Scabies are caused by a mite that infests one’s skin and is spread by close physical contact and sometimes via contaminated clothes.
Bathroom experts Showers to You surveyed 2,000 UK residents and found that many were using their towels for much longer before washing them.
Some people said they only wash their bathroom towels once a year, while others said twice a year was ample.
Dr Hamdan Abdullah Hamed MBChB, a board-certified dermatologist and co-founder of PowerYourCurls.com said: “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.
“Dirty towels may also contain allergens that can trigger allergic reactions or skin irritations in sensitive individuals.”
The expert recommended washing towels every three to four uses to eliminate bacteria and dead skin cells, but what is the best way to wash towels?
According to Deyan Dimitrov, CEO of Laundryheap, the first thing to make sure to avoid when washing towels is to overload the machine.
This is because they need plenty of room in the machine to spin and clean properly.
Depending on the size of your appliance, three to four towels should fit in comfortably with enough room to move around.
Refer to the detergent instructions to see how much to use, and make sure not to overload on this either when washing towels.
Deyan said: “Try to use a little less detergent than normal as when towels are overloaded with detergent, they become stiff and scratchy due to the built-up residue.”
Tom Drake, DIY expert at Only Radiators, added: “You may think that hotter temperatures are better for cleaning clothes, but for towels, the optimum temperature is between 30C to 40C.
“Warm water absorbs detergent better, in turn leaving less chemical child up on your towels, which makes them feel stiff. Although washing your towels at higher temperatures is the most efficient way to get rid of germs, 30C or 40C will still eliminate most of your bacteria and preserve your towel’s fibres.”
Drying towels can take a long time, especially in the winter months, resulting in many people using their tumble dryers. However, due to the hot heat within the appliance, they may end up turning stiff and crunchy, according to the expert.
He continued: “Line drying is the most environmentally friendly way to dry towels, so if you’re drying them this way, you should shake the towels once they’ve dried to fluff them up.”
