08 October 2023 , 14:27
824
0
There's no better feeling than stepping out of the shower and wrapping yourself in a freshly washed, fluffy towel. But once you've used a towel once, do you put it in the laundry basket to be washed again? Most of us would think that's overkill and would give it at least a few more showers before we think about washing it.
And while washing your towels once a week or once a fortnight doesn't seem that bad, bath experts have been left horrified after new research showed that a staggering 1 million Brits only wash their towels once a year. This is particularly shocking when you consider that a freshly washed towel contains around 190,000 counts of bacteria, which increase to 17 million counts after just one use and can be as high as 94 million within a week.
The results came from a study conducted by Showers To You, where bathroom experts surveyed 2,200 UK residents and found that 3% of them only wash their towels once a year - equating to over 1.5 million when extrapolated across the entire population of the UK. A further 8% of people confessed to only washing their towels twice a year, while 33% wash theirs four times a year, or every three months.
Men were also more likely to be the ones washing their towels infrequently, with 5% of male respondents admitting to giving their towels an annual wash, compared to just 1% of women. But we're not all slacking when it comes to washing towels, as another 5% of those surveyed said they wash their towels every single day, and almost a quarter (24%) said they stick their towels in a weekly wash.
Martin Smith, the founder of Showers to You commented: "The bathroom should in theory be one of the cleanest rooms in the home, however, our research shows that many people across the country could be ignoring a key step in ensuring proper bathroom hygiene. While it's encouraging to see the data shows the majority of respondents are keeping up with regularly washing their bathroom towels, everyone should ensure they are ensuring a regular routine of washing their towels in line with guidance from health professionals, especially for those who only give their towels an annual wash."
Cleaning guru shares why you shouldn't make your bed first thing in the morning
Elsewhere in the study, 67% of Brits confessed that they look for visual signs their towel needs washing before they swap it for a fresh one, while 61% said they were influenced by the way their towel smells. However, a worrying 15% of respondents said they only wash their towels once they have become stiff, and 11% said they aren't concerned by bacteria or hygiene issues stemming from not washing their towels often enough.
Commenting on the research, Dr Hamdan Abdullah Hamed, a board-certified Dermatologist, said: "It is crucial to maintain proper hygiene in our everyday routines, including the use and care of bathroom towels. Regular washing of bathroom towels is important to maintain cleanliness and reduce the risk of infections.
"Towels tend to accumulate moisture, creating an environment conducive to bacterial and fungal growth. Bacteria like Staphylococcus aureus can lead to skin infections, while fungi like Candida yeast can cause issues like athlete's foot or yeast infections. Additionally, dirty towels may contain allergens that can trigger allergic reactions or skin irritations in sensitive individuals.
"Therefore, it is recommended to wash towels after every three to four uses to eliminate bacteria, dirt, dead skin cells, and allergens, ensuring optimal hygiene and minimising health risks."