You Don’t Change Your Washcloth Often Enough (and How to Clean It)
Anyone who has washed with a washcloth knows that its foaming properties are legendary. No other soap carrier can match the loofah’s ability to create rich, instant lather at the slightest touch on the skin. And volume! Never wash with a cloth.
But whether you prefer the soft synthetic mesh washcloth you can get at Target for $2 or the neutral-colored loofah made from real pumpkin , it’s unfortunately pretty nasty. They need to be replaced frequently—perhaps more often than you think.
What grows in your washcloth?
While washcloths may start out as pristine beacons of hygiene, over time they become a breeding ground for bacteria. By distributing soap throughout the body, the washcloth performs another main function: exfoliation. Its fibrous nature does a great job of scrubbing dead skin cells off your body, which is a good thing. But that dead skin gets stuck in the loofah’s fibrous matrix and then hangs in the wet, humid environment of your shower, never drying out, which is bad.
As certified dermatologist Dr. Michelle Greene told the Huffington Post , when a washcloth doesn’t dry properly, bacteria that likes to eat organic matter thrives. And the next time you use it, “loofah spreads yesterday’s dirt (and bacteria) back onto your body.”
According to a study published in the Journal of Clinical Microbiology , “loofah sponges may serve as a reservoir and vehicle for transmission of potentially pathogenic (bacterial) species to human skin.” He adds: “Bacterial growth… literally happens overnight.” One such potentially pathogenic bacteria is staphylococcus aureus, which can enter through small cuts or scabs on the skin, causing a staph infection. For this reason, it is not recommended to use it immediately after shaving or on open cuts.
How to care for loofah
While this all sounds pretty ominous, if you’re not ready to give up a washcloth, there are ways to use it more hygienically. Manufacturers and many online sources recommend taking the washcloth out of the shower and drying it near an open window. However, the authors of the Journal of Clinical Microbiology study note that this process does little to reduce the number of bacteria present; you will need to dry it for more than two weeks to see a significant reduction.
Instead, they recommend disinfecting it with “hypochlorite (10%) at regular intervals.” New York City dermatologist Dr. Sejal Shah echoed the recommendation when she told WomensHealthMag.com that a washcloth should be soaked in a diluted bleach solution for five minutes once a week. (Or, as the Cleveland Clinic writes, it’s one of many unexpected dishwasher-safe items .)
When to replace the washcloth
“Replace it frequently—every 3-4 weeks for a natural pouf, and every 2 months for a plastic pouf,” Shah says, and more often if you notice mold or musty smell. Or switch to a washcloth.