How often should I change/wash my handtowels?

[sl8]

All my towels are white and in the past I would just wash them whenever I could see any dirt. It occurs to me that that's not a reliable indicator. Especially since we learned what sort of water was being aerosolized and settling throughout the room.

When should I change those towels? Once a day, or more if they get dirty? Something else?

[Bradshaw3]

1. Wash after every use

Was what I read but out of all the stuff out there I can't remember where. Impractical but I'm following it. Using paper towels only after washing my hands.

[sl8]

3. Now, there's a thought.

Thanks.

If you don't mind me asking, are the paper towels kept under cover somehow, when not in use?

[Rorey]

2. Even when life was normal, it depends on use

I live alone, and I wash my hands correctly, so I don't worry too much about it. Every day or two seems to be enough, but there's always a fresh one in the bathroom that guests use, and I also have paper towels out.

In my kitchen I have a nice basket that I keep stocked with the white terry towels that restaurants and bars use. I use them for everything: washing dishes, drying my hands, wiping up a spill, etc. I sanitize with bleach when laundering. I've been doing this for probably a decade. My son and his family do the same at their house with microfiber towels.

[sl8]

4. Thanks.

I also bleach mine every time I wash them, it's one of the reasons I switched to all white.

I'm now thinking of adding a paper towel roll.

[fleur-de-lisa]

5. I put my kitchen towels in the microwave every morning and evening

for two minutes. Supposed to kill germs. I’ve been doing it for years.

[sl8]

6. Another good idea. Thank you. n/t

[Kaleva]

7. My wife bought a bunch of new ones so I can change them out daily in our 3 bathrooms.

[sl8]

10. But I don't have a wife.

Thanks for the reply, So, that means that you change them daily, regardless of whether the've been used, right? I haven't been changing the unused towels that often, but maybe I'll start.

[MissMillie]

8. Well, if you washed your hands well...

then you're drying clean hands on it.

A clean one every day should be okay.

[sl8]

9. Good point, but I'm also considering the effects of "toilet plume".

Thanks for the reply.

I have just recently upgraded my handwashing routine.

But, there's this, too:

From Wikipedia, https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toilet_plume

Toilet plume

A toilet plume is the dispersal of microscopic particles as a result of flushing a toilet. Normal use of a toilet by healthy people is considered unlikely to be a major health risk. There is indirect evidence that specific pathogens such as norovirus or SARS coronavirus could potentially be spread by toilet aerosols, but as of 2015, no direct experimental studies had clearly demonstrated or refuted actual disease transmission from toilet aerosols. It has been hypothesized that dispersal of pathogens may be reduced by closing the toilet lid before flushing, and by using toilets with lower flush energy.

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