerba, amicrobiologistat the University of Arizona, told Time that around 14 percent ofbath towelscarriedE. Coli, and some even carried traces of salmonella.
Dr. Gerbaadded that nearly 90 per cent of bathroom towels were contaminated with coliform bacteria - otherwise known as fecal organisms. Ewww...
Hand towels
Used by multiple people after a trip to the toilet,hand towelsneed to be washed every one or two days. Yes, really. While we might all have the best intentions, sometimeshand towelsin a bathroom are drying hands that aren't completely clean. The bathroom is the place where you're supposed to get clean, but it's actually aperfect breeding groundfor all sorts of nasties.
Tea towels
Tea towels can harbour nasty bacteria. To stay safe, you need to launder your dirty tea towels daily and only ever use them to dry clean, washed dishes. And always allow tea towels to air dry completely between uses - never use a damp tea towel.
How should I wash my towels?
To keep all your towels fresh and clean, wash in warm water in your washing machine, then tumble dry on low heat. It's best to wash towels separately - and be careful not to overload the washing machine!
