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Switched2Mac · Jul 9, 2004, 02:17 AM

OK.

A coworker and I have debated over the frequency at which people replace their bath towel.

So, if you don't mind, please take the poll.

Stupid poll, yes, but it will settle a long running debate.

Switched2Mac · Jul 9, 2004, 02:23 AM

You shower.

You toss the towel into the hamper and get a new one.

Or you put it on the towel rack by the shower to dry and replace it every other day, week, month, etc.

iDriveX · Jul 9, 2004, 03:00 AM

I find that if you let the towel go longer than a week, it starts to get an odor to it. I put it on the rack on the wall next to the shower to dry and do all my laundry every Saturday.

thePurpleGiant · Jul 9, 2004, 03:14 AM

Hmm, one towel, 2 or 3 days. Washing it after each use would be wasteful considering that I am clean by the time i use it.

d.fine · Jul 9, 2004, 03:56 AM

Originally posted by iDriveX:
I find that if you let the towel go longer than a week, it starts to get an odor to it.

How come ? You're not clean when you get out of the shower ?

Eriamjh · Jul 9, 2004, 06:02 AM

Originally posted by d.fine:
How come ? You're not clean when you get out of the shower ?

You see that soap-scum on the shower curtain, tiles, and tub? That sh*t's on you too! Plus, the towels get filled with skind oils and other crud.

On a similar, but separate subject, I had a friend who changed his bedsheets every 3 months. Ewww!

(Once a week is good).

d.fine · Jul 9, 2004, 06:20 AM

Originally posted by Eriamjh:
Plus, the towels get filled with skind oils and other crud.

Haha, that sounds funny

, but you're right, was just trying to be funny

Originally posted by Eriamjh:
I had a friend who changed his bedsheets every 3 months. Ewww! (Once a week is good).

Yikes

, some skin, oils and crud here too

Peter · Jul 9, 2004, 07:29 AM

d.fine · Jul 9, 2004, 07:39 AM

Originally posted by Peter:

Gankdawg · Jul 9, 2004, 09:40 AM

Originally posted by Eriamjh:
I had a friend who changed his bedsheets every 3 months.

I went 6 months one time. Actually it was probably 3 because I did flip them over. This was in college in a dorm where you could get new sheets every week too.

As far as the towel goes, it's about once per week.

bobthecannibal · Jul 9, 2004, 09:46 AM

I use a new towel after every shower. No real reason other than to me it seems sensible.

turtle777 · Jul 9, 2004, 11:01 AM

Originally posted by bobthecannibal:
I use a new towel after every shower. No real reason other than to me it seems sensible.

Why ?

Shouldn't you be CLEAN when you get out of the shower ?
How would the towel get dirty after using it once ?

-t

OldManMac · Jul 9, 2004, 11:12 AM

Daily shower. Shower twice every other day (workout). Fresh towel every other day.

Saul Goode · Jul 9, 2004, 11:22 AM

When the towel can stand up on its own, its time for a fresh one.

Socially Awkward Solo · Jul 9, 2004, 11:22 AM

2-3 days for sure or it get that nasty mildew smell on it. If you use a smelly towel you end up smelling yourself.

Lateralus · Jul 9, 2004, 11:38 AM

Originally posted by Saul Goode:
When the towel can stand up on its own, its time for a fresh one.

Haha!

Xeo · Jul 9, 2004, 11:39 AM

Every other day. I use it twice and replace it.

DeathToWindows · Jul 9, 2004, 11:50 AM

you really don't want to know. 1-2 months.

fxbezak · Jul 9, 2004, 01:15 PM

I like fresh towels - once a day
now you can also throw it in the dryer for 10 mins before you use it too... then its nice and warm.

Lateralus · Jul 9, 2004, 01:30 PM

You people must be rich.

Spliffdaddy · Jul 9, 2004, 01:31 PM

wow.

I'm one of 5 people that uses a clean towel *daily*.

I don't see the point in taking a shower if you're gonna dry-off using a bacteria-laden *used* towel. Might as roll around in the dirt.

Stradlater · Jul 9, 2004, 01:40 PM

Originally posted by Spliffdaddy:
wow.

I'm one of 5 people that uses a clean towel *daily*.

I don't see the point in taking a shower if you're gonna dry-off using a bacteria-laden *used* towel. Might as roll around in the dirt.

"Bacteria-laden?" "*Used*?" First of all, the minimal amount of bacteria that will stay on the towel after one use when you are, for the most part, clean is probably quite healthy to dry off with again. The more often you expose yourself to bacteria, the higher your tolerance will be. It's not like you'll be dirty, although it sounds like you may have developed a complex that won't allow you to think otherwise. If the towel is still wet before you shower, you might as well replace it to dry off better; also replace it when, as SWG mentioned, it has any odor to it. You should be able to go through the week with 1 to 2 towels, maybe three if, on some days, you take multiple showers.

It's such a waste of money to add such a load to your laundry.

fxbezak · Jul 9, 2004, 01:45 PM

Originally posted by PowerMacMan:
You people must be rich.

heh?!

no way. i mean it takes like 10 mins to throw the towl in the dryer. and to change it out daily, you only need like 7-10 towels. You need to account for some being dirty at some point so you need overflow.

Stradlater · Jul 9, 2004, 01:47 PM

Originally posted by fxbezak:
heh?!

no way. i mean it takes like 10 mins to throw the towl in the dryer. and to change it out daily, you only need like 7-10 towels. You need to account for some being dirty at some point so you need overflow.

Then also factor in extra laundry cycles, water (if you have a water bill), extra detergent (etc.), electricity, and so on...

Spliffdaddy · Jul 9, 2004, 01:49 PM

$2.00 a month for clean towels?

OK, I think that's fair.

fxbezak · Jul 9, 2004, 01:53 PM

Originally posted by Stradlater:
Then also factor in extra laundry cycles, water (if you have a water bill), extra detergent (etc.), electricity, and so on...

so what maybe a total of like $3-4 a week?

nredman · Jul 9, 2004, 01:54 PM

you're supposed to replace bath towels?

turtle777 · Jul 9, 2004, 02:27 PM

Originally posted by nredman:
you're supposed to replace bath towels?

But no one tells me how often

-t

Switched2Mac · Jul 9, 2004, 03:17 PM

More votes, keep them coming!

itai195 · Jul 9, 2004, 04:20 PM

Originally posted by turtle777:
But no one tells me how often

-t

I replace mine every week when I do laundry. Not as often as I'd like, but then... I am quite busy being lazy.

turtle777 · Jul 9, 2004, 04:22 PM

Originally posted by itai195:
I am quite busy being lazy.

I second that.
Though I was almost too lazy to post

-t

Sherwin · Jul 9, 2004, 05:52 PM

I "air dry".

fireside · Jul 9, 2004, 06:08 PM

if its still wet after its been drying for a day its time to get a new one.

RAILhead · Jul 9, 2004, 06:27 PM

If you grab the towel off the hook, holding it in the middle, and it retains its form � then you've got yerself one nasty towel that ought to be replaced.

That's my test.

Maury

Switched2Mac · Jul 10, 2004, 12:10 AM

more votes needed to obtain a good statistical survey.

Switched2Mac · Jul 10, 2004, 08:50 PM

408 views, but only 49 votes?

Takes 2 seconds to cast your vote and it is anonymous!

Please.....

Footy · Jul 10, 2004, 11:30 PM

Iv'e been known to grab one that's still wet from someone elses shower in the house.

When it gets that funny smell I toss it in the hamper though.

D. Hendrickson · Jul 11, 2004, 07:13 AM

Men's Health magazine recommends once a week as ok, as far as bacterial build-up goes...

Spheric Harlot · Jul 11, 2004, 07:21 AM

Originally posted by fxbezak:
so what maybe a total of like $3-4 a week?

$150-200 a year sounds a little different, don't it?

Not to mention the environmental aspect - I know, I know, that's only of concern to us socialist eco-terrorists.

Interestingly, hotels over here have started asking their customers to re-use their towels unless they're dirty. Dump them on the floor if you want them replaced, else just hang them up and re-use.

-s*

voyageur · Jul 11, 2004, 08:47 AM

Originally posted by Spheric Harlot:
Interestingly, hotels over here have started asking their customers to re-use their towels unless they're dirty. Dump them on the floor if you want them replaced, else just hang them up and re-use.

A few hotels are starting to do this here too. Makes a lot of sense.

macaddict0001 · Jul 11, 2004, 10:36 AM

I would have voted on two things but you can't I would have voted on once a month and every time I shower

Visnaut · Jul 11, 2004, 11:12 AM

Different people have different body chemistries, and varying degrees of funk. So while using a single towel per week works for me most of the time, i can fully understand and support those who really have to do so more often.

In the summer months over here, I regularly use more than 1 towel/week, because as I start to tan, work up a sweat more often, and am out and about in polluted city air, i can literally feel that my skin has more crud on it. It therefore just feels more comfortable to change towels more often in that kind of situation.

So given that, I guess climate has a lot to do with it too. If I were to live in any more of a warmer climate, my 1 twl/wk rule just wouldn't cut it.

To each his/her own i guess. Just don't bring the funk when I'm around.

dampeoples · Jul 11, 2004, 12:53 PM

Once, then replace.

wdlove · Jul 11, 2004, 01:35 PM

Usually change them every two weeks.

skalie · Jul 11, 2004, 02:46 PM

Originally posted by Switched2Mac:
Takes 2 seconds to cast your vote and it is anonymous!

Only if you use a proxy, and then not even.

george68 · Jul 11, 2004, 02:53 PM

Never. Kristin does it for me.

- Rob

Switched2Mac · Jul 12, 2004, 12:54 AM

Originally posted by Visnaut:
Different people have different body chemistries, and varying degrees of funk. So while using a single towel per week works for me most of the time, i can fully understand and support those who really have to do so more often.

In the summer months over here, I regularly use more than 1 towel/week, because as I start to tan, work up a sweat more often, and am out and about in polluted city air, i can literally feel that my skin has more crud on it. It therefore just feels more comfortable to change towels more often in that kind of situation.

So given that, I guess climate has a lot to do with it too. If I were to live in any more of a warmer climate, my 1 twl/wk rule just wouldn't cut it.

To each his/her own i guess. Just don't bring the funk when I'm around.

True.

The "Funk Factor" that you hint at should be taken into account. Clearly someone working in the heat of the south will perhaps get more funky than a Canadian sitting on his couch watching Second City Reruns all day in the sub-zero weather.

But it was a quick survey just to get a rough feel and settle a long running debate with an old friend.

Superchicken · Jul 12, 2004, 01:08 AM

I generally go once a week or once every two weeks. Sometimes once in like four days. All deppends on when I loose it haha...

At College it's generally once a week deppending on how much crap I have to throw in the washer.

My towel is always fine before I wash it, I leave it to dry generally on the back of a chair out of the wash room so it won't get all humid, then I put it back in all dry and moisture free.

I hate damp towels, but yah... there's nothing wrong with using a towel for a few days in a row. I mean how often do you wash your shoes?

It's strictly cultural.

iREZ · Jul 12, 2004, 03:02 PM

I go about a week, give or take a few days.

turtle777 · Jul 12, 2004, 03:19 PM

Originally posted by Spheric Harlot:
Interestingly, hotels over here have started asking their customers to re-use their towels unless they're dirty. Dump them on the floor if you want them replaced, else just hang them up and re-use.

Originally posted by voyageur:
A few hotels are starting to do this here too. Makes a lot of sense.

Yes, but you have to hang your towel EXACTLY like they do, on the rack. I've had towels hang over the shower curtain pole to dry out, but they replaced it nonetheless.

-t