How often should you wash towels?

Every 3-4 uses for bath towels. Dish towels should be washed daily. Replace if they smell after washing.

Should you use bleach on white towels?

Occasional bleach is fine for white towels but weakens the fibers over time. Hydrogen peroxide is gentler.

No. Fabric softener coats the fibers and reduces absorbency. Use white vinegar in the rinse cycle for softness instead.

Wash with vinegar to strip buildup, then with baking soda. Dry on high heat with wool dryer balls.

Household

A clean towels makes a bigger difference than you'd think. Here's the most effective method, plus the mistakes most people make.

1
Wash whites and colors separately
Always wash white towels separately from colored towels to prevent dye transfer.
2
Use hot water
Towels should be washed in hot water (140°F+) to kill bacteria and remove oils. Check fabric care labels first.
3
Add vinegar to first cycle
Add 1 cup of white vinegar to the wash cycle (no detergent). This strips buildup that makes towels less absorbent.
4
Wash again with detergent
Run a second wash cycle with detergent and 1/2 cup of baking soda. Together they restore softness and absorbency.
5
Tumble dry on high
Dry towels on high heat for maximum fluffiness. Add wool dryer balls to fluff and reduce drying time.

TIPWash towels every 3-4 uses to prevent bacteria buildup and lingering smells.
TIPSkip fabric softener -- it coats the fibers and makes towels less absorbent over time.
TIPIf towels start to smell musty, the vinegar and baking soda double wash will restore them.

XUsing fabric softener, which reduces absorbency and creates buildup over time.
XOverstuffing the washer, which prevents proper rinsing and leaves detergent residue.
XLetting wet towels sit in the washer, which causes mildew and musty smells.

Detergent and softener buildup, plus mildew from sitting wet. Wash with vinegar to strip buildup, then with baking soda.