Good Towel Habit’s

Once we have spent time cleaning ourselves in a bath or shower, we dry off with a towel. It would make sense that this towel is perfectly clean, as we ourselves are clean at the point of usage. A towel however is often left lying next to dirty clothes, left on the floor, remains damp for extended periods, does not get exposure to sunlight and does not get a regular wash. This means that a towel is in actual fact a bacterial breading ground and that it could cause irritation and other bad health.

Ensuring that your towel does not become a source of poor hygiene in the home simply means being more aware of what towel you use and how you use it. There are a few habit’s one can develop to make a routine of this.

5 Towel Traditions to Take up

1. Get a Good Quality Towel – You use quality soap on your skin so do not use a towel that could damage and irritate your skin. Look for a towel that is well put together, has high absorbency and best suited your body size.  
2. Air Out Immediately After Use – To avoid a moist odor and the growth of damp related bacteria. It is vital that a towel is opened up and hung up immediately after use. A towel should never touch the floor or be left mixed with worn clothes if it is going to be used again.
3. Wash Regularly – Some people use towels for long periods without washing them. Just because a towel is dry, it does not mean that it is clean. Care should be taken and a towel should not be used more than 3 times without washing in hot water. The hot water will kill bacteria that are invisible to the human eye.
4. Dry Correctly – Leaving a towel to dry in a concealed area such as the bathroom might do the trick in terms of drying but the lack of air, warmth and light will promote the existence of germs. Sunshine, a good breeze or a heated tumble dryer is ideal for towels. 
5. Do Not Share – It may be an old habit or just done out of laziness or convenience but sharing a towel is not healthy. A towel bares bodily skin cells and is a carrier of any germ. When a second person uses your towel, they add their cells and germs. They also allow your cells and germs to have contact with their body. This increases the risk and spread of allergy and irritation is a form of hygienic negligence.