How often should you wash your towels?
When it comes to linen and towels, chances are you may not be washing them as often as you should. Is there a hard and fast rule? We've got all the household advice you need to keep them (and you) clean and fresh.
After a hot shower the last thing you want to reach for is a musty, damp towel, but even if you're not a grotty student you may find you're not washing your towels enough…
How often?
You need to wash your towels after every three to four uses. This is because dead skin cells tend to linger in towels. Think about how many uses, not necessarily days. Towels that are used after a workout need to be washed more often. If your house is a damp environment, you might want to think about changing your towels more frequently as moisture may breeding ground for bacteria.
Philip Tierno (a microbiologist and pathologist at the New York University School of Medicine) told the Business Insider that if you can dry your towel completely, use it no more than three times. "A damp towel is growing," Tierno said. "If there is odour coming from the towel, wherever there is odour, there are microbes growing so it should be washed." But, in the article, he added that there's no need to panic, as it's hard to say whether the microbes on your towel are harmful - most germs in the home aren't dangerous.
How to clean towels
The experts over at the Good Housekeeping Institute gave us the lowdown on how to get towels as clean and fluffy as possible. Here's how head of testing Verity Mann recommends you do it...
1. Wash them at as high a temperature as possible, preferably 60°C but check the towel's care label to avoid shrinkage. 'This ensures you kill any germs that may be lurking on the towel.' says Verity.
2. For white/pale towels, use a biological powder as they contain enzymes to break down protein, starch and fat-based stains, bleaching agents, and optical brighteners to whiten. For coloured towels, use a biological detergent specially designed for colours to help stop them from fading.
3. Use fabric conditioner, but only occasionally, as it reduces their absorbency.
4. Tumble-drying is the best way to keep them fluffy and soft, and skip the radiator – that will make them go hard! 'Before they go in the tumble dryer, give them a good shake as it helps them remain fluffy over time.' says Verity.
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