Experts advise washing bath towels after two to five uses
Laundry experts say towels need time to dry between uses and should be replaced when they lose absorbency, smell musty or feel rough.
By Priya Raghavan · Science Reporter
3 min read
Laundry experts say bath towels should generally be washed after two to five uses, a schedule meant to limit soil buildup, odors and mildew. They also say towels do not last indefinitely: thinning fabric, stubborn smells and weaker absorbency are signs it may be time to replace them.
Frej Lewenhaupt, owner and CEO of the clothing care company Steamery, told NBC Selected that towels should be changed out and laundered after every two to five uses. He said a bath towel needs to dry fully between showers or baths because lingering moisture can support bacteria and mildew growth, which can cause unpleasant odors.
Lewenhaupt recommended rotating between two towels so each has enough time to dry before it is used again. NBC Selected reported that keeping at least two clean towels available during the week is especially useful for people who shower more than once a day.
When to wash, and when to swap
Lewenhaupt’s guidance does not call for washing a towel after every single use in most cases, according to NBC Selected. The timing can change depending on bathroom humidity, how thoroughly the towel is cleaned in the wash and whether it dries well after use.
If a towel stays damp between showers, NBC Selected reported, it can begin to develop mildew and odors. In that case, a person may not need to run laundry immediately after one use, but may want to switch to another clean towel while the first one dries.
Salvador Villarreal, co-founder of VIP Cleaners & Laundry, told NBC Selected that towels typically should be replaced every two to four years, depending on their quality and how often they are used. He said towels should be retired once they become thin, rough, permanently stained, persistently smelly or less absorbent.
NBC Selected reported that an older towel may feel noticeably different from a new one after years of washing and use. If odor remains difficult to remove after a normal wash, the outlet reported, that can be a sign the towel is past its useful life.
How experts say to wash towels
Villarreal told NBC Selected that towels should be washed separately from regular clothing and cleaned in warm water. He advised using the recommended amount of detergent rather than adding extra, saying cleaner laundry depends more on washing technique and temperature than on using more detergent.
He also cautioned against heavy use of fabric softener. According to Villarreal, fabric softener can coat towel fibers and reduce absorbency.
Drying is part of the cleaning process, according to the experts cited by NBC Selected. Villarreal said towels should be dried completely before they are folded or put away, while Lewenhaupt said full drying between uses helps prevent the conditions that lead to mildew and smell.
Key towel-care guidance
- Wash bath towels after two to five uses, according to Lewenhaupt.
- Rotate between at least two towels so each can dry fully between uses, according to Lewenhaupt.
- Replace towels every two to four years, depending on use and quality, according to Villarreal.
- Discard towels that become thin, rough, stained, persistently odorous or less absorbent, according to Villarreal.
- Use warm water, the proper detergent amount and thorough drying, according to Villarreal.
This story draws on original reporting from NBC News.