Why We Shouldn’t Use the Same Towel More Than 2 Days in a Row

We all look forward to the refreshing morning shower that helps us wake up, and we can’t wait for our evening bath ritual to wash all the stress away. But if you reach for an old dirty towel that has been hanging in your bathroom for almost a week, chances are you won’t feel clean for long. That’s because towels absorb a lot of water and harbor bacteria that can grow over time, so it’s recommended to wash them after 3 uses. Whether you prefer to shower in the morning, at night, or twice a day, you are likely using your towel a few times daily, and reusing it for a few days in a row might lead to some less than pleasant consequences.

We at Bright Side agree that frequently washing your bath towels sounds like a lot of work, but doing so can actually help to prevent some annoying conditions.

1. It might cause your skin to break out.

You may be strictly following your skincare routine and using all the right products that should be working for your skin type, but if you keep waking up with annoying pimples on your face, the reason might be your less-than-fresh towel. Oil, dirt, and dead skin cells remain on your towel, and because it remains damp for hours, it creates a perfect breeding ground for bacteria. If you don’t wash your towel regularly, its fibers become filled with bacteria that later get transferred to your face.

2. It may irritate your skin.

Using a dirty towel may not only sabotage your beauty routine meant to enhance your appearance but also cause your skin to become more sensitive. When you keep reusing old towels, they become contaminated with viruses and fungi and can spread infections. If these germs get onto your skin, it can become reddish and irritated.

3. It may worsen existing skin conditions.

While reusing dirty towels can make even normal skin more sensitive and irritated, not washing them regularly might be particularly harmful if your skin is already dry and delicate. If your skin is prone to acne or you have certain skin conditions, such as eczema, it means that your skin barrier isn’t as strong as it should be, and using a dirty towel can lead to clogged pores and make flare-ups even more visible.

4. It might lead to hair loss.

Although washing your hair regularly and using the right shampoo and conditioner is vital for keeping your locks healthy and shiny, wrapping your head in a towel that hasn’t been washed for days might actually cause your hair to fall out. Dirty towels can transfer fungi and staph infections to your face and scalp if you use them to dry your hair. Bacterial staph infections can be especially problematic for the skin on your scalp because they cause the hair follicles to become inflamed, which, in turn, may lead to hair loss.

How often do you change your towels? What was the longest you have gone without washing your towels?