Any towel should be clean when used. Which does not necessarily mean freshly washed, but depending on the towe function – bath, face, hands, kitchen, gym or other purpose – the washing, drying and even storage determine their good condition. Towels should not be overlooked and must be included in the list of household routines. Afterall using a towel in good lcondition is a question of hygiene and health protection , since it accumulates dust, skin cells, hair, microorganisms… How frequently should towels be washed? It depends. First, whatever the towel, when visibly dirty or bad smelling it should not be used – must be washed even if used only once. Secondly, if every care is taken (from personal hygiene to storing): In general, considering an average of one daily shower, bath towels should be changed every week ; Face towels should be changed more often – for instance, twice a week –, since they touch daily the eyes, mouth, etc; Hand towels of shared used in the bathroom should also be changed more than once a week . And the larger the number of people in the house, the higher the frequency (it could even be daily); In what concerns kitchen towels, the ideal is to change them daily , considering the repeated contact of the hands with foods and the eventual use by more than one person. But it all depends on usage, of course. Gym towels, carried along the training, should only be used once , for they repeatedly contact with sweat, numerous equipment and sometimes the floor… Bath towels used in the locker room should be changed regularly , in particular if they are kept wet in the gym bag until getting home and put to dry. In this case, it is better to use them only once. How to wash towels? According to the label instructions and/or the program indicated in the washing machine. In general, the recommended temperature is at least 60ºC. Improper drying may ruin everything After using (or washing), towels must dry properly . For that purpose, they should be put to dry open and spread, in a well-ventilated are a. The ideal is to hang them on a clothesline in the open air, if possible and when it is not raining or too wet. If the sun is shining, it is even better. If towels happen to catch rain, do not wait for the sun to shine again. They must be put in the washing machine for a quick rinse program, at least. When it is not possible to dry the towels outside (or in a drying machine), they should be hung in a dry place inside the house . A heated towel rack is also an option or near a half-open window. Just give it some thought and determine the best spot, which may vary throughout the year, depending on the weather and the conditions inside. Leaving used towels in moist environments, such as bathrooms, and what is more, folded or coiled, is halfway to let bacteria and fungi proliferate and cause bad smelling. Besides, the towels are likely to remain moist, which is not good for hygiene nor comfortable. Washed and dried towels should be stored in a dry place After being washed, towels should only be stored when perfectly dry . If ironed, they must cool down before storing. Ideally, like any other clothing item, towels should be kept in a drawer or closet in a room that is not moist. Therefore, the bathroom closet is, normally, not a good option . What about sharing towels? Not good hygiene practice at all! Each person should use his own towels. These items are not to be shared. But it is also common to have shared towels at home, namely near the sink in the bathroom for the hands and in the kitchen. And that is also why these towels should be changed more often (and dried). Not only for being used more frequently, but also by different people. And take notice: when someone is sick at home, he should use a hand towel just for himself and his towels must be changed more often until he is fully recovered . The content published in the Health Guide is intended for the general public and is provided for informational and educational purposes only. It does not replace individual medical assessment, diagnosis, or personalized clinical advice from a qualified healthcare professional. The content is produced or reviewed by physicians and other healthcare professionals at Hospital da Luz and is based on the knowledge available at the time of publication or the most recent update, as indicated at the beginning of each item.
