Okay, tell me if this is weird - to only use towels once then throw them in the laundry basket?

Question

I didn't say I did it - I'm in my mid 20's and my significant other is the one who does this - which creates so much more laundry than needed!

Answer 1

The people on here agreeing with you that this practice is weird probably don't have their own in house laundry machines and have to deal with the "torture" of a laundromat.

I dont' think it's weird at all, think about what gets on a towel.

Not changing your towel everyday or every other day is similar to not changing your underwear every day. Read below to find out why. Below are substances that accumulate on a towel the moment it is used in the rest room.
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Soap scum/residue

Sebum (oil from skin isn't completely washed off)

Fecal residue (if he didn't wash thoroughly down there and fecal paste came out during farting)

Gonococcal juice (a dripping penis perhaps?)

Menstrual Blood

Smegma (if the guy is not circumcised)

Hair (shedding from pubes and from the head)

Vaginal smegma

Sweat (if he missed spots)

Saliva (if he spits up to rinse mouth in shower)

Mucous (from nasal mucous loosened by steam)

Dead Skin (daily skin sloughing)

Dandruff

Toe jam mucous (if he didn't wash thoroughly between toes)

Eye mucous(common occurrence for some after a good night's sleep)

Puss (from a bursted pimple while washing)

Blood (shaving, bursted pimple)

Plaque (from unwashed teeth)

Toothpaste (if towel is used to wipe perimeter of mouth)

Semen (if towel is grabbed at the spur of the moment after sex or masturbation)

Mouthwash

Lotion (lotions have oil in them, aren't easily washed off)

If someone takes a quick shower and doesn't wash themselves with a disinfectant like alcohol. (Most people don't)
Chances are all the above and perhaps more gets on their towel. And more could get on it if it used to wipe dirty face or clean face and if it's used while shaving or setting hair, etc

I change my towel every day or every other day because of the above. It doesn't take long for it to get smelly.

Be glad your significant other is practicing good personal hygience and grooming.

Answer 2

There are two problems with that ...

1) It's wasteful because you end up washing a lot of extra towels.

2) If you toss the towels straight into the hamper after you use them and it's going to be a few days before you do the laundry, they could mildew. Ick!!

I do laundry once a week, and I do towels every time. Usually I use two towels on alternating days during the week, so each towel gets plenty of "hang time" and it's dry before I use it again. And they don't go into the hamper until I'm on the way to the laundromat, so there's no worries about them mildewing.

If my girlfriend spends a night or the entire weekend at my place, I put out an extra towel for her, then let it hang a couple of days after she leaves before I put the towel into the hamper.

Answer 3

It's not weird.

I choose to use my towel 3-4 times before washing (since I'm the one doing the laundry at home). I'm clean after I get out of the shower anyways. I use two towels, one for my hair and one for my body. I just hang them up after I am done and they are dry and ready for me the next day. I would never use somebody else's used towel though.

Answer 4

In our family of 4 each one uses one towel/wash cloth and placed into the laundry room to be washed the next day. The girls use 2 towels each. One for their hair and one for their body. So daily I have a washer load of towels. So I think this is normal in my life.

Answer 5

No, not weird, if you want to do that much laundry. I go for 3 showers. Then toss into the laundry. I try to save water when I can.

Answer 6

I only use a towel once when I take a shower. I love getting a fluffy fresh towel every morning to dry off with. I think its gross to re-use towels for showering more than once - they never dry all the way by the next morning when its time to shower again!! No one likes a damp, cold towel!

Answer 7

honestly, i see her point. . .wait, don't stop reading though! she probably has a germ problem, and if you don't wash your hands properly and you use the towel, you may leave some there. maybe that's why. i would suggest putting paper towels in your bathroom for her to use (kill trees or waste water washing them, your choice). we all have weird little quirks, and hers is weird, but not that weird--there are much worse! (my hubby can't wipe our kids' noses--buggers make him throw up--even if you just talk about them!) and if you want to cure her of this, id' say nothing cures a germ freak like a baby (but that comes with its own issues!).

Answer 8

No its not weird. I have always washed towels after each use. I prefer to have a towel freshly cleaned instead of using one someone else has dried off on.

Answer 9

Well thats a little anal isnt it? Is it just you who would use them?

Its ok I guess, if you dont mind doing that much laundry. I take it you must have a boatload of towels if you are doing that. I still think its a bit anal though. Personally, my wife and I usually use one each, and I keep mine for a few days, 3, maybe 4 then grab a new one.

Answer 10

I used to do that, until I started doing my own laundry. you will realize that too.