Did You Wash Your Towels the Wrong Way All This Time?
Um, I’m so sorry. I just read that every minute we are losing 30,000 to 40,000 dead skin cells ? Just about nine pounds of dead skin cells a year? Much to my dismay, yes. And where, pray tell, do these dead skin cells land after I take a gloriously scalding shower? On my towel, of course.
This is not all. These skin cells combine with moisture to create an ideal environment for microbes such as viruses, fungi and bacteria to live. Not only will your towels start to stink, too many microorganisms can increase the spread of rashes such as athlete’s foot and impetigo, exacerbate eczema and acne, and potentially increase the chances of contracting staphylococcal infections . Also? If they are left damp and unwashed long enough, mold can form on them. Mold , I tell you.
If you are already on the “wash after every use”, you are not in bad shape. If you know that you finished washing all week, and then realized: ” Nonsense”, then I forgot about the towels! well, we have news.
How often should bath towels be washed?
Most experts, including the Cleaning Institute , recommend washing towels after every three to five uses to get rid of these microscopic creatures (or at the first sign of odor, because this is a clear sign that colonies are multiplying). We hope this goes without saying, but sports towels that contain sweat (and knowing too much about the inside of your gym bag) need to be washed after each use. The same goes for any towels that are contaminated with body fluids or that do not dry completely between uses. (It’s best to let the towels air dry before throwing them in the laundry basket so they don’t get funky.)
Wash towels at the highest temperature (preferably at least 140 degrees Fahrenheit) and tumble dry on a high heat.
Can towels be washed with my clothes?
Listen, you’re an adult. You can do whatever you want. But remember all those ugly germs and bacteria growing like crazy on your towels? They can be transferred to your clothes when washed . For hygiene reasons, it is best to keep them separate when washing. (Plus, towels are notorious lint generators – another reason to keep them away from clothing.) And when it’s time to dry, these terry towels will unnecessarily lengthen the drying time of your clothes.
Should I wash towels with sheets?
Negative again. Again, no one dies if you do this, but here’s why it’s not a good idea: Firstly, towels are made from a much heavier, thicker and more durable fabric, and sheets are usually made from a thin cotton blend or cotton blend and polyester. Not only do they take different wash and dry times (towels can take twice as long to dry), towels tend to end up in the corners of fitted sheets, making them difficult to wash thoroughly and pretty much ensures they stay. wet.
Can I wash bath towels with kitchen towels?
Can you guess what I say here? Unfortunately no. Your washcloths and dishcloths come in contact with all sorts of troubles every day. Dirty counters, raw meat juices, floors, people’s mouths – just to name a few. (To be honest, if you have kids, no one knows what disgusting journeys these towels made on any given day.) Researchers have found E. coli and Staphylococcus aureus on kitchen towels, which can cause food poisoning and other foods. diseases are not things that you want to mix with the fabric mustache with which you dry your face.
Therefore, for maximum hygiene, it is recommended that you wash your bath towels after every 3-5 uses and store them separately from clothes, sheets and tea towels during washing. Is it annoying? Hell yes. Do I want the towels that decorate my husband’s undercarriage to mix with my kitchen towels? No problem.
(PS Microfiber towels are a very different bead of wax that you can read about here .)