How often should you wash bathroom towels?

Since our bodies are clean when we use our towels to dry off, is it really that important that we wash them all the time?  The answer is yes. And here’s the reason why.

Every time you use your towel, it becomes a breeding ground for bacteria to thrive. Dead skin cells, waste particles, and fungus are just some of the germs that may be living on your towel. 

Pretty gross, right?

Recommended washing 
Germs love towels, especially ones that are damp because they contain the moisture, warm temperatures, oxygen, food, and neutral pH that the germs need to survive. Although the microbes that grow on our towels may not be harmful, we should still be washing our towels a lot more. 

Under normal circumstances, The Cleaning Institute recommends that you wash your bathroom towel every 3-5 times they are used, not every 3-5 days. 

If your towels have an odor, microbes are growing, so they should be washed right away. Also, if you work out consistently, play sports, are sick, or have a physically demanding job, you may want to consider washing your towels after 1-2 uses, just to be safe. 

What water temperature should be used? 
According to Philip Tierno, a professor of microbiology and pathology at the New York University School of Medicine, detergent itself is not enough to kill dirt and germs. You need to use a water temperature that’s between 140 and 150 degrees to kill bacteria.   

Tips for getting rid of germs
Some of the things you can do to help win your battle against germs include:

• Use the right concentration of bleach
• When chlorine bleach isn’t an option, use a product that has peroxide in it
• Regularly clean your washing machine with bleach and hot water 

Now that you’re aware of how often you should wash your bathroom towels, make sure you have equipment that can help you stand up to the dirty – okay, really dirty job. Contact Appliance Warehouse today. We make appliance leasing easy and convenient!