Only 5 per cent of people surveyed said they wash their towels every single day
Health experts suggest that bathroom towels should be washed after three uses to prevent spread of germs, but many Brits are not adhering to this basic bathroom hygiene.
Shower and bathroom specialist Showers to You surveyed 2,200 UK residents and found that three per cent of respondents wash their bathroom towels once a year, which equates to over 1.5 million people based on the latest adult population estimates from the Office of National Statistics.
Men were more likely to use their towels for longer without washing than women, with five per cent of male respondents admitting to giving them an annual wash, compared to one per cent of women.
Eight per cent of respondents stated they only wash their bathroom towels twice a year, while 33 respondents admitted washing their bathroom towels just once every three months at the most.
Thirty-eight per cent of UK residents surveyed wash their towels once a month, 24 per cent once a week, and only five percent respondents said they wash their towels every single day.
Residents of Leicester and Glasgow are most likely to go the longest without washing their bathroom towels, with over 40 per cent respondents from both cities admitting to only washing their towels every three months at the most.
Martin Smith, the founder of Showers to You commented: “The bathroom should in theory be one of the cleanest rooms in the home, however our research shows that many people across the country could be ignoring a key step in ensuring proper bathroom hygiene.
“While it’s encouraging to see the data shows the majority of respondents are keeping up with regularly washing their bathroom towels, everyone should ensure they are ensuring a regular routine of washing their towels in line with guidance from health professionals, especially for those who only give their towels an annual wash.”
Respondents cited visual cleanliness as the most common reason for washing their bathroom towels (67 per cent), followed by smell (61 per cent) and ‘number of uses’ (58 per cent).
Concerningly, one in six respondents (15 per cent) said they will only wash their towels once they have become stiff.
Despite the National Health Service (NHS) cautioning that towels can spread germs if not washed frequently, 11 per cent of respondents aren’t concerned at all by bacteria or hygiene issues stemming from not washing their bathroom towels.
It is important to wash of bathroom towels regularly to maintain cleanliness and reduce the risk of infections.
Dr. Hamdan Abdullah Hamed MBChB, a board-certified Dermatologist and Co-founder of PowerYourCurls.com, explained: “Towels tend to accumulate moisture, creating an environment conducive to bacterial and fungal growth.”
“Bacteria like staphylococcus aureus can lead to skin infections, while fungi like Candida yeast can cause issues like athlete’s foot or yeast infections. Additionally, dirty towels may contain allergens that can trigger allergic reactions or skin irritations in sensitive individuals.
“Therefore, it is recommended to wash towels after every three to four uses to eliminate bacteria, dirt, dead skin cells, and allergens, ensuring optimal hygiene and minimising health risks,” he added.
Cities where you can find the maximum number of dirty towels:
FAQs
Over 1 million UK residents only wash their bathroom towels once a year, survey reveals. Health experts suggest that bathroom towels should be washed after three uses to prevent spread of germs, but many Brits are not adhering to this basic bathroom hygiene.
How often do people wash their towels survey? ›
The study also found that nearly a quarter clean their towels once per week. A UK study found that almost one in 10 people wash their towels just twice a year, with men five times more likely to clean their towel just once a year.
How often should you wash your towels in the UK? ›
According to the Cleaning Institute, towels should be washed after every third or fifth "normal" use. This assumes that your towel dries completely between uses, so if your towel is sandwiched between your housemates' towels or your robe, it's probably not drying completely.
How often should bathroom towels be washed? ›
How often should I wash my bath towels? Dead skin cells, bacteria, and even sweat can accumulate quickly on your towels, so using a fresh one about every three days is a simple rule of thumb—for all kinds of towels. You can of course change them more often.
How often do people change their towel? ›
Summary: Changing towels
Facecloths should be changed after each use. Hand towels should be changed daily and bath or shower towels every three days. Each member of a household should use their own towels, with a separate towel for face, hands and body.
Should towels be washed by themselves? ›
But, you definitely want to wash towels separately from clothing and other linens, says Taylor Matthews, owner of Sparkling Queens in Savannah, Georgia. “For one, your other clothes and sheets will get lint and fibers on them from being washed with towels,” she explains.
How often should you throw out bath towels? ›
As a general rule, it is recommended to replace your bath towels every two to three years, with five years the maximum. Over time, frequent laundering and normal wear and tear can cause towels to lose their absorbency and become less soft.
How often should you wash towels with vinegar? ›
I will generally wash my towels every three uses on a regular laundry cycle, and throw them all in together for a 'towel-only' wash with vinegar at the end of each month to keep them soft and fluffy and to get rid of musty smells in a bathroom.
Should you wash new towels UK? ›
The importance of washing new towels before you use them
But this can impact the absorbency of the towel so washing is essential to ensure the towel performs from first use. “It's also possible to get a few stray threads or cotton fibres on new towels which is completely normal,” say the Attwoods.
How often should you wash your bedding in the UK? ›
Changing bedding can be a hassle, but duvet covers, sheets, pillowcases and top sheets should be washed at least once every two weeks if you wear pyjamas or shower before bed. Wash your sheets more frequently if you suffer from allergies, have an infection, sleep with no clothes on, or go to bed without showering.
Joining you in bed are countless dust mites and bacteria, not to mention lots and lots of your own dead skin. Dermatologist Alok Vij, MD, says you should wash your sheets at least every two weeks — maybe more, depending on factors like whether you live in a warm climate and whether your pet sleeps in your bed. Dr.
What happens if you don't wash your towel? ›
Dr Bloomfield says if you're using a towel to wipe sweat, it's important to wash it regularly. "You're raising sweat, shedding skin cells from the surface of your body and more bacteria on to the towel." She says if you don't, it will become more "heavily contaminated" and then harder to decontaminate in the wash.
Is it okay to use the same towel for a week? ›
But according to Sydney-based dermatologist Shreya Andric it's best to change your towel every three days to avoid irritating your skin or potentially cause infections. “If you shower more than once a day, then you might want to wash it more frequently,” she said.
Is it sanitary to use a towel more than once? ›
In most cases, it takes several uses before these microbes start to build up, and the towel is wet enough to encourage these germs. At this point, it's necessary to wash your towels. Before then, however, there's no harm in reusing them.
Should you use a new towel after every shower? ›
How Often You Should Wash Your Towels. The best practice is to wash towels after every use, says Kelly Reynolds, PhD, a professor at the University of Arizona Zuckerman College of Public Health in Tucson, but you can stretch them to two to three uses — max — as long as you fully dry them out in between.
How often should you change your washcloth? ›
You should wash your towels and washcloths after every 3-5 uses, although some experts say your washcloth should only be used once before washing. When it comes to replacing your bath towels and washcloths, there's no hard and fast rule. You just need to pay attention to the absorbency and softness.
How often should you wash your towels?Good Housekeepinghttps://www.goodhousekeeping.com ›
You might think your towel is fine because you only use it on your clean body, but think again. Even your freshly-washed skin can harbour germs and bacteria tha...
Experts have revealed exactly how often you should be washing your bathroom towels. It comes as new research confirmed almost two million Brits only wash their ...
New research shows that over a million Brits go a year without washing their towels. Experts at Showers to You found that a shocking number wait every three mon...
According to a survey conducted by Mattress Advisory, the average American changes their sheets once every 24 days. If this sounds like way too long of a time to go without swapping out your dirty sheets for a set of clean linens, it really is.
How many towels does the average person use per week? ›
When it comes to bath towels, the average person typically only needs two towels, if you intend on washing them each week. After around four uses of a towel, you should swap for the other. This metric may change based on an individual's personal preference or habits.
How often does the average person wash their clothes? ›
How often do people do laundry? Depending on how you fill your washing machine, the sort of clothes you wear and how fresh you like your clothes, the average person does laundry anywhere between one to three times a week. While this may not seem like a lot, it adds up to between 50 and 150 laundry loads every year.
Bath towels typically last two to five years, depending on factors like frequency of use and care. Signs it's time to replace them include reduced absorbency, lingering odors, scratchiness, fading colors, rips or holes, mildew, or if they're over five years old.
