How often should you wash your bath towels?

The general rule is towash towelsafter three uses or once a week.

While this rule may seem simple, it still leaves room for many laundry questions.

hands putting towels into washing machine

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Is the three-use rule the same forall types of towels?

Will washing that often turn your towels from fluffy to flat?

When your towel is dirty, and you know it, just wash it.

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The experts at Brooklinen agree.

So if three uses is the rule, whats preventing people from following it?

What Kind of Towel Material Washes Best?

Maintaining maximum softnessstarts with buying towels that have a high cotton percentage.

This is why most luxury towels boast about being 100% Turkish or Aegean cotton.

These towels will be able to withstand more wash cycles without losing their absorbency.

you might find the GSM (grams per square meter) or percentage of cotton on most towel labels.

Bath towels that are soft and absorbent will have a GSM level of 600-900.

What is the GSM of the towel?

Its the most important thing about the towel that no one knows.

The higher it is, [the towels] are going to feel more fluffy and absorb more water.

If you buy a quality, well manufactured towel, it withstands about 1,000 washes, Kia says.

Hotel-quality towel manufacturers say that they should meet about a thousand washes in an industrial machine.

Air drying your towels properly between uses is important to maintaining a clean towel, Elks says.

And the secret to maintaining maximum fluff?

Before placing towels in the dryer for a tumble dry, give them a good shake.

This aerates the cotton loops and allows water to absorb better in and out of the dryer.

Should You Wash Towels in Hot Water?

Now comes the actual washing and drying part of keeping your towels clean.

Its also best to avoid bleach because it breaks down the fabric, which prevents absorption.

To keep any towel in top shape, we recommend washing on a cold cycle, says Elks.

Skip any fabric softeners or conditioners, as they will decrease the absorbency of your towels.