Franka Kruse-Gering

November 11, 2026, 10:23 am | Read time: 4 minutes

There is no one-size-fits-all answer. How often a towel should be washed depends on factors such as what it’s used for, how many people use it, and whether it can dry properly after use.

How often should you change towels?

From a hygiene perspective, it’s especially important that towels can dry as quickly as possible after use. Ideally, each household member should use their own towel.

The frequency of changing towels varies depending on their use, explains Kerstin Effers from the Consumer Advice Center NRW. Towels used for drying hands are often used frequently and shared by several people. Therefore, they should be changed and washed more often. The same applies to washcloths: Since they are used wet, they remain damp for a relatively long time.

With bath towels, you can be a bit more relaxed. “Bath towels are usually used only once a day and should be changed once or twice a week,” the expert explains. However, they must be able to dry well after use.

Why damp towels can become a hygiene problem

Moisture is a crucial factor. If a used towel stays wet or damp for a long time, microorganisms find favorable conditions.

“Microorganisms like fungi and bacteria can only multiply when water is available,” explains Effers. Studies also examine the formation of so-called biofilms on towels, according to the expert. 

A fairly clear warning signal can even be recognized by oneself: a musty smell. If a towel smells unpleasant, it should not just be reused.

“A musty smell is definitely a warning sign,” says Kerstin Effers. Fragrances in detergents, for example, would not solve the actual problem.

Also interesting: How to make hard towels soft again

Do you always have to wash towels at 140 degrees Fahrenheit?

Not necessarily. If no one in the household has a contagious illness, towels can certainly be washed at 104 degrees Fahrenheit, according to the expert.

However, a hotter wash cycle should be run regularly. Effers recommends running a 140-degree Fahrenheit wash with bleach-containing detergent about every two weeks, but at least once a month. This can reduce biofilm formation in the washing machine. Towels can be washed at the same time.

“A washing temperature of 140 degrees Fahrenheit and bleach-containing detergent are completely sufficient to combat bacteria, fungi, and viruses,” the expert explains.

The drying method can also make a difference. According to Effers, drying outdoors in the sun further reduces the germ load on towels.

More on the topic

Hygiene How Often Should You Change Washcloths and How to Wash Them Properly?

Investigated Freshly Washed Laundry Smells? Here’s Why

Are hygiene rinses for towels useful?

Those who want to get their towels as hygienically clean as possible might also use a hygiene rinse. However, this is not necessary in a normal household.

The expert points out that hygiene rinses burden the environment and the health benefits of such products are not sufficiently proven.

Instead, washing temperature, detergent, and thorough drying play a key role. Regular 140-degree Fahrenheit washes with a bleach-containing detergent are sufficient, according to the expert.

Different rules apply in case of illness

An important exception exists if someone in the household has a contagious illness. Then stricter hygiene rules apply.

Towels, washcloths, and bed linens of the sick person should be changed frequently. It is also recommended to wash them in a machine at at least 140 degrees Fahrenheit with a bleach-containing detergent.

Textiles that have come into contact with infectious vomit or stool, for example, should also be washed separately from other laundry at at least 140 degrees Fahrenheit. Especially with contagious gastrointestinal illnesses, consistent hygiene in the bathroom, toilet, and kitchen is important.