Cleaning expert's warning over 'gross' tea towel mistake that makes you sick
Cleaning expert's warning over 'gross' tea towel mistake that makes you sick
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Tea towels are among the most damp and frequently used items in your home, creating an ideal breeding ground for bacteria to thrive. Regular washing is essential, but how often should we be doing it? An expert has shared their advice on the frequency of laundering tea towels, as well as a warning about the common practice of tossing dirty tea towels into the usual laundry pile.
Professional organiser Anita Birges, writing on bodyandsoul.com, stresses the importance of keeping dirty tea towels separate from other items. "Repeat after me, never throw dirty tea towels in the laundry hamper on top of clothes," she advises. "Gross. Enter: the down-and-dirty bucket. This is a bucket I use to collect things like microfibre cloths, tea towels, hand towels that might be used for the floor. It all goes in my down-and-dirty bucket which then gets washed in a load once a week on a high temp to blast germs.".
Anita also recommends washing bath towels every 5-7 uses, highlighting the importance of maintaining cleanliness in our daily lives. "Ugh. Forget the sniff test and get real! These items are hanging around the bathroom, the dampest place in your home, soaking up all that moisture which is the perfect breeding ground for bacteria," she writes.
"Also note, the guideline is based on uses, not days. The reason for that is pretty obvious, some people shower more than once a day, whereas others may not. Once those towels are in the wash, make sure it's set to a hotter temp.". Pyjamas, on the other hand, should be washed every three wears. She adds: "This pyjama washing guideline applies if you're not the type to sloth about in your pyjamas all evening and well into the morning. You're fine to wash with other similarly coloured clothes, and if they get a red wine stain, they'll need to get tossed in the hamper, stat.".
