How to care for your towels to maintain hygiene

Towels are a necessary part of everyday hygiene, but they are quite underrated in our homes. Indeed, most of us don’t spare them a second glance and don’t spare much thought to the type and quality of towels we use, either. However, more and more people are becoming increasingly discerning about the kinds of towels they use, their heft and softness, and whether they are the right kind of towel for the purpose they are being used for.

For the uninitiated, there are different kinds of towels: hand towels, face towels, bath towels and gym towels. Within these, you can have variants like quick dry towels, printed towels, plain towels, and so on.

But did you know that maintaining towel hygiene with regular washing can lengthen their shelf life, and also keep your skin and hair safe from many infections? How often should you wash your towels? Using what? Let’s find out.

The case for one-time use towel washing

There are certain cases when you must wash your towel after just one use. These are:

• If you have used the towel to mop up bodily fluids
• If you have used the towel and left it to dry in a damp bathroom, and it doesn’t dry fully till the next wash (this gives rise to mould)
• If you have used the towel in the gym or after a run or brisk walk
• If you have skin disorders like eczema that can get worse with contamination from a used towel

Thus, make sure you buy cotton towels online from a premium brand if you are likely to wash them often, i.e. after one wash, to ensure that they last long.

Regular use and towel washing

Unfortunately, most of us go for long between towel washes. It might not cause immediate infections, but it makes your skin and hair prone to various disorders. Besides, towels used over and over again begin to cultivate bacteria and germs. Dirty towels can spread various viruses and bacteria to the skin.

• If you use bath and hand towels and let them dry properly before the next use, then you may certainly go up to one week before you wash your bath towel, and a maximum of two days before you discard the hand towel/face towel for a fresh one. If the towel smells musty, it needs to be washed and not reused one more time.
• Always let your towel air dry before you put in the linen basket or washing machine. This stops bacterial and fungal spores from growing and developing in the towel fibres.
• Refrain from using another family member’s towel. Each member of the family must have their own bath and face towels, especially in the light of the Coronavirus spread. Never touch or use another person’s gym towel.
• Don’t use bleach to clean your towels. A wash with good quality detergent in the washing machine should suffice. If you want to remove malodours, you can add diluted vinegar to the wash.
• Hot water is not necessary to wash towels. In fact, hot or boiling water can ruin the fabric integrity. Check the manufacturer’s instructions about washing when you buy towels online. Hot water should be used only to check bedbug or dust mite infestations.

Some people overload their machines with dirty bed and bath linen. This means that each item will not receive the requisite amount of soap and water that it needs for a proper wash. Refrain from washing gym and other towels with delicate clothing – put them in a separate load.