07 January 2024 , 13:06
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The UK's dirtiest areas have been revealed with new data laying bare the places where some Brits only wash their towels once every three months.
Many Brits mark the new year with a deep clean and use the time to reset and declutter their homes. However, new statistics have found that three per cent of residents only wash theirs once a year.
Current guidance recommends washing your towel after three uses as bathroom experts Showers to You surveyed 2,200 UK residents and found that many were using their towels for much longer before giving them a freshen-up. Overall they found almost one in 10 UK residents surveyed only wash their bathroom towels twice a year. And a third of UK residents surveyed wash their bathroom towels just once every three months.
Those surveyed in Leicester and Glasgow are most likely to go the longest without washing their bathroom towels. However, it’s not all bad news for the nation’s bathroom hygiene, with almost one in five respondents stating they wash their towels once a month, almost a quarter washing their towels once a week and one in 20 health-conscious residents washing their towels every single day.
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.
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“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 routine of washing their towels in line with guidance from health professionals, especially for those who only give their towels an annual wash.”
Commenting on the research, Dr. Hamdan Abdullah Hamed MBChB, a board-certified Dermatologist and Co-founder of PowerYourCurls.com, states: “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. 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.”
Cities waiting 3 months or longer before washing their towels:
Leicester - 40.90%
Glasgow - 40.80%
Belfast - 38.10%
Sheffield - 37.50%
Coventry - 36.00%
Edinburgh - 35.80%
Birmingham - 35.70%
Nottingham - 34.10%
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Liverpool - 33.90%
Bristol - 33.30%
Bradford - 33.30%
Wolverhampton - 33.30%
Manchester - 32.40%
Cardiff - 31.70%
London - 31.40%
Leeds - 31.30%
Hull - 28.10%
Stoke-Trent - 28.10%
Southampton - 28.00%
Newcastle upon Tyne - 22.20%