How long should you keep bathroom towels?

There's no strict rule here, but to get that fluffy feeling when you get out of the shower, you'll want to replace bath towels when they lose their absorbency, which experts say happens approximately every two years. Dr. Annie Gonzalez, a board-certified dermatologist at Riverchase Dermatology in Miami, adds that dirty towels can incubate bacteria, fungi and other germs. González recommends washing the bath towel after every three or four uses, or at least once a week.

The American Cleaning Institute meets with Dr. González y Tierno to recommend washing bath towels after three uses. If you have toenail fungus, athlete's foot, ringworm, or warts, it's key to use freshly washed towels to ensure that germs can't spread to other parts of the body, according to Dr. Not washing towels can cause germs associated with different colds to also be transmitted from one person to another, Dr.

In In more extreme cases, dirty towels can spread bacteria such as MRSA or methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, a dangerous staphylococcal infection that is difficult to treat with antibiotics, according to Dr. Whenever you wash them frequently, bath towels can last up to two years, according to Dr. According to POPSUGAR, your bath towels should be changed at least every two years. It may seem like a long time, but Leanne Stapf, chief operating officer of The Cleaning Authority, told POPSUGAR that she thinks it's the perfect time for a new set.