Everyone knows how important it is to stay on top of your laundry. Keeping your clothes clean is the best way to banish any bacteria, as well as ensuring they smell fresh.
And it’s sometimes easier to forget about your towels – but cleaning these regularly is vital. Dirty towels can become breeding grounds for bacteria, and since you’re using them to dry your face and body, there’s the risk of becoming unwell. But how often should you really be washing them?
Salah Sun, Head of Product Marketing at Beko Plc UK & Ireland, has lifted the lid on how frequently we should be giving our towels a spin in the washing machine.
He said: “We’ve all skipped laundry day once or twice, but did you know that not washing your clothes, bedding, and towels, as often as you should, could be bad for your health?
“These soft fabrics are perfect for dirt to cling to and since they come up against our skin and faces often, keeping them clean and knowing how often to wash them is a must.”
It’s easy to imagine towels are cleaner than they are, because they only touch us after we’ve cleaned.
However, the experts have warned that this is not the case. In fact, towels are the perfect place for germs and bacteria to cling to, especially when they’re damp.
Salah said: “You should be washing your towels once every week or two, but it does depend on how often you use them and if anyone else is using them.”
He continued: “If you’re sharing a towel, you’ll be sharing more germs that are foreign to you, including sensitive areas like your face. It is best to keep your towels separate and wash them regularly where possible.”
Generally, towels should be washed on around 40C, but white towels can undergo a deeper clean at 60C to kill bacteria.
However, the golden rule is to check the care label before washing anythin in order to avoid damaging it.
