A pharmacist has dished out the ‘definitive’ advice on how often you should change and wash your bathroom towels, cautioning that failing to do so could result in transmitting an illness. TikTok pharmacist Alvaro Fernandez, who goes by @farmaceuticofernandez online, shared a video where he addressed this household hygiene issue.
He explained: “Bathroom towels and kitchen cloths are perfect refuges for microorganisms causing gastrointestinal and skin diseases.” The best preventive measure in these cases is always to wash them often and dry them well. “Obviously, the longer they go unwashed, the more microorganisms can accumulate,” he added.
According to the research discussed in Alvaro’s video, family towels left unwashed for a week revealed alarming data: “89% of them had bacteria that could cause mild illnesses.” Even more concerning, out of these unwashed items: “25% of all towels could transmit serious diseases.”
Some people attempt to curb bacterial growth by letting towels dry outside the bathroom, but according to Alvaro, while it may stem the tide of some bacteria, both bathroom towels and everyday-use kitchen cloths remain hotbeds for disease-causing germs. His advice is crystal clear; regularly changing these items is crucial to dodging infections.
Another factor directly impacting the spread of germs is the sharing of towels. Individual towels are essential due to the potential risk of spreading infections. “Never share towels because if one of you has an infection, lice or something worse, the possibility of transmission is big,” the pharmacist explains.
The advice is straightforward: “The definitive recommendation is to change towels every 3 or 4 days.” Alvaro also mentioned that this guidance is especially important during the summer months.
Alvaro’s tips on bathroom towel hygiene:
- Change your bath towels every 3 to 4 days. After each use, towels are damp, which creates the perfect environment for the proliferation of bacteria, fungi and bad odours
- Hand towels should be changed every 1 or 2 days. They are the most used and shared, and they accumulate dirt and germs quickly
Tips to keep towels fresh and clean:
- Let them dry completely after each use
- Wash them with hot water and a good detergent
- Avoid using them longer than recommended; your skin will thank you