This is how often you have to wash your towels

Towels are probably one of the most used items in your home. They're constantly being used and need to be cleaned often - which feels ironic since that's what we use to clean ourselves with, but it's actually not. There are a few things you should know about washing them so they last longer, keep their softness and don't develop mould or mildew.

You wash your towels every week, right? Not so fast. If you're going to keep your family healthy and safe, it's important to change out those towels on a regular basis. How often should you wash them? The answer depends on how often they're used and what they're used for. So here's what you need to know:

Bath towels

Bath towels are the most used and dirtiest towels in your home. They're also the ones most likely to cause skin irritation, so it's important that you wash them at least after every third use according to MindBodyGreen.

Read more:This is how often you should wash your bras

Hand towels

If you're like most people - I am people - your hand towels are used more frequently than bath towels. If they are visibly dirty, then they should be washed after every use as well.

Dish towels

You should also wash your dish towels every other day. They should never be used to dry hands or dishes because they're too rough on the delicate skin of your hands (and won't do a good job of it anyway). In the same way, if you use them for food prep and clean-up, they'll pick up bacteria and viruses that can transfer to serving plates and glasses when you use them again later.

Still baffled? Remember that a good rule of thumb is to wash once every two days or so. But don't throw in the towel just yet *pun intended* as it really depends on how much use they get! Besides, who likes mouldy and wet towels instead of fluffy and cosy ones?

Read more:

⋙ This is how often you should shower in a week

⋙ Here are the 10 places you always forget to clean at home

Sources used:

Mindbodygreen: A Microbiologist On How Often You Should Be Washing Your Towels