What is the purpose of the towel that you use to wipe your hands after washing your hands? Towels can become an ideal environment for bacteria growth because they are damp, warm, absorbent, and often warm. Experts believe that your skin bacteria get transferred onto the towel's surface every time you use it. We leave towels in dark places where they might be exposed to infection-causing bacteria.
Charles Gerba (a microbiologist at the University of Arizona) found that 90 per cent of bathroom towels had been found to be contaminated with coliform bacteria. While 14 per cent of these towels were found to contain E coli in a study. Although many people may not know it, bacteria from the towels can cause harm to the skin. You can make your efforts to clean up your bathroom sink in vain if you use a dirty towel to dry yourself. This is why researchers recommend that towels be regularly washed to prevent infection.
Here are some hygiene tips to help you keep your towels clean:
1. You should wash your towels more often
Experts stress this. According to the American Cleaning Institute, you should wash towels after every three to five normal uses. Gerba states that bacteria can survive regular detergent. Therefore, it is recommended to wash towels in hot, bleach-activated water.
2. Be sure to dry your towel well
It is important to not leave a damp towel in your bathroom, or in your washing machine. You can either dry them or hang them in a ventilated room to prevent the growth of mould and bacteria.
3. Add vinegar
Lorraine Lea, a home stylist, suggests using 1 cup of white vinegar and detergent to clean any chemical debris or hard water trapped in the towel's fibres.
4. Use a different towel every time you use it
The towels of a lower quality towel will usually not last very long. They also break down faster if you put them in hot water. Old towels are not as efficient at drying you and may contain germs that aren't visible. It is best to replace towels that are not working.
5. Heated Towel Rails
Traditional towel hooks and bars will not suffice. These hooks trap moisture and allow odorous bacteria to thrive in the towels' fibres. It won't work if you hang them up on a towel rack and let them dry in the air. Towels take ages to dry so it is best to hang them above a towel rail.
These are where heated towel rails can help. Towel racks are not only warm and cosy, but they also keep your towels dry. A towel that dries quickly and is dry for longer periods of time will be less vulnerable to bacteria. Bathroom Butler conducted an independent study to assess the bacterial load in damp towels after drying. The results showed that heated towel racks decrease the number of bacteria from 1000 to 1.
Given the rising threat of a pandemic worldwide, hygiene is even more important than ever. Therefore, minimizing risk must be our number one priority.
Keep your hands clean and share your towels.
