While towels are used as part of our cleaning process, they are, in fact, extremely gross.
Research shows that towels in both the bathroom and kitchen are rife with fecal bacteria like coliform, E. coli, and Staphylococcus aureus, as kitchen sinks, drains, and toilets are home to a lot of bacteria. Bathrooms and kitchens are often warm, damp, and sometimes dark—the ideal breeding ground for germs. Plus, some people (even post-COVID) don’t wash their hands thoroughly and transfer contaminants to their towels when drying as a result.
Beyond bacteria, towels accumulate sweat, sloughed skin cells, and all kinds of personal products. While you may not get sick every time you touch a dirty towel, your risk is higher if you have open cuts, dry skin, or a compromised immune system, and it can exacerbate skin conditions like acne, eczema, and athlete’s foot.
How often to wash your towels
You almost certainly need to wash your towels more often than you currently are, but the exact frequency depends on how you’re using them:
Bath towels: Bath towels should be washed every few uses (anywhere from two to five)—especially if they aren’t allowed to dry fully between uses or are especially close to your toilet, where they are likely to build up bacterial contamination very quickly, or if you have kids in the home.
Hand towels: Hand towels likely get used more frequently and by more people than bath towels, so these should be rotated out and washed every other day.
Kitchen towels: Kitchen towels need to be replaced at least once a week if you’re using them for a single task (wiping counters or drying hands or dishes). If towels are multipurpose or have any meat juice on them, swap them out after each use.
Gym towels: Wash sweaty towels after every use. The same goes for any towel that has touched any bodily fluid.
If your towels smell funky, that’s a sure sign they need a good wash. And if you or anyone in your home is sick, err on the side of washing even more frequently.
How to actually clean your towels
We’ve written a guide to washing your towels the right way, but the key elements are very hot water (the hottest setting, at least 140 degrees Fahrenheit), laundry detergent, and a long stint in the dryer until bone dry. Some experts also recommend a detergent with activated oxygen bleach. Avoid fabric softeners when washing towels.
While it may seem wasteful and take more time, each type of towel should be washed alone and separate from other laundry, including sheets, which need a different combo of washer settings and dry time, to avoid cross-contamination.
Finally, don’t toss your towels in a hamper or basket while they’re still damp. Hang dry or wait until you’re ready to do laundry before piling them up.