# Do you use bath towels more than once before washing? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [March 3, 2012, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-use-bath-towels-more-than-once-before-washing/614663 "2012-03-03T19:28:16Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![SharkB8](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/977dab/32.png) [@SharkB8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SharkB8)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2012, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-use-bath-towels-more-than-once-before-washing/614663/61 "2012-03-04T21:08:19Z")
> [@Batsinma\_Belfry](#): > > Wow, I had no idea I was taking a military style shower. My shower stall is small and there’s no room to move away from the water in order to lather up properly. So, I just turn it off while lathering. I guess it’s to conserve potable water on a ship…so they make us do it at boot camp. I used to have a tiny shower like that too…I miss that apartment…I could cook on the stove from the shower. A topical thought–and I hit “New Posts” like 40 minutes ago and don’t feel like waiting another 20 to search for the thread–I remember something about whether people use bath cloths or not? I never understood how people just use the bar of soap. I suppose it’s cleaner than just rinsing, and you probably smell fine, but I like to exfoliate and scrub. A slimy bar of soap, I feel, would just slide right over natural (stanky) oils. My ex was a soap bar kinda guy. I never got the sense he was dirty, by any means, but I was completely cool with buying him a poof when he asked for it (which I know is another bacterial nightmare in itself, but unless we’re in an OR or some other sterile field, how clean are we really gonna get). ---
**Author:** ![Zeriel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/58956e/32.png) [@Zeriel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeriel)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2012, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-use-bath-towels-more-than-once-before-washing/614663/62 "2012-03-04T22:08:03Z")
I go somewhere between 1 and 4 showers between washing towels, depending entirely on how dirty the towel gets. I also work enough of a desk job that I basically don’t sweat all week, so. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2012, 12:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-use-bath-towels-more-than-once-before-washing/614663/63 "2012-03-05T00:24:31Z")
> [@Sally\_Mander](#): > > While I’d like to be able to indulge myself, and use a new towel with each shower, some of us have jobs and kids and other things going on that prevent us from doing laundry every single day. In addition, right now I have to schlepp it all to the laundromat, so towels get used more than once out of necessity. > > Plus, if your\* towels smell funky after one or two uses, I think you need to re-evaluate your showering standards. If you’re clean when you get out and dry yourself off, the towel isn’t going to be that dirty. Yes, I know you’re sloughing off dead skin cells when you dry yourself, but unless you’re drying yourself with a Brillo pad or sand paper, c’mon…it won’t be that bad. > > - Not necessarily you, **Guin** , I mean the general You. Well I hope you don’t mean me! I guess I’m just fussy, that’s all. To me, they don’t “smell funky”, I just feel better when I have a clean fresh towel. Plus, like I said, it’s not really all that much of a hassle washing towels everyday. _shrugs_ Clothing wash – yeah, that’s not as frequent, I admit, since it’s not like I don’t have clean clothes. I wash them a few times a week. But towels? Meh, who cares? It’s not a big deal, it doesn’t take that long, and I really don’t care. And no, my crotch isn’t dirty, nor are my feet. That doesn’t mean I want to rub my face in the same towel I used for them. (I at least hope you people don’t use the same washcloth. THAT is disgusting) ---
**Author:** ![jackdavinci](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackdavinci/32/3259_2.png) [@jackdavinci](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jackdavinci)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2012, 5:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-use-bath-towels-more-than-once-before-washing/614663/64 "2012-03-05T05:24:33Z")
I guess the issue of laundering and substituting in a new towel should be addressed. I have enough towels and clothes that the issue of when I launder is subject only to the vagaries of my schedule. I change to a new towel when the old one gets funky (which I take measures to prevent). I do laundry when I do laundry. ---
**Author:** ![Sailboat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sailboat/32/461_2.png) [@Sailboat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sailboat)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2012, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-use-bath-towels-more-than-once-before-washing/614663/65 "2012-03-05T18:12:31Z")
Why would I use a towel _before_ washing? I’m only wet _after_ I wash. ---
**Author:** ![phreesh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/9fc29f/32.png) [@phreesh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/phreesh)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2012, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-use-bath-towels-more-than-once-before-washing/614663/66 "2012-03-05T20:29:45Z")
Who is doing laundry daily? Who has storage for a fresh towels for an entire family that is swapped out daily? Everybody in my family has their own towel and washes it accordingly. I wash mine something like bi-weekly. My wife and daughter do theirs more. I don’t want to think how often my son’s gets washed. Fundamentally, I don’t understand people freaking out about germs. Dude, you just finished cleaning yourself. If you think you’re depositing disgusting filth onto your towels, you need to rethink your showering technique. ---
**Author:** ![purplehorseshoe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/purplehorseshoe/32/2996_2.png) [@purplehorseshoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/purplehorseshoe)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2012, 12:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-use-bath-towels-more-than-once-before-washing/614663/67 "2012-03-06T00:37:37Z")
**brad\_d** saved me some typing. My answer is the exact same. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2012, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-use-bath-towels-more-than-once-before-washing/614663/68 "2012-03-06T00:42:39Z")
Towels are washed weekly at my house. Unless someone grabs the towel to mop up dog pee. Then it gets rinsed well & washed immediately. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Astroboy14](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/df705f/32.png) [@Astroboy14](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Astroboy14)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2012, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-use-bath-towels-more-than-once-before-washing/614663/69 "2012-03-06T00:56:32Z")
You can wash them? Huh. ---
**Author:** ![Taomist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/53a042/32.png) [@Taomist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Taomist)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2012, 1:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-use-bath-towels-more-than-once-before-washing/614663/70 "2012-03-06T01:07:49Z")
> [@SharkB8](#): > > Ever since Coast Guard bootcamp, 75% of my showers have been [sea showers](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Navy_shower). I can wash my shoulder-length hair, shave pits/legs/bikini, and soup up and rinse in less than ten minutes. This is from a normal shower head. I have the detachable piece, but never use it. Hehe, I _can_ do that, but HAVING to have done that makes me appreciate just having a good, long shower without worries that I’ll be left with soap all over when the water’s turned off. In fact, one of the best Christmas presents I ever got was a 10 minute hot shower with fresh water; the captain was feeling generous 🙂 One boat I worked on had salt showers, which sounds…weird…and feels a little…weird…slippery, sort of…but it was all-you-could-use, which was wonderful. Fresh 3 minute showers twice a week just don’t cut it when you’re up to your pits all day in crab or fish, yuck. ---
**Author:** ![monstro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba9def/32.png) [@monstro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monstro)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2012, 1:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-use-bath-towels-more-than-once-before-washing/614663/71 "2012-03-06T01:49:06Z")
Once a week. I only have four bath towels and I hate doing laundry, so I make each one last. Laundry not only takes time, it takes money. I would go broke doing laundry every day. I’m all about keeping my utility bills down. ---
**Author:** ![jabiru](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/bbce88/32.png) [@jabiru](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jabiru)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2012, 4:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-use-bath-towels-more-than-once-before-washing/614663/72 "2012-03-06T04:15:22Z")
A towel lasts me three days: Day 1. Dry face and wrap around wet hair. Day 2. Dry limbs and body. Day 3. Use to stand/drip on. There are three adults living in this house and I do a load of towels weekly. I have enough towels and storage space in both bathrooms that we don’t run out. I don’t consider my habits wasteful (of power or water) or exceptionally dirty. ---
**Author:** ![papergirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/aca169/32.png) [@papergirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/papergirl)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2012, 11:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-use-bath-towels-more-than-once-before-washing/614663/73 "2012-03-06T11:43:12Z")
I do laundry almost every day, but there’s no real schedule to my towel washing. One kid hangs his towel to dry, another leaves hers on her floor, I’m not consistent myself (I usually hang one and carry the other around til my hair is dryish). Anything on the floor gets washed, otherwise we use them a few times. And…I hope you’re sitting down…we SHARE them. Not to put too fine a point on it, but if I’m willing to go down on my partner I can hardly pretend to be prissy about germs. ---
**Author:** ![phreesh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/9fc29f/32.png) [@phreesh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/phreesh)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2012, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-use-bath-towels-more-than-once-before-washing/614663/74 "2012-03-06T15:28:16Z")
> [@jabiru](#): > > A towel lasts me three days: > > Day 1. Dry face and wrap around wet hair. > > Day 2. Dry limbs and body. > > Day 3. Use to stand/drip on. > > There are three adults living in this house and I do a load of towels weekly. I have enough towels and storage space in both bathrooms that we don’t run out. I don’t consider my habits wasteful (of power or water) or exceptionally dirty. Just to be clear, does this mean that you have three towels for yourself in the bathroom at all times? ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2012, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-use-bath-towels-more-than-once-before-washing/614663/75 "2012-03-06T15:32:23Z")
> [@TonySinclair](#): > > And I frankly don’t understand how anyone can take a shower without a hand-held showerhead, or one that lasts less than twenty minutes. Mine are typically half an hour. My bubble baths don’t last half an hour :eek: ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2012, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-use-bath-towels-more-than-once-before-washing/614663/76 "2012-03-06T15:42:30Z")
I have no kids. I use two towels at a time, one to dry my face and then wrap my hair in, and one for the rest of me. I wash them about once a week. It’s just me and the SO and we both work in offices and take daily showers. I certainly have no need to wash them more often than that. Why make more work for myself? We only have enough to do laundry once a week, so I do it all at once. I take short showers, too. 3-7 minutes on average. Sometimes I’m really tired and try to take an extra long shower…which I find out takes me about 10-12 minutes even when I try. My SO on the other hand takes 20 minute showers minimum. I get bored and pruny if I take that long. ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2012, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-use-bath-towels-more-than-once-before-washing/614663/77 "2012-03-06T15:45:26Z")
> [@Dallas\_Jones](#): > > Even if you shower twice a day you are still rubbing off a lot of dead skin, body oils, sweat, deodorants, etc. How do you know that the part of the towel you are drying your face with the second time isn’t the part that you dried your crotch with the time before? Easy, I don’t dry my crotch with the towel. ---
**Author:** ![jabiru](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/bbce88/32.png) [@jabiru](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jabiru)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2012, 1:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-use-bath-towels-more-than-once-before-washing/614663/78 "2012-03-07T01:14:59Z")
> [@phreesh](#): > > Just to be clear, does this mean that you have three towels for yourself in the bathroom at all times? No, I have two. The towel which has become the floor towel goes to the laundry when I’ve finished the ablutions. Tomorrow, I’ll get a fresh towel from the cupboard for my face and hair and rotate the others as described. ---
**Author:** ![bubba\_jr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e95f7d/32.png) [@bubba\_jr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bubba_jr)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2012, 5:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-use-bath-towels-more-than-once-before-washing/614663/79 "2012-03-07T05:32:33Z")
They get washed when they smell like mildew. when I was in the northeast, that could be every other day, in the southwest, every 3 months, or even 6 months. I’m a “guy”, not a “man” so none of this really counts. I spent a year in college sleeping on a plain mattress because I was too lazy to put the mattress pad and sheet on that my mom had bought me. If it doesn’t stink too bad, I’ll dry my self with it or sleep on it. I’m not too picky, I’ve dried my self with a curtain when I had all my towels in the washer. I’ve showered with a garden hose and dried my self with a T-shirt. As long as I smell better than when I started, I was successful. ---
**Author:** ![breaking-reality](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a8b319/32.png) [@breaking-reality](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/breaking-reality)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2012, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-use-bath-towels-more-than-once-before-washing/614663/80 "2012-03-07T15:35:00Z")
I use them 2-3 before washing them usually. I don’t really have a method, I reuse the towel a couple times and then at the end of the week throw what’s on the floor or hanging on the hook into the washer. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-use-bath-towels-more-than-once-before-washing/614663.md?page=3)