How Often Should You Swap Your Towels Before They Become Gross?

There is so much we have to be on top of when it comes to adulting, and sometimes, towel hygiene doesn’t make the top of the list. But keeping bathroom towels fresh and sanitary is important for your health. Chances are, you might not be swapping them out frequently enough. 

How often should I wash my bathroom towels?

For bath towels: After every two to four uses, says Dr. Leah Ansell, MD, board-certified dermatologist at Treiber Dermatology Associates. That means if you shower once a day, you should swap in a clean towel about twice a week. If the towel is visibly dirty, stays wet between uses, or smells bad, it should be cleaned more frequently to prevent mildew, germs, and microorganisms, she says.

For face towels: You should swap every two to four uses. But if you have acne or rosacea or the towel is visibly dirty (like with makeup or tinted SPF), then you should wash or change daily. Oils from makeup and bacteria from skin can transfer over to your towel, and cleaning your face and then drying it with a dirty towel sort of defeats the purpose, says Ansell.

For hand towels: Ideally, swap these out every day, if several people use them. If possible, Ansell recommends you use a separate face and hand towel to keep things sanitary.