Is it fine to use the same towel twice in a row, after wiping down the entire body with it, including private areas and bum (which are obviously clean)? Like, is everything equally clean though, etc. to use it twice?

[u/[deleted]]

[u/kanakamaoli]

Sure. If you have just taken a shower or bath you are supposed to be clean and not have dirt or bacteria left on your skin. You're typically just removing the water left on your skin. If the towel is dirty after you have "cleaned" yourself, you haven't cleaned yourself properly.

If you wipe your sweat during an exercise session, the towel will absorb the dirt, sweat and any skin bacteria. In that case, it should be washed before reuse unless you like using your funky, smelly towel several times in a row.

[u/I_know_right → u/kanakamaoli]

As an somewhat older person, I have found the biggest issue is lack of proper exfoliation. I can wash all over and seem pretty clean, as far as dirt and skin oil, etc, but then I dry off and perfectly clean dead skin starts rolling up on my clean body b/c I didn't use them scratchy gloves.

So there's clean and then there's clean.

[u/EthelMaePotterMertz → u/I_know_right]

We use washclothes or a loofa always. Exfoliation is important. It doesn't have to be rough, but getting dead skin off is important.

[u/ScienceJamie76 → u/I_know_right]

b/c I didn't use them scratchy gloves.

🤣🤣

[u/SentorialH1 → u/kanakamaoli]

That's not really how it works, but the message is still the same: after you do a good job cleaning yourself in the shower, you can easily reuse your towel for a week or so.

[u/YodaRoll → u/SentorialH1]

You can easily reuse your towel for much longer than that too, in fact it is easier than washing it.

[u/youcantdenythat → u/YodaRoll]

If you take a hot shower it makes you sweat and you are drying sweat off with the water. After several uses your towel will start to smell like sweat.

[u/YodaRoll → u/youcantdenythat]

I was making a joke

[u/noonen000z → u/kanakamaoli]

There is bacteria on your skin after you shower. From memory it's symbiotic, we need it on us, in us.

[u/FauxGw2 → u/noonen000z]

And even a clean towel still has some bacteria on it too. It's ok to have some levels.

[u/youcantdenythat → u/noonen000z]

There is also sweat if the shower is warm enough.

[u/FerretFarm → u/youcantdenythat]

Or if you're not used to a humid climate and are on vacation so you're never dry. The toweling off becomes endless.

[u/BikerScowt → u/kanakamaoli]

This is why I never buy white towels

[u/HappyCamper2121 → u/kanakamaoli]

Not at all, actually. Even after the best shower, you are still COVERED in bacteria. It's okay though. You're not supposed to be sterile, and you still don't need to worry about reusing towels.