September 9, 2025, 2:56 pm | Read time: 3 minutes
Musty, hard, or thin towels can result from common cleaning mistakes. But what is the correct way to proceed, and how often should you really wash towels from the bathroom and kitchen?
Warm and humid environments provide ideal conditions for bacteria–and that’s exactly what they find in towels, whether in the bathroom or kitchen. Food residues, skin flakes, and hair quickly turn towels into a paradise for germs. Therefore, it’s all the more important to wash them regularly and correctly. Cleaning expert Julia Horti from the cleaning portal Helpling has compiled the most important dos and don’ts for towel care.
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6 Mistakes When Cleaning Towels
1. Mistake: Not Replacing Towels Often Enough
After washing your hands, you use a towel. The problem is that you may not have washed all the bacteria off your hands thoroughly, and they spread onto the towel when drying. Microorganisms thrive in the damp cotton fibers, so the cleaning expert recommends: “Replace all towels, whether in the bathroom or kitchen, at least once a week.”
2. Mistake: Drying Towels Incorrectly
Spread-out towels take up space that many don’t have in the bathroom. Some prefer to fold their damp towels and stack them–this saves space but creates perfect conditions for bacteria and germs due to trapped moisture. Therefore, towels should always be hung out to dry.
3. Mistake: Cleaning Towels Incorrectly
The 40-degree wash cycle is not enough to kill bacteria in towels. Only washing towels at 60 degrees truly eliminates the germs.
Also interesting: How to Make Hard Towels Soft Again
4. Mistake: Too Few Towels in the Kitchen
In many households, a towel hangs in the kitchen for drying dishes and hands. According to Horti, this is a mistake because you should use different towels for each. A study examined dish towels for bacteria–89 percent of the towels were found to have disease-causing intestinal bacteria. Using the same towel for both hands and dishes spreads germs onto clean dishes, increasing the risk of illness.
Also interesting: Should You Wash Cleaning and Hand Towels Together?
5. Mistake: One Towel for All Body Regions
One towel is not enough to dry your head, body, and face after showering. You should use a separate towel for each body region to avoid unknowingly rubbing bacteria like intestinal germs onto your face.
6. Mistake: Sharing Towels with Others
If multiple people live in a household, each should have their own towel for the body, head, and face. The reason: Everyone has their own skin flora, which can be disrupted by bacteria from other bodies. If towels are not properly cleaned after use, bacteria are spread among users, increasing the risk of illness.
When Should You Dispose of Towels?
As long as towels still absorb moisture, they can be used without concern. “If the towel becomes thinner and the fibers lose structure, it’s time to throw it away,” explains the expert.