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Stinky Troubles: How Often Should You Replace Your Towels?

25/04/2023

Ever wondered why your towels start to smell after just a few months, even when you use nice-smelling body wash? We’re here to uncover the stinky secrets behind your bath towels!

Causes of your smelly towels

According to the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD), an average square inch of human skin contains 19 million skin cells and 650 sweat glands. When we use towels to dry ourselves, the dead skin cells, sweat, and oils from our body stick to the fabric of the towels.

Plus, the humid environment in Hong Kong makes towels a perfect environment for bacteria to thrive, which leads to unpleasant smells. The worse the smell is, the more bacteria there are, like E. coli, staphylococcus aureus, and candida.

Continuing to use these smelly towels can lead to skin conditions such as eczema and tinea (think athlete's foot and toenail fungus). So, as soon as you notice a bad smell, you should stop using the towel and avoid sharing it with others as it can spread the infection.

If you do notice skin problems in some areas, prepare a separate towel to prevent the condition from spreading to other body parts.

How often should I change my towels?

If your towel starts to smell funky, it’s time for a change. But it's still a good idea to wash and replace them regularly even if it doesn't. Try to wash your towels and bath towels at least once a week, and replace regular towels every 3 months and bath towels every 6-12 months.

If you often use your towel to wipe up bodily fluids such as secretions, urine, blood, and sweat, make sure to wash and dry it as soon as possible, and replace it more often than a regular towel.