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Why is taking care of our towels important? Would it affect our health as we only use it once or twice daily? Why should I consider a clean towel as part of living a healthy life?
Our towels cling to our body after we have our bath. It dries out our body when wet and touches different parts of our body – our genitals, armpits, and anal regions inclusive. It practically has access to all parts of our body.
We have our bath and say our bodies are clean! How then do our towels become dirty?
The reason for this is that when the towel dries our body, dead skin cells stick to the towel from our body. Apart from that, the damp towel also accumulates dust when spread to dry. The dead skin cells and dust particles that stick to the towel make it dirty.
The towel can also start smelling if not properly dried and ventilated because of the growth of microorganisms that feed on the dirt that accumulates on the towel. These microorganisms thrive in a damp environment.
Some of us are guilty of using our towels for long periods of time without washing it because we are busy, lazy or have not thought about the implications of using a dirty towel.
HEALTH IMPLICATIONS
Dirty towels have accumulated bacteria, fungi, and other harmful microorganisms. These organisms get attached to your clean body after a shower and start living on your skin. Some of them can sneak into private areas of your body and cause infections. On the skin, they cause skin irritations and skin disorders like eczema.
HOW OFTEN SHOULD WE WASH OUR TOWELS?
Towels should be washed at least twice weekly and properly dried before use. Washing regularly will remove dirt and prevent the growth of harmful microorganisms.
Also, we should wash our towels before using them for the first time.
HOW TO WASH OUR TOWELS
It is advisable to wash our towels by first soaking it in warm water with detergent.
Soaking towels in warm water helps the dirt stuck to the towel to easily come out. After soaking, wash by tumbling with your hands or put in a washing machine.
Soaking towels with vinegar also helps to kill microorganisms that might be on your towel. It also maintains the color, keeps them fluffy and makes them smell fresh.
WASHING TOWELS AND CLOTHES TOGETHER
It is not advisable to wash towels and other clothes together. This is because the towel can transfer germs to the clothes when washing.
TIPS FOR A CLEAN TOWEL
- Avoid using fabric softeners for your towels because they can spoil the towel fibers making them unfit for use and reduce their absorbency.
- Avoid using too much detergent as this will make your towel stiff and rough
- After use, air dry your towel to avoid moisture accumulation and a bad smell
- Avoid using substances that contain benzoyl peroxide, alpha hydroxyl acids or bleaching agents to prevent discoloration and staining
- Store your dry towels in cool and dry well-ventilated spaces.
- Replace your towels regularly as prolonged use can cause them to tear and lose their absorbency.
Ezike Nonye is a Pharmacist who completed her Bachelor degree from University of Lagos (B.Pharm). She is currently exploring digital marketing analytics as a novel field in Pharmacy practice while also interning at the Federal Medical Center (FMC) Abeokuta, Ogun State, Nigeria. She is a graphic designer, a blogger and an entrepreneur. She is passionate about creating new things from nature and believes that there is no limitation to what you can achieve. She is a Christian and loves writing and open to new ideas and skills.
