How often to wash towels

The moment you turn off the shower, reach out your hand, and grab the fluffy steam-warmed bathroom towel is one of the most enjoyable times of the day. The smile draws itself on the face. It is the manifestation of home, the certainty of being at home … Yet it is a nest of germs.

Yes, the harmless towel that comforts you after a long day is a cradle of bacteria, fungi, diseases, infections …

Chain CNN Consult an expert so that this piece of cloth does not become your nightmare. Manal Mohammed, Senior Lecturer in Medical Microbiology at the University of Westminster (UK), explained where to hang it, why leaving it to dry alone is not enough, how and how often to wash it, and how to prevent it to become the source of infection in the home. .

Can I reuse a towel after just one use?

Reusing towels multiple times is better for the environment and is probably not a cause for alarm. But as soon as you notice a strange smell, it’s definitely time to get rid of it, as it indicates fungal and bacterial growth, Mohammed said.

And what about the coronavirus, should anyone infected with Covid-19 in their home use separate towels? “It is not known how long the coronavirus can survive in towels, but it is very important not to share towels with infected or self-isolated people at home,” he said.

How do germs get on towels?

Every time you use or touch a towel, you are transferring germs from your body to that towel. This is why it is recommended, even without a pandemic, to wash your hands with soap and water for 20 seconds. is full of germs These can be easily transferred to the towel, ”says Mohammed.

Just as a good wash is important for a clean towel, so is a good drying after use. Not allowing towels to dry completely can create a great environment for bacteria to grow. “Worn, damp towels in bathrooms promote the growth of germs,” ​​he says. “Although most of these germs are generally harmless, some of them (including staph bacteria) can cause infections and health problems, especially in people with skin wounds and in people with compromised immune systems.”

How dirty are our towels really?

According to Mohammed, fungi, including the pathogen that causes tinea cruris (itchy muscles), can spread through shared towels. Dermatophyte fungi, such as those that cause athlete’s foot, can cause infections in cuts or sensitive skin.

Some infections can be even more serious, such as staph bacteria. Although it normally lives on our skin, if the bacteria enter through a wound, the infection that occurs is resistant to antibiotics.

Towels can also spread acne-causing bacteria. Mohammed advises to avoid this by not sharing towels with others. Conjunctivitis can also spread, as the tissue comes in contact with the face and eyes.

The dangerous storage place

Considering that towels are stored right next to one of the dirtiest places in the house, the toilet, it shouldn’t be so surprising that sometimes what we throw down the toilet ends up on our towels. Coliforms, like E. coli, can end up on towels for this reason.

These bacteria normally live in our gastrointestinal tract and are associated with feces and can cause food poisoning and urinary tract infections.

Washing tea towels separately from bath towels also reduces the risk of bacteria spreading.

A 2014 paper towel study found that 89% of them contained coliform bacteria and 25% E. coli. The towels were collected from homes in five major cities in the United States and Canada.

How to wash towels properly?

This is a key point, as towels can still get dirty during washing if not done properly.

Can washing towels with “high risk” items, such as underwear, which are more likely to contain traces of feces or bacteria from genital infections, increase the chances that our towels will fail? not as clean as we would like. For this same reason, towels should never be washed with items heavily soiled with bodily fluids, such as vomit.

What can we do to keep the towels clean?

For starters, don’t share towels whenever possible. Shared towels, such as hand towels, should be replaced daily with a clean towel.

If possible, wash towels without any other items, or at least not with high-risk items like underwear.

Use hot water to wash the towels to make sure germs are removed.

Mohammed suggests washing them in the “hot” setting of the washing machine. Ideally it should be 60 ° C, but it says “the hotter the wash, the better”. If they are particularly dirty, you can even wash them at 90 ° C.

After washing the towels and between each use, make sure they are dry.

Finally, as a general rule, Mohammed recommends washing his towels at least once a week.

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