What’s hiding in your bathroom towels?

 

With the recent outbreak of bedbugs being found in Paris, reports have suggested that London is the next to be hit! Now is more important than ever to be washing your sheets and towels thoroughly.

What’s Hiding In Your Bathroom Towels?

Amid recent reports that freshly washed towels contain 190,000 counts of bacteria — increasing to 17 million after just one day of use, and soaring to as high as 94 million after a week — you might be shocked to find out that new research from Showers to You indicates over 1 million UK residents only wash their bathroom towels once a year.1!!

While guidance shows that towels should be washed after three uses, the survey which questioned 2,200 UK residents, found that many were using their towels for much longer before giving them a freshen-up.

Key Findings:

• 3% of UK residents surveyed only wash their bathroom towels once a year, which equates to over 1.5 million people (1,595,646).
• Almost one in 10 UK residents (8%) surveyed only wash their bathroom towels twice a year, equating to over 4 million people (4,255,056)
• A third of UK residents (33%) surveyed wash their bathroom towels just once every three months, this equates to over 17 million people (17,552,107)
• Those surveyed in Leicester and Glasgow are most likely to go the longest without washing their bathroom towels, with over 4 in 10 (41%) from both cities admitting to only washing their towels every three months at the most

The survey found that 3% of those who answered 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.

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.

Almost one in 10 questioned (8%) stated they will only wash their bathroom towels twice a year, indicating over 1.5 million people across the country give their towels a clean every six months, while a third of respondents (33%) will only wash their bathroom towels once every three months at the most.

 

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 (38%) of those asked stating they wash their towels once a month, almost a quarter (24%) washing their towels once a week and one in 20 (5%) health conscious residents washing their towels every single day.

Commenting on the research, Dr. Hamdan Abdullah Hamed MBChB, a board-certified Dermatologist, states:

“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.”

We know that cleaning for viewings can feel repetitive when you’re marketing your property, but next time you start to feel annoyed, remember that it can actually be beneficial for your health