The answer might surprise you.

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Key Takeaways

Laundryis an unavoidable chore, andwashing towelscan feel like a never-ending hassle.

But how often should you really wash them?

Clean laundry, guest bath towels rolled in domestic bathroom interior. Soft terrycloth material concept of bath towel stack for tidy room, homestay rental, or organization storage solutions. Real life home interior during morning day. Part of a series.

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We asked a cleaning expert and a physician to find out.

How Often Should You Wash Your Towels?

The same goes if you notice any skin irritation after using it," Murphy says.

“A clean towel should smell like nothingor, at most, like your laundry detergent.

Anything beyond that is a sign it needs a refresh.

How Often Should You Wash Hand Towels?

However, Murphy insists that hand towels need even morefrequent washingthan bath towels.

“I wash mine every two to three days.

How Often Should You Wash Your Towels If Someone Is Sick?

“There are some viruses that can be spread through shared towels.

And there are certain viruses that are much more hearty and hard to kill.

But dont worry about buying laundry sanitizers or other special products for cleaning hand towels.

I never recommend laundry sanitizers,” Dr. Goldbach says.

“Hot water with detergent should kill most viruses or bacteria.