How Often Should You Wash Your Towels?

　　Ideally, each towel should have a designated purpose. For example, you don’t want to wash your face with the same towel you use to dry your hands because it may lead to cross-contamination of different bacterias.

　　This also means towels should have their own respective cleaning schedule. And, the more you use your towel, the more frequently you should wash it.

　　Consider these general washing frequencies depending on your towel type.

　　wash your towels often

　　Bath Towels and Sheets

　　Many people already know that bathrooms are breeding grounds for bacteria, but more bacteria are likely living on your shower floor and shower curtains than on your toilet seat. As you get clean in the shower, you are interacting with these bacteria — which can then also transfer to your bath towel as you dry yourself off.

　　Most people wash their towels about once every week or every other week in their households, but you should really wash your bath towel after every two or three uses. In a commercial operation, such as a hotel, towels should be thoroughly cleaned after guests are done with them.

　　Washcloths

　　Like bath towels, many people keep their washcloths stored in their bathrooms. After you finish washing your face, you may simply hang your washcloth up to dry — but now the bacteria that was on your face can thrive on your washcloth. To keep your washcloths as clean as possible, throw them in the washer at least every two to three days. If you use washcloths in your business, for example, a salon or spa, wash them after every use.

　　Dish Towels

　　Dish towels are commonly used to dry off dishes and hands, as well as clean up messes. But, are you really keeping your dishes and hands clean if you dry them off with the same towel you used to clean a spill?

　　If you’re using the same kitchen towel for all your kitchen duties, start giving them their own jobs instead. Dedicate one kitchen towel for cleaning up spills, another for drying your hands and a third towel for drying your dishes — and whether you’re in a home or business, be sure to have a designated area to put your used dish towels so they can’t get confused with clean ones.

　　For dish-drying towels, give them a deep cleaning about once a week. Your spill-cleaning towels should be deep-cleaned at least a few times a week, or as-needed after cleaning larger spills.