X
theAsianparent Malaysia Logo
theAsianparent Malaysia Logo
EnglishMalay
Product GuideSign in
  • Becoming a Parent
    • Project Sidekicks
    • Pregnancy
    • Losing A Baby
    • Conceiving a Baby
    • Adoption
    • Labour & Delivery
  • Ages & Stages
    • Baby
    • Child
    • Pre-Teen & Teen
  • Parenting
    • Parenting Tips
    • Marriage, Relationship & Sex
    • Viral News
  • Health
    • Illness
    • Allergy & Syndrome
    • Vaccinations
    • Give Health A Shot
  • Breastfeeding & Nutrition
    • Breastfeeding
    • Healthy Meal Tips
    • Formula
  • Education
    • Preschool
    • Primary School
    • Middle School
    • Special Education
  • Money Parenting
    • Tips for Parents
    • Tips for Toddlers
    • Tips for Older Kids
    • The 5 Personas
  • Lifestyle
    • Money
    • Contests & Promotions
    • Holiday
    • Spirituality
    • Home
  • TAP Recommends
  • Press Room
  • Products
  • Awards
    • Parents' Choice Awards 2023
  • Advertise With Us

Oh gross! Your damp bath towels are breeding grounds for germs

3 min read
Oh gross! Your damp bath towels are breeding grounds for germs

Think twice before drying yourself off with that damp towel

The most germ-infested item in your bathroom is probably not what you’d think (your toilet brush), but your bath towel.

Sure, your body might be pretty clean the moment you step out of the shower, but as soon as you wrap a clean, dry towel around your body, your dead skin rubs off and sticks to the fibers of your towel.

Towels are also incredibly absorbent—that’s what they’re made to do. The moisture they retain make them ideal breeding grounds for mold and other bacteria. That’s why it’s highly important to make sure that your towels dry out completely after a shower.

“If it remains wet, bacteria will grow”

towel hygiene

“It’s the same problem as with the loofah sponge. If it remains wet, bacteria will grow,” Marilyn Roberts, professor of environmental and occupational health sciences at the University of Washington School of Public Health, told Yahoo Beauty.

“Bacteria love moisture, but they do not love areas that have been desiccated. And bathrooms tend to be a humid place, so unless you live in a desert, your towel isn’t going to be dried from morning until evening.”

Though most of the bacteria on your skin isn’t harmful, bacteria from the water can thrive and linger on your towels. One example is nontuberculous mycobacteria, which  are found in shower heads and are known to cause lung infections.

Another is Legionella, which can be found in water systems and is also harmful to your respiratory system. You could also get skin diseases like gonorrhoea, trichomoniasis, and staph disease from a shared towel.

If someone in your home is sick, sharing a hand towel is an easy way to spread infections. “You have to realise that if anyone in your home is sick, the bathroom is a great place to transfer infections, whether it’s a skin infection, a cold, or a fecal-oral infection [where fecal matter is passed from one person to another],” Roberts continues. “And a lot of people don’t wash their hands properly.”

“The bathroom is a great place to transfer infections”

towel hygiene

Photo: 2tales/flickr

Jean Lang, the marketing director of Fieldcrest, tells Reader’s Digest that most people turn on a fan or open the windows while showering but turn the fan off or close the windows as they dry off. However, it’s more important that air circulates after the shower so that moisture is dispersed and the towel can dry.

To let your towel dry quickly:

  • turn on a fan
  • open a window
  • hang your towel somewhere not as humid as the bathroom, like the bedroom

And of course, remember to wash your towel after three uses—at the most.

Partner Stories
Pencegahan 101: Panduan Ringkas Dalam Melindungi Bayi Anda Terhadap Rotavirus
Pencegahan 101: Panduan Ringkas Dalam Melindungi Bayi Anda Terhadap Rotavirus
Apa Itu Cacar Air & Kenapa Kita Perlu Melindungi Anak Daripadanya?
Apa Itu Cacar Air & Kenapa Kita Perlu Melindungi Anak Daripadanya?
Bukan Sakit Perut Biasa, Kenapa Ramai Ibu Ayah Tidak Tahu Tentang Rotavirus?
Bukan Sakit Perut Biasa, Kenapa Ramai Ibu Ayah Tidak Tahu Tentang Rotavirus?
Kebenaran Tentang Cacar Air: Mitos & Fakta
Kebenaran Tentang Cacar Air: Mitos & Fakta

Got a parenting concern? Read articles or ask away and get instant answers on our app. Download theAsianparent Community on iOS or Android now!

img
Written by

Cristina Morales

  • Home
  • /
  • Kesihatan
  • /
  • Oh gross! Your damp bath towels are breeding grounds for germs
Share:
  • What Is Sound Bath & Why You Should Try It

    What Is Sound Bath & Why You Should Try It

  • A worry-free bath time for you and your baby

    A worry-free bath time for you and your baby

  • Pastikan Gigi Bayi Tumbuh Sempurna, Guna Ubat Gigi Yang Betul Untuk Anak Bawah 1 Tahun!

    Pastikan Gigi Bayi Tumbuh Sempurna, Guna Ubat Gigi Yang Betul Untuk Anak Bawah 1 Tahun!

  • Ubat Gigi Terbaik dan Selamat untuk Cegah Fluorosis Gigi Pada Bayi dan Kanak-Kanak

    Ubat Gigi Terbaik dan Selamat untuk Cegah Fluorosis Gigi Pada Bayi dan Kanak-Kanak

  • What Is Sound Bath & Why You Should Try It

    What Is Sound Bath & Why You Should Try It

  • A worry-free bath time for you and your baby

    A worry-free bath time for you and your baby

  • Pastikan Gigi Bayi Tumbuh Sempurna, Guna Ubat Gigi Yang Betul Untuk Anak Bawah 1 Tahun!

    Pastikan Gigi Bayi Tumbuh Sempurna, Guna Ubat Gigi Yang Betul Untuk Anak Bawah 1 Tahun!

  • Ubat Gigi Terbaik dan Selamat untuk Cegah Fluorosis Gigi Pada Bayi dan Kanak-Kanak

    Ubat Gigi Terbaik dan Selamat untuk Cegah Fluorosis Gigi Pada Bayi dan Kanak-Kanak

Get advice on your pregnancy and growing baby. Sign up for our newsletter
  • Conceiving a Baby
    • Adoption
    • Pregnancy
    • Labour & Delivery
    • Marriage, Relationship & Sex
  • Baby
    • Baby Names
    • Ages & Stages
    • Parenting Tips
    • Breastfeeding & Nutrition
  • Health
    • Fitness
    • Allergy & Syndrome
    • Illness
    • Healthy Meal Tips
  • Education
    • Preschool
    • Primary School
    • Middle School
    • Special Education
  • Lifestyle
    • Home
    • Money
    • Holiday
    • Contests & Promotions
  • More
    • TAP Community
    • Advertise With Us
    • Contact Us
    • Become a Contributor


  • Singapore flag Singapore
  • Thailand flag Thailand
  • Indonesia flag Indonesia
  • Philippines flag Philippines
  • Malaysia flag Malaysia
  • Sri-Lanka flag Sri Lanka
  • India flag India
  • Vietnam flag Vietnam
  • Australia flag Australia
  • Japan flag Japan
  • Nigeria flag Nigeria
  • Kenya flag Kenya
© Copyright theAsianparent 2023. All rights reserved
About Us|Team|Privacy Policy|Terms of Use |Sitemap HTML
  • Tools
  • Articles
  • Feed
  • Poll

We use cookies to ensure you get the best experience. Learn MoreOk, Got it

We use cookies to ensure you get the best experience. Learn MoreOk, Got it

theAsianparent heart icon
Kami ingin menghantar anda pemberitahuan untuk berita dan kemas kini terbaru mengenai penjagaan dan kesihatan bayi.