November 2, 2022, 3:46 pm | Read time: 2 minutes
Both towels and cleaning cloths need to be washed eventually. Should they be washed separately in the washing machine, or can personal care and cleaning textiles be thrown into the drum together? myHOMEBOOK consulted an expert.
Is it unhygienic to wash bathroom towels together with cleaning cloths? Bernd Glassl from the German Cosmetic, Toiletry, Perfumery and Detergent Association (IKW) answers this question with a clear no: “It depends on the right combination of washing temperature and detergent type.”
How to Wash Towels and Cleaning Cloths Together
He recommends two approaches if you want to wash dish towels, dishcloths, washcloths, and towels together.
Option 1:
You can wash towels and cleaning cloths at a low temperature of 40 degrees Celsius. It’s best to use a full or universal detergent in powder, granule, or tablet form. These solid detergents contain bleach and therefore have a higher cleaning power. Thus, a lower washing temperature is sufficient. However, not all textiles should be washed with oxygen-based bleach. This applies, for example, to items whose colors should be preserved.
Also of interest: Why You Don’t Save Money with the Quick Wash Program
Option 2:
Alternatively, wash the textiles at a slightly higher temperature of 60 degrees Celsius. For this, use a combination of liquid or solid color detergent or a liquid full or universal detergent. The latter does not contain bleach and therefore better preserves colors.
However, according to Glassl, there is something to watch out for: The washing machines must reach the temperatures of 40 or 60 degrees Celsius for this option. This is not the case, for example, if you wash with an eco-program or select the wrong program. Always check before the wash cycle to ensure you have made the correct settings.
Properly Cleaning Dish Sponges
Not only should towels and cleaning cloths be washed regularly, but dish sponges and cloths must also be cleaned. Otherwise, countless germs and even pathogens can accumulate on them. However, they should never be placed in the microwave, as potential pathogens do not die off there. They can even multiply more effectively afterward. Find out the correct way to do it here.