How Often Should You Wash Towels? UK Hygiene Guide
You should wash bath towels at least once a week, or after every 3 to 4 uses if they dry fully between uses. Hand towels, face towels, washcloths and gym towels need washing more often. This is because they collect more moisture or get used more frequently.
Wash any towel sooner if it smells musty, stays damp or gets shared. Towels may touch clean skin, but they still collect moisture, body oils and dead skin cells. A warm, damp bathroom also slows drying.
The goal isn’t to create endless laundry. A realistic towel washing routine should account for the towel type, how often you use it and how quickly it dries.
This guide explains how often you should wash towels, which temperature to choose and how to prevent musty smells. You’ll also learn how to keep towels soft and use laundry detergent sheets as part of a lower-waste routine.
How Often Should You Wash Towels?
Wash bath towels at least once a week, or after every 3 to 4 uses if they dry fully between uses. Wash them sooner if they stay damp, develop a musty smell or get shared with someone else.
How often you should wash bath towels depends on how you use and store them. A towel hung flat in a well-ventilated room will dry faster than one left crumpled on the floor or layered over another towel.
You may need to wash your towel more often if:
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Your bathroom stays humid
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Several people share it
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You have sensitive skin
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You use it after exercise
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It smells or feels damp
Hang your towel up straight after each use. Spread it across a rail or drying rack so air reaches the whole surface. Avoid hooks if they leave the towel bunched together.
Laundry Detergent GreenSheets™ provide a pre-measured dose and work in hot or cold washes. Use one sheet for a normal load, or two in hard water or for heavier loads. Always check the towel’s care label before choosing the wash temperature.
What Temperature Should You Wash Towels At?
Check the care label before choosing a temperature. Many towels wash well at 40°C. Shared or heavily soiled towels may need a 60°C wash if the fabric allows it.
The right setting depends on the towel:
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30°C uses less energy and may suit lightly used towels.
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40°C suits most regularly washed towels.
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60°C suits heavily soiled towels or loads with specific hygiene needs.
You don’t need to wash every towel at 60°C. Lower temperatures help to keep energy use down, and is a good choice particularly for items that aren’t heavily soiled.
Wash towels regularly and dry them fully between uses. If someone in your home has been unwell, choose the warmest setting allowed by the care label and follow any relevant health guidance.
For a sustainable routine, choose a natural laundry detergent that works in hot and cold washes. This lets you choose the right setting for each towel load.
How to Wash Towels Properly
Wash towels separately from clothing where possible. This gives them room to move and stops zips or fastenings from catching on the loops.
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Sort the towels: Separate whites from darker colours to reduce colour transfer.
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Check the care label: Follow the recommended temperature and drying instructions.
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Use the right detergent dose: Too much detergent can build up within the fibres and make towels feel stiff. Use one Laundry Detergent GreenSheet™ for a standard load, or two for hard water or heavier loads.
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Load the drum loosely: Towels absorb plenty of water, so avoid packing them tightly. Leave enough room for the drum to turn freely.
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Choose a suitable cycle: Use a full wash setting that matches the fabric, colour and level of soiling.
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Dry towels completely: Shake them after washing to loosen the fibres. Then tumble-dry or air-dry as the care label directs.
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Store them once dry: Even slight dampness can cause musty smells inside a cupboard.
This straightforward towel washing guide removes dirt and detergent residue while protecting the towel’s absorbency.
How to Stop Towels Smelling Musty
To stop towels smelling musty, dry them fully after every use and move them out of the washing machine as soon as the cycle ends. Damp fibres trap odours, especially in humid bathrooms or closed laundry baskets.
If you’re wondering why towels smell after washing, the cause may be:
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Overloading the drum
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Using too much detergent
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Leaving towels wet
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Folding them while damp
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Poor bathroom ventilation
More detergent won’t fix the problem. Excess product can cling to towel fibres and trap body oils. That’s why laundry detergent sheets work well for washing towels. Their pre-measured format removes the guesswork and helps prevent you from using too much detergent. Give towels enough room to move inside the drum too.
👉 Try Laundry Detergent GreenSheets for your next towel wash, from 19p per load.
Hang used towels across a rail rather than bunching them on a hook. After washing, shake each towel out and dry it completely before storing it. If the smell remains, wash the towels again and check that your washing machine doesn’t need cleaning.
How to Keep Towels Soft Without Overdoing Products
Using the right amount of laundry detergent helps keep towels clean without leaving excess product in the fibres. Too much detergent can build up over time, which may make towels feel stiff and reduce their absorbency.
With laundry detergent sheets, you don’t have to measure or pour detergent. Each sheet provides a pre-measured dose. For Laundry Detergent GreenSheets™, use:
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One sheet: Soft water and normally soiled towels
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Two sheets: Hard water or heavily soiled towels
Give towels enough room to move inside the drum. Once washed, shake them out to loosen the loops and dry them completely.
Fabric conditioner can soften suitable towels, but too much may coat the fibres and reduce absorbency. Follow the dosage instructions and avoid conditioner on towels that need to retain maximum absorbency.
Can You Wash Towels With Laundry Detergent GreenSheets™?
Yes, you can wash towels with Laundry Detergent GreenSheets™. They work in hot and cold washes, so you can follow the towel’s care label and choose the right temperature for the load.
Each sheet contains a pre-measured dose of non-bio detergent. Use one sheet for normally soiled towels in soft water. Use two sheets for hard water or heavily soiled loads.
Laundry Detergent GreenSheets™ come in three options:
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Fragrance Free
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Fresh Linen
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Lavender
Their compact format removes the need for messy pouring or bulky liquid detergent bottles. This makes them a straightforward, lower-waste choice for regular towel washes.
👉 Make laundry day a little bit easier, with Laundry Detergent GreenSheets™ (from just 19p per load!)
How Often Should You Wash Towels and Bed Sheets?
Towels usually need washing at least once a week. Bed sheets also benefit from a regular weekly wash, as they collect sweat, body oils and skin cells while you sleep.
Avoid washing towels and bedding together if this overloads the drum. Both absorb plenty of water and need enough space to move freely. Separating them can also stop towel fibres transferring onto your sheets.
For more advice on temperatures, drying and keeping bedding fresh, read our guide on how to wash bed sheets and bedding.
FAQs About Washing Towels
How Often Should You Wash Towels?
Wash bath towels at least once a week, or after every 3 to 4 uses. Wash them sooner if they stay damp, smell musty or get shared.
How Many Times Can You Use a Bath Towel Before Washing It?
You can usually use a bath towel 3 to 4 times if it dries fully between uses. A humid bathroom or poor ventilation may shorten this.
Should You Wash Towels After Every Use?
Most bath towels don’t need washing after every use. Wash face cloths, gym towels and towels used during illness after each use.
How Often Should You Wash Hand Towels?
Wash hand towels every 2 to 3 days. Change them sooner in busy households or if they feel damp.
How Often Should You Wash Face Towels?
Wash face towels after every 1 to 2 uses. If you use one to remove make-up or cleanse acne-prone skin, use a fresh towel each time.
What Temperature Should Towels Be Washed At?
Many towels wash well at 40°C. Use 60°C for heavily soiled towels or specific hygiene needs if the care label allows it.
Why Do Towels Smell After Washing?
Towels may smell after washing if they remain damp, receive too much detergent or lack room inside the drum. Dry them fully and clean your washing machine if the smell continues.
Can You Wash Towels With Laundry Detergent Sheets?
Yes. Laundry detergent sheets provide a pre-measured dose without pouring or guesswork. Laundry Detergent GreenSheets™ work in hot and cold washes.
Build a Better Towel Washing Routine
Wash bath towels at least once a week, or after every 3 to 4 uses. Hand towels, face towels and gym towels need more frequent washing. Change any towel sooner if it stays damp, smells musty or gets shared.
Dry towels fully between uses and choose a wash temperature that suits the care label. Use the right detergent dose and leave enough space in the drum to prevent stiffness and lingering smells.
Laundry Detergent GreenSheets™ make dosing easy. Use one sheet for normally soiled towels in soft water, or two for hard water and heavily soiled loads.
