"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.