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How Many Times Can You Use a Bath Towel Before It Needs to Be Washed?

Posted: Jun 4, 2015

Women's Health

May 31, 2015

Solve a household debate: How many times can you use a towel before having to wash it?

Three or four, say consumer and environmental health agencies. Any longer and towels can breed bacteria and mold.

Hang your towels properly: Spread them out on the rack (not bunched up) so they dry thoroughly. Before taking a shower, open the door and, if you have one, turn on the bathroom fan while bathing, so the air is less humid.

—Keri Petersen, M.D., internal medicine, Lenox Hill Hospital, New York City

Women's Health
May 31, 2015

Solve a household debate: How many times can you use a towel before having to wash it?

Three or four, say consumer and environmental health agencies. Any longer and towels can breed bacteria and mold.

Hang your towels properly: Spread them out on the rack (not bunched up) so they dry thoroughly. Before taking a shower, open the door and, if you have one, turn on the bathroom fan while bathing, so the air is less humid.

—Keri Petersen, M.D., internal medicine, Lenox Hill Hospital, New York City

;

Once ... - Sue

[ In Reply To ..]
and it has nothing to do with the efficiency of my bathing habits. I use that towel on places that aren't mentioned. No matter how clean those parts are (and believe me they are clean) I don't want to use that towel again. Same thing for the washcloth that I used to make them that way.

Why are so you grossed out by your own clean! body? I love my body - all its nooks, crannies, and juices. nm

[ In Reply To ..]
x

I'm guessing I shouldn't start mentioning... - see msg

[ In Reply To ..]
things like cloth panty liners and pads, menstrual cups, cloth nappies/diapers, cloth baby wipes and wee wipes for grownups, then? Some of the posters here might faint at the thought of dealing with those! ;-)

I have/do use all of the above except wee wipes but I'm working on it!

Chuckling at this --sm - anon

[ In Reply To ..]
I have heard of most though I never jumped on the Glad Rag bandwagon. I will say that I have considered the diva cup, just never taken the plunge yet.

god no gross. I never reuse a bath towel. I dry my privates - with that!!!!!!!!

[ In Reply To ..]
that is just nasty

Then you must not be washing it very well. - Now THAT'S nasty. (sm)

[ In Reply To ..]
I use mine for about a week.

Enquiring minds need to know... - see msg

[ In Reply To ..]
exactly what parts you're drying that mean your towel is getting nasty? I give the external, easily accessible skin-covered bits (talking about both myself and my young sons who still need my help) a quick dry with the towel but places like near the anus and vulvar vestibule air dry just fine in the time between washing and getting dressed. When I had stitches after childbirth, I used a hairdryer to help.

I wash towels once a week on average as they are dry within a couple of hours of use when hung properly. If they have stayed damp and are stinky (eg left on the floor in a pile) they go into the wash immediately, as do the towels my husband manages to get blood stains on when he cuts himself shaving his head.

I am just feeling nasty now because I use - towels/wash cloths

[ In Reply To ..]
for like a week or so before washing. I rinse them after washing but you guys just have me thinking more now.

In my house, washcloths for the body are single use--sm - anon

[ In Reply To ..]
But since towels are used after things are clean, I feel fine laundering them less frequently. In my kids bathroom, each kid has their own hand towel, washed once a week. Each kid has a different color. This helps prevent the spread of germs and since there are 4 of them, it enables the towels to dry quicker. The hand towel in my powder room downstairs is changed somewhat more frequently. I keep intending to get disposable towels for that room for guests but it does not happen. We also re-use cloth napkins, but again, everyone has their own and if somebody is sick they get a new one each day to stop the spread of germs. Of course, if a napkin or towel gets particularly dirty before hand, it gets laundered sooner.

If you use soap for your lady bits, doesnt it figure that the cloth is - then clean after your shower? nm

[ In Reply To ..]
x

The problem with washcloths is that they stay wetter longer--sm - anon

[ In Reply To ..]
therefore, they are a prime area for other things to grown on. Generally a washcloth is not necessary for the lady bits, running water works well. I use washcloths for my face and even with soap, there is make up on them so they are only used once or for my feet, which are pretty dirty in the summer. I refrain from soap in the lady bits, as it is more irritating.

You guys must be doing a lot of laundry! - anon

[ In Reply To ..]
I use the same towel all week and wash it once a week. My husband, my kids, and I each have a bath towel and hand towel that we hang in the bathroom and use for a week. I didn't know I was being gross! Ha, ha! I like really nice towels so I can only afford a couple of sets. I am the only one who uses a wash cloth. I use a couple of clean ones each time I take a shower...not reusing those!

Totally agree - marge

[ In Reply To ..]
I can't keep up with the laundry that there is. :) I do towels once a week.

Nooks and crannies air dry so--sm - anon

[ In Reply To ..]
We also wash them once a week except on the rare occasion it is really humid. Even if bacteria grows on them, I wonder how much of a threat that bacteria is. I also think it would be an irresponsible use of water to wash bath towels that often, especially as I have 4 kids. Kitchen towels though are changed daily because there is likely greater risk from those.

Kitchen towels. We use only paper towels - in the kitchen

[ In Reply To ..]
I know, the tree thing but my DH has a thing about germs being on cloths used for the kitchen.

Yes, we do too. - g.m.

[ In Reply To ..]
I have kids and try to stop the spread of cold and flu germs by using paper towels in the kitchen. I even use those bathroom paper towels in the half bath. I have a towel for just me because I get a rash from paper towels.

I don't use a cloth towel or washcloth on my - nether regions

[ In Reply To ..]
I use a different paper towel to wash each area, and then those paper towels are thrown away. It's the same thing for drying - just paper towels.

OUCH! - NM

[ In Reply To ..]
xx

Haha! - Paper Towel User

[ In Reply To ..]
I use Bounty paper towels, and they are strong, very absorbent, and not scratchy at all. :)

Wash cloth once, towel 2-3 times - justright

[ In Reply To ..]
hand towel changed every 3 days now, when the kids were here every day. Dish towel changed everyday.

You're clean when you use it, so all week. NM - Prismonic

[ In Reply To ..]
nm

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