Changing towels in the bathroom | Villeroy & Boch

How often should you change towels?

Fresh, clean towels are essential for a well-maintained bathroom. But how often should you change towels – and what other factors should you consider when it comes to bathroom towels? We tell you all you need to know about changing towels in your bathroom.

Ideal usage period for bath or shower towels

As well as hand towels, bath and shower towels are essential items in the bathroom. Bath or shower towels are usually larger to allow us to easily dry our entire body after showering or bathing. But any germs that survive our cleansing routine can permeate the fibres of the towel when we dry our body.

Tiny particles of skin and fat can also penetrate a towel’s fibres where bacteria can then find an ideal breeding ground. When the toilet is flushed, germs can be carried in splashes of water and end up on towels. It is a good idea to hang your shower or bath towel over the radiator after use as damp towels allow germs to proliferate faster. Damp towels also increase air humidity which in turn encourages the formation of mould in the bathroom. After visiting the gym, put any damp towels that have been sitting in your sports bag straight into the washing machine.

In general: Change a shower or bath towel at the very latest after five days. The ideal period is around three days – if you shower once a day. If you shower more often, for example, in the morning when you get up and after playing sport in the evening, you should change your towels more frequently.

Five towel mistakes to avoid

The contribution of correct towel hygiene in the bathroom to well-being and a healthy indoor climate is often underestimated. These five mistakes are particularly common:

Overly vigorous towelling of hair & face:

Rubbing your face and hair dry after showering doesn’t do them any good. Friction from the towelling material can irritate sensitive skin and damage the protective skin barrier. Hair can break and develop split ends. A better solution: Gently dab your face and hair and wrap your hair into a turban with the towel to allow the moisture to be slowly absorbed.

Sharing towels:

Families, couples or people in shared accommodation often share a towel in the bathroom. This is not a good idea: Studies show that 90 per cent of all bathroom towels show signs of faecal bacteria. In particular where towels are used by several people. To prevent the spread of germs, everyone should use their own towel.

Not changing towels regularly:

Given their frequent use, hand towels often barely have time to dry, and in many cases are used by several people. Hand towels in the bathroom should ideally be changed daily, and at the very least every three days. Facecloths should be washed after each use. If anyone in the household has a cold: Wash towels as often as possible.

Not using enough towels:

Do not use your hand towel for your body or face. Hand towels harbour the highest amount of germs. It is best to use a separate towel for each area.

Not washing towels correctly:

As well as changing towels regularly, washing them correctly is important for hygiene. All towels should be washed in a cycle of at least 60 degrees and ideally 90 degrees. Germs and bacteria can survive at cooler temperatures. A little fabric conditioner or a spin in the tumble dryer will make hot-washed towels feel pleasantly soft again.

Summary: Changing towels

How often you need to change your towels depends on their usage. Facecloths should be changed after each use. Hand towels should be changed daily and bath or shower towels every three days. Each member of a household should use their own towels, with a separate towel for face, hands and body. Drying towels correctly and washing them at a temperature of at least 60 degrees will keep them clean for ideal well-being.