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Bathroom hand towels get dirty pretty quickly, so exactly how often should you change hand towels?
So exactly how often should you change hand towels?
Credit:Werner Segarra
Heres what experts have to say about keeping your bathroom hand towels clean and sanitary.
Stacy Goldberg
How Dirty Do Bathroom Hand Towels Actually Get?
Dr. Goldbachs rule of thumb is to wash hand towels every two to three days.
Credit:Stacy Goldberg
Whats the Best Way to Wash Hand Towels?
Liz Eichholz of Weezie Towels says, To put it shortwash on cold, tumble dry on low.
Contrary to popular belief, cold water will still kill germsand will leave your towels fresher than ever!
Credit: Carson Downing
Continued exposure to heat can actually damage the fibers and leave the towel feeling rough and stiff.
Just be aware that doing it regularly will likely shorten the towels shelf life.
If youre truly concerned, you might alwaysadd white vinegarto the wash to reduce bacteria.
Credit: Jason Donnelly
It can also make your towels fluffier without using fabric softener.
This is also more eco-friendly than laundry sanitizing products, which Dr. Goldbach does not recommend using.
When Should You Replace Bathroom Hand Towels?
Keep in mind that bathroom hand towels arent meant to last a lifetime.
High-quality towels should last one to two years, depending on usage and proper care, says Eichholz.
If you have young children or pets prone to making messes, you might want to have even more.
Hand towels will grow stiff and scratchy when detergent and fabric softeners build up on the fibers.
This will make them less absorbent and is a sign that you should throw them out.
What conditions encourage bacteria to grow?Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.
A., et al.
Effect of Water Temperature on Bacterial Killing in Laundry.Infection Control Hospital Etimology, vol.
5, 2015, Cambridge University Press, doi:10.1017/s0195941700065954
