Experts Say You’re Not Washing Towels Nearly Enough—Here’s What to Do Instead

How often should you wash your bath towels? The general rule is to wash towels after three uses or once a week. While this rule may seem straightforward, it still leaves room for numerous questions about laundry. Is the three-use rule the same for all types of towels? Will washing that often turn your towels from fluffy to flat? Read on to learn about the best schedule for cleaning your towels, tailored to you and your family's needs.

How Often to Wash Towels

“When your towel is dirty, and you know it, just wash it. I know what state my kids and I were in when they used it,” says Raman Kia, founder and CEO of Havly Towels. “But the guidepost is to wash [bath towels] every three to four days if using them every day, hand towels every two days, washcloths every one to two days.” 

The experts at Brooklinen agree. “We recommend washing bath towels after every three uses, or at least once a week, to ensure truly clean towels,” said Kate Elks, Brooklinen director. “Brooklinen’s bath offerings, including bath towels and sheets, hand towels, and washcloths, only differ in size so that you can care for them all the same way.”

So if three uses is the rule, what’s preventing people from following it? For most, it’s not about cleanliness or water conservation; it’s about worrying how to preserve the quality, including fluffiness and absorption, of their towels. Read on to learn everything you need to know about washing your towels regularly to help maintain their softness.

What Kind of Towel Material Washes Best?

Maintaining maximum softness begins with purchasing towels that have a high cotton content. This is why most luxury towels proudly claim to be made from 100% Turkish or Aegean cotton. These towels will be able to withstand more wash cycles without losing their absorbency. You can find the GSM (grams per square meter) or percentage of cotton on most towel labels. Soft bath towels and absorbent ones will have a GSM level of 600-900. “What is the GSM of the towel?” Kia says. “It’s 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.”

How to Properly Dry Towels

What you do with these thick towels after a bath or shower is also important for keeping towels clean, absorbent, and mildew-free. “Air drying your towels properly between uses is important to maintaining a clean towel,” Elks says. “We recommend using a towel rack or bar instead of a hook to ensure that your towels dry quickly and reduce any bad odors from developing.” 

This means not letting wet towels pile up in the bathroom or sit in a hamper, and definitely don’t let them sit in the washing machine too long before transferring them to the dryer.  And the secret to maintaining maximum fluff? Shake it out! 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. Most people learned to wash and dry towels on the hottest cycle to kill germs, but this isn’t necessary when using a quality detergent. It’s also best to avoid bleach because it breaks down the fabric, which prevents the material from absorbing properly. “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.”  

Buying towels with a high cotton percentage, allowing them to dry completely between uses, and washing on a cold cycle will ensure that you can wash your towels frequently without sacrificing a luxurious bath time.