# How often do you use a bath towel? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [January 10, 2012, 8:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-do-you-use-a-bath-towel/609036 "2012-01-10T08:41:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2012, 1:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-do-you-use-a-bath-towel/609036/21 "2012-01-10T13:57:02Z")
> [@halfliquid](#): > > I know people who think I’m ridiculous to use as many towels as I do. They say they use one large towel per week. I’ve tried doing that and go back to my old ways after two days. Am I wrong? You’re not _wrong_, it’s not like the Towel Police are going to bust you. However, you do seem to be using more towels than average. I use a new washcloth for every shower/bath as does my spouse, but the same two bath towels hang on the rack for a week. As others have said, you’re supposed to use the towels when you’re _clean_. We have two towels so that there is a dry one if both of wash in close proximity time-wise. If you have a houseguest supplying a towel just for them is polite, and serves the same purpose of making sure bathers have a dry one available. ---
**Author:** ![Norse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/a9adbd/32.png) [@Norse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Norse)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2012, 2:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-do-you-use-a-bath-towel/609036/22 "2012-01-10T14:30:48Z")
Once. Just once. Then it goes in the washer. I guess it’s from my school and college days with not-too-clean locker room floors, occasional athlete’s foot infections and all that, but the thought of vigorously rubbing my hair and face with a towel that has been used in my ass and on my feet just gives me the creeps. Ew. More direct midsection-to-face contact, like oral sex, is far from icky, though, so I’ll probably have to blame it on an irrational mind 😛 ---
**Author:** ![BetsQ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/fbc32d/32.png) [@BetsQ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BetsQ)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2012, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-do-you-use-a-bath-towel/609036/23 "2012-01-10T14:42:28Z")
Ours get washed once a week when the cleaning lady comes. Before we had a regular cleaning person, it was probably something in the ballpark of once a week, but probably a bit less frequent. I mean, there are four people in our house. I don’t think we could reasonably store or wash 28 towels for regular use, plus guest and beach towels and whatnot! What would really big families do? I suppose more frequent laundry is the answer, but that’s not really an answer I care for much. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2012, 2:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-do-you-use-a-bath-towel/609036/24 "2012-01-10T14:45:59Z")
I drip dry a bit while I squeegee my shower. I then dry with one of two very big, fluffy towels which I alternate daily. Every two to three weeks I wash the towels. ---
**Author:** ![Freudian\_Slit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5daacb/32.png) [@Freudian\_Slit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freudian_Slit)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2012, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-do-you-use-a-bath-towel/609036/25 "2012-01-10T14:48:36Z")
> [@Reply](#): > > Hell, I have the same three towels that I rotate through in sequence, one per day. After I shower and dry off with one, I let it hang by the window to dry from sunlight and fresh air. Then I move to the next one the next day. I make sure each one has two days of drying before using it again. It takes two days for your towels to dry? ---
**Author:** ![Sattua](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sattua/32/11906_2.png) [@Sattua](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sattua)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2012, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-do-you-use-a-bath-towel/609036/26 "2012-01-10T15:02:17Z")
I use the same towel once a day for a week. My husband, who does more dirty work, uses two (and they do get manky). I use a fresh wash cloth for every shower, though. I really hate having to re-use them at other people’s houses. ---
**Author:** ![Renie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ecae2f/32.png) [@Renie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Renie)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2012, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-do-you-use-a-bath-towel/609036/27 "2012-01-10T15:21:24Z")
I use a towel for a few days before washing, but am sure this comes from being one of eight kids. If we all would’ve used clean towles every day, my mom would have spent her life doing laundry. (though I think she pretty much did that anyway!) ---
**Author:** ![Moonlitherial](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4bbf92/32.png) [@Moonlitherial](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moonlitherial)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2012, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-do-you-use-a-bath-towel/609036/28 "2012-01-10T15:25:08Z")
> [@halfliquid](#): > > I know people who think I’m ridiculous to use as many towels as I do. They say they use one large towel per week. Yes but how many of your friends are halfliquid? I am in the one towel for a week (or so ;)) camp. I do go through a couple of facecloths a day however as I find that they just don’t feel the same after they drip dry. ---
**Author:** ![Omega\_Glory](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/7c8e57/32.png) [@Omega\_Glory](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omega_Glory)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2012, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-do-you-use-a-bath-towel/609036/29 "2012-01-10T16:06:58Z")
I use a new towel every time. My body might be the cleanest its going to be, after a shower, but it’s not going to be bacteria-free and I’m not going to rub bacteria from other parts of my body onto my face if I don’t have to. ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2012, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-do-you-use-a-bath-towel/609036/30 "2012-01-10T16:09:06Z")
I use my bath towel for 1-2 weeks, then it gets washed. I can’t imagine doing laundry every day or going through a new towel every day. They seem to dry just fine between uses for me. ---
**Author:** ![FloatyGimpy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/floatygimpy/32/7750_2.png) [@FloatyGimpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FloatyGimpy)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2012, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-do-you-use-a-bath-towel/609036/31 "2012-01-10T16:14:03Z")
> [@Reply](#): > > Hell, I have the same three towels that I rotate through in sequence, one per day. After I shower and dry off with one, I let it hang by the window to dry from sunlight and fresh air. Then I move to the next one the next day. I make sure each one has two days of drying before using it again. > > Been using them for almost a year now. They don’t really smell or get moldy… sunlight does wonders. Of course, unseen to the naked eye, they’re probably positively dripping with dead skin cells and harboring the latest Ebola strain. I’d hate to look at them under a microscope. So I don’t. I also don’t tell people I do this. Problem solved 😃 You _never_ wash your bath towels??? :eek: Wash your towels! I command it! ---
**Author:** ![Freudian\_Slit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5daacb/32.png) [@Freudian\_Slit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freudian_Slit)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2012, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-do-you-use-a-bath-towel/609036/32 "2012-01-10T16:22:15Z")
> [@FloatyGimpy](#): > > You _never_ wash your bath towels??? :eek: Wash your towels! I command it! I missed the fact that he never washes them. OK, that’s pretty horrifying. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2012, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-do-you-use-a-bath-towel/609036/33 "2012-01-10T16:30:14Z")
[Are towels supposed to bend?](http://dilbert.com/strips/comic/1995-11-24/) ---
**Author:** ![Rachellelogram](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rachellelogram/32/8689_2.png) [@Rachellelogram](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rachellelogram)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2012, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-do-you-use-a-bath-towel/609036/34 "2012-01-10T16:32:35Z")
I rotate the same two towels for two weeks before washing. So one week. As long as you take a properly thorough shower, you’re clean and the towel should be clean. Growing up I had to use a fresh towel every time, but the towels we had were practically threadbare. With a thicker towel, I find it’s easier to re-use. ---
**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:** [January 10, 2012, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-do-you-use-a-bath-towel/609036/35 "2012-01-10T16:54:57Z")
I can see someone washing their towel after every use IF they both: - have skin issues (as **Queen T.** mentioned upthread) AND - have the means to wash them conveniently (i.e. an in-house, non-pay washing machine) The OP does not have the latter and never mentioned the former. I, for one, am of the make-life-easier camp and can’t imagine putting myself through all that extra trouble for no discernible reason. That said, to answer the OP: The SO and I each have a designated towel that is hung to dry after each use, and washed once per week. No heated racks here, but then again, we have 100+ summers - there’s not much heated _anything_, really - and we don’t have humidity issues. I can’t speak for Mr. Horseshoe here, but I actually use a bit of toilet paper to dry my nether regions, which is probably irrelevant because we have a detachable (handheld) showerhead and I wash those bits very thoroughly beforehand anyway. ---
**Author:** ![Scubaqueen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c0e974/32.png) [@Scubaqueen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scubaqueen)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2012, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-do-you-use-a-bath-towel/609036/36 "2012-01-10T16:58:26Z")
> [@Dereknocue67](#): > > My bath towel is used once a day for a week between washings. After each use, it’s hung to dry. That, altho I change towels every \*four \*days the same as I do my bed linens. I should add that I have a separate towel for my hair, which is below shoulder-length and holds an astonishing amount of water even after I squeeze it out in the tub before getting out. Everything gets changed every four days as noted above. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2012, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-do-you-use-a-bath-towel/609036/37 "2012-01-10T17:17:36Z")
Change towels once a week. ---
**Author:** ![brainstall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/35a633/32.png) [@brainstall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brainstall)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2012, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-do-you-use-a-bath-towel/609036/38 "2012-01-10T17:19:54Z")
I don’t think I ever use a full size bath sheet towel - they’re too big. I do like a big towel for my body and one of my slightly smaller towels for my hair. They get replaced every four or five days. More often if I need them to make a full load for the laundry, or it’s been hot and I’ve showered morning and evening to cool off, less often if I forget to change them or don’t bother to shower for a day or two. ---
**Author:** ![Reply](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/reply/32/15952_2.png) [@Reply](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reply)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2012, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-do-you-use-a-bath-towel/609036/39 "2012-01-10T17:30:51Z")
> [@Freudian\_Slit](#): > > It takes two days for your towels to dry? Where I live, yeah. > [@FloatyGimpy](#): > > You _never_ wash your bath towels??? :eek: Wash your towels! I command it! Well, I wouldn’t say _never_. Just annually or so. I, um, really like to save water. Yeah, that’s it. ---
**Author:** ![Freudian\_Slit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5daacb/32.png) [@Freudian\_Slit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freudian_Slit)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2012, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-do-you-use-a-bath-towel/609036/40 "2012-01-10T17:51:04Z")
Where do you live? Mine dry in less than an hour… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-do-you-use-a-bath-towel/609036.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-do-you-use-a-bath-towel/609036.md?page=3)