It’s a chore that many people dread.
And now it turns out you’ve probably been doing your laundry wrong.
Experts from Which? have revealed how often you should wash your towels – and say that overdoing it could explain why your towels are crispy and scratchy.
As a one-size-fits-all answer, the experts recommend washing your towels after every three-to-five uses.
However, the frequency will depend on several other factors.
This includes what the towel is used for, and whether or not you have any children or pets at home.
‘You might find yourself wondering how often you really need to wash your towels, but the answer depends on your household set up, and how you look after them,’ the consumer champion explained.
So, are you overdoing it, or should you be upping the ante?
Experts from Which? have revealed how often you should wash your towels – and say that overdoing it could explain why your towels are crispy and scratchy
How often should you wash your towels?
According to the American Cleaning Institute, towels should be washed every three-to-five uses – provided they are hung up and allowed to dry completely between each use.
But in certain cases, once a week should be plenty.
‘Other professionals advise around once a week, especially for hand towels,’ Which? said.
‘But you can probably stretch this by a few extra days if you live alone or know for sure you’re the only one using your towel.’
However, you’ll need to increase your washing frequency if the towel is used to dry your face, or if you live in a busy household.
‘If you have children or pets at home – or can’t rely on some members of your household to hang them up to dry between uses – you might find you need to wash your towels more frequently (potentially once every few days),’ Which? advises.
‘Anything used to dry your face should ideally be washed after one or two uses.’
Over time, you might notice that your towels become crispy and scratchy. Thankfully, Which? has an easy fix to return your towels to their original, fluffy state
How to wash towels
Over time, you might notice that your towels become crispy and scratchy.
Thankfully, Which? has an easy fix to return your towels to their original, fluffy state.
‘Try soaking them in a mix of water and white vinegar (one cup of vinegar to four cups of water is a good general guide),’ Which? advised.
‘Then rinse off the vinegar and machine wash at 40°C rather than 60°C, making sure the load is no more than three-quarters full to ensure room for the towels to move around.’
While you might be tempted to reach for the fabric softener, Which? actually advises against this.
‘We’d also recommend avoiding fabric softener and using less detergent,’ it said.
Once your towels have been through the wash, immediatelly shake them ‘vigorously’ to help fluff up the pile.
Then, you can either dry your towels on a line, or pop them in the tumble dryer.
‘If you don’t have a garden with a washing line or a tumble dryer, a heated clothes airer will help speed up the process and give you better results than drying them on a clothes horse,’ Which? added.
