Experts reveal how often you need to wash your towels

Bathroom experts have revealed how often you should wash your towels.

Many Brits usher in the new year with a deep clean as it's a time to reset and declutter. But despite this, new statistics show that over one million UK residents only wash their bathroom towels once a year.

While guidance shows that towels should be washed after three uses, bathroom supplier Showers to You, surveyed 2,200 UK residents and found many were using their towels for much longer before giving them a freshen-up.

Martin Smith, the founder of Showers to You[3], said: “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 routine of washing their towels in line with guidance from health professionals, especially for those who only give their towels an annual wash.”

The survey found that 3% of respondents wash their bathroom towels once a year, equating to 1,595,646 people based on the latest adult population estimates from the Office of National Statistics. Over 33% of people in Liverpool are claimed to only wash their towels every three months or longer.

Men were five times more likely to clean their bathroom towels just once a year, with 5% of male respondents admitting to giving them an annual wash, compared to 1% of women.

The study reveals that those in Leicester and Glasgow are most likely to go the longest without washing their bathroom towels, with over four in 10 (41%) from both cities admitting to only washing their towels every three months at the most.

However, it’s not all bad news for the nation’s bathroom hygiene, with almost one in five respondents stating they wash their towels once a month, almost a quarter washing their towels once a week and one in 20 health-conscious residents washing their towels every single day.

Commenting on the research, Dr Hamdan Abdullah Hamed MBChB, a dermatologist, added: “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.”

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References

  1. ^ First picture of dad who killed his girlfriend then tried to pin blame on her (www.liverpoolecho.co.uk)
  2. ^ In Liverpool babies are dying, children are in poverty and lives are being cut short (www.liverpoolecho.co.uk)
  3. ^ Showers to You (www.showerstoyou.co.uk)
  4. ^ Join Slimming World for FREE with this great offer (www.liverpoolecho.co.uk)

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