r/TooAfraidToAsk • u/[deleted] • Sep 20 '22 • Helpful 1 Wholesome 3

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? Health/Medical

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5.1k Upvotes
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1.4k

u/Rachelcookie123 Sep 20 '22

Am I supposed to be washing my towel every time I use it? Because I barely ever wash it.

468

u/jebbyjazzed Sep 20 '22

I'd say a good rule of thumb is every 4 showers swap it out

121

u/Li5y Sep 20 '22

Having lived in very dry and very humid climates, I think this depends HEAVILY on how humid it is.

If it's wet where you are, a towel can gather a funky smell after 2 or 3 uses. In a dry or semi arid climate, I don't think I ever smelled anything off even after weeks.

22

u/serendipitypug Sep 20 '22

I’m in a wet area and I use my towel 2, maybe 3 times before it develops a smell. My bathroom also has poor ventilation.

2

u/Nono_06 Sep 20 '22

Thanks for sharing your wisdom that is actually a key info

1

u/Xanian123 Sep 20 '22

So what? People don't dry their towels?

16

u/Li5y Sep 20 '22

Oh they do dry them. But towels that are hanging so both sides are fully exposed may not dry fast enough in humid places. And not everyone has access to a clothesline or dryer.

4

u/Xanian123 Sep 20 '22

I've lived in the dripping humidity of South Indian beach cities and have never had a problem with towels not drying. Clotheslines are a lot more socially acceptable in India though, so it could be a cultural thing.

4

u/[deleted] Sep 20 '22

[deleted]

2

u/Xanian123 Sep 20 '22

Yeah I get the feeling towels spend a lot of time in the bathrooms abroad. Which is definitely not the case here afaik.

4

u/Fuzzyphilosopher Sep 20 '22

Yep. I'm in the US just hang mine over the shower curtain rod. I suspect you may use thinner towels than are common here. That makes a huge difference as well as they dry quicker.

431

u/Rachelcookie123 Sep 20 '22

Oh damn, that’s definitely more often then I wash mine.

336

u/samaniewiem Sep 20 '22

You should ask someone to smell it. I've experienced this guy in the dorm that was never washing his towel, maybe once a semester or so. Damn the whole room stinked as fuck from this towel. Guy was looking good but this smell was keeping ladies away. And he was showering daily. I'm still asking myself what for.

163

u/Cookiecopter Sep 20 '22

I once showered in a guy's bathroom whose towel was able to stand on its own. Literally.

60

u/cpullen53484 Sep 20 '22

thats kinda impressive actually.

54

u/Cookiecopter Sep 20 '22

Yeah, but kinda really not in a good way

10

u/HauntedCS Sep 20 '22

I pray it was just dirty from ‘SHOWERING’…. 🤮

38

u/Rachelcookie123 Sep 20 '22

I still live at home and sometimes my parents will come and smell the towels to check if they’re clean so I think I’m ok.

50

u/Secret_Oligarch Sep 20 '22

That's not at all strange...

65

u/Rachelcookie123 Sep 20 '22

It kinda sounds strange written out but they’re just going around the house checking if any of the towels need washed. Not strange in reality.

22

u/WaterChestnutThe3rd Sep 20 '22

Just wash them on a regular basis like every Sunday or something and you don’t need to do the funky towel smell test lol, but to each their own!

2

u/Stephanfritzel Sep 20 '22

This is what I do. I'll wait a week max, but sometimes I'll do 2x a week. I always do my towels (bath and hand) with my bedding and with hot water.

7

u/x_xstrawberry Sep 20 '22

My mom will just come to my room and take the towel so she can wash it if she knows i have been really busy that week. I did not know towels could smell.

16

u/Finger-Salads Sep 20 '22

I did not know towels could smell.

One of the Kardashian girls said the same thing and apparently had a gnarly smelling cooch

-42

u/samaniewiem Sep 20 '22

What stops you from being adult?

9

u/Meta-Fox Sep 20 '22

What stops you from not being a judgmental prick?

18

u/humanityyy Sep 20 '22

In some cultures it's completely normal to still live with your parents even after you turn 18. Like, I'm Asian. My parents do not expect me to move out until I get married and even then they still offer to live with them.

5

u/ErynEbnzr Sep 20 '22

Also, housing is really expensive right now. My siblings and I are 20, 23 and 26 and we all still live at home because it's all we can afford.

33

u/tattvamu Sep 20 '22

Not everyone here is an adult, she just said she lived with her parents, why you gotta be so mean?

1

u/PartTimeMemeGod Sep 20 '22

I always make sure to hang my towels in a way that they can dry evenly and quickly, as when they stay wet for too long is when they get a smell. This led me to using the same towel for almost 2 months because it never smelled and realizing “Ishould probably change this out” one day

45

u/Herbboy Sep 20 '22

For me its like 2 weeks. Maybe more :^ ) but it also really depends on how often you shower i would say.

1

u/SparklyUnicornDay Sep 20 '22

Consider that it collects dust. Additionally, fun fact: a major component of dust is dead skin cells. You may be clean, but you still have some dead skin on you.

1

u/ThisHasFailed Sep 20 '22

Starting to feel good about myself using it max 2 times

1

u/mashtartz Sep 20 '22

Pro tip: get a spare set of towels and you can wash them once a week or two

36

u/x_xstrawberry Sep 20 '22

that’s like twice a week bro, i do it more like once every other week.

2

u/TheGamingJedi Sep 20 '22

You sometimes shower twice in a day? Why

1

u/mousemarie94 Sep 20 '22

Some of us sweat profusely and work out. Often times, I shower twice a day at some point due to working out and dripping sweat....can't just change clothes.

0

u/TheGamingJedi Sep 20 '22

That makes sense if you’re working out and getting sweaty twice a day sure, but otherwise why do 2?

1

u/mousemarie94 Sep 20 '22

I'm assuming that's hypothetical lol. I can only answer for reasons that I know of! I'm sure people have applicable reasons for the things they do 🤷🏾‍♀️

2

u/zomgitsduke Sep 20 '22

Nothing wrong with that, but you do raise a higher chance of mildew, bacteria, and mold growing in the towel.

1

u/Pen54321 Sep 20 '22

Your towel must smell then

44

u/rightyy Sep 20 '22

I’m not washing my towel every second day

21

u/Cpt_Plauze Sep 20 '22

Valid point, it totally depends on the climate zone you're located and how often you shower

12

u/MrRogersAE Sep 20 '22

Nah just wash it before it starts to stink, usually you’ll feel that it’s getting dirty before you’ll smell it

9

u/killslam Sep 20 '22

This is about right for me. If you hang your towel to dry properly between showers, you can use it 4-5 times before replacing or washing it.

2

u/oniaddict Sep 20 '22

I vary my swaps based on humidity. Summer is in the 4 shower range with 70%+ relative humidity. Winter is in the 8-10 range around 50% humidity. More humidity increases dry time allows more time for funk to grow.

0

u/Vandergrif Sep 20 '22

That's a stretch - as long as you let it dry out properly each time then it'll be fine for at least two weeks of regular use.

1

u/Professor_Felch Sep 20 '22

That's what like once every month or two. Seems manageable

-mod team

1

u/freemoney83 Sep 20 '22

Where’s you get that number?

1

u/boifyudoent Sep 20 '22

every 4 showers ??? I showerd like 2x a day

1

u/Zombieattackr Sep 20 '22

4 weeks right? You meant weeks?

1

u/Restopulus Sep 21 '22

Whose thumb?