Use Your Towel More Than Once
Posted on December 1, 2008 by
Growing up, I used a new towel every time I showered. I just thought that was how it was done. College, and the coin op laundry room cured me of that habit fast.
You don’t need a new towel every time you shower. Think about it. You just showered. You’re drying a clean body.
Hang your towel well so it can dry thoroughly. Use it until it starts to smell musty, and then use a new one.
If you’re having guests stay with you, make sure to let them know where they should hang their towels too, even if it’s just over the shower curtain rod, so they won’t expect a new towel every day. And if you’re traveling, house towel rules still apply. Most hotels have signs in the bathroom now telling you to hang your towel if you’re going to reuse it, and most people hosting houseguests will be more than happy for less to launder.
Argh. This was something I’ve had to break the Modern Beau of. His family goes through towels like they’re going out of style. I kept telling him he was clean when he used it, so the only way to mess it up was by wading it up and letting it mildew.
And yet, his family also leaves their sheets on their beds for weeks upon weeks upon weeks. I don’t get it.
[...] safe for our waterways doesn’t take more time either. Wearing “play clothes” and not washing what isn’t dirty already saves me time. I throw rags in the wash with my towels, so using rags instead of paper [...]
Even if you wait about 10 seconds after you shower and just move about vigorously to shake off excess water your towel doesn’t get as wet, giving it another days usage at least. We’ve started doing this with the kids and what a difference to the washing up!!
Really? That’s normal?
I’ve always grown up with the once-a-week rule.
Hmm. Changing towels every time actually sounds kind of crazy. Or at least OCD.
As long as your towel dries between uses (that’s why they put towel racks in your bathroom) it really shouldn’t be any dirtier after you use it then when it came out of the washing machine.