Do you use a clean towel each time you have a shower? It’s pretty common not to. In a hot, dry country such as Australia it can be tempting to conserve water by using the same towel again and again. Especially if it is dry from the last time.
But Sydney dermatologist Dr Shreya Andric says you might want to rethink how long you use that towel for. She says you should be using a new towel every three days to avoid transferring bacteria to your skin and causing irritation.
“If you shower more than once a day, then you might want to wash it more frequently,” she says.
“Towels absorb a lot of water and remain damp for hours, which can be an excellent breeding ground for bacteria.”
She says if you’re determined to use your towel for longer than that before a wash, the absolute maximum should be two weeks. After this point, Dr Andric says, your dirty towel is doing you more harm than good.
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