FROM a young age, we’re all taught the importance of sharing – whether that’s your favourite top or your last square of chocolate.
But there are just some things in life that really aren’t worth giving to others, especially when it comes to hygiene.
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Experts say that while your bathroom towel may seem harmless, it could actually be crawling with nasty bugs.
And with Britain currently in the midst of a norovirus outbreak, it’s particularly crucial to know that in this case, sharing isn’t caring.
Bacteria can live on towels for a few hours, days, or even months, because of the material’s ability to retain moisture.
That means that changing them at least once a week is really important.
Hung out to dry
You should also be sure to hang them to dry in an open space, rather than in a heap on the floor – that only lets germs breed.
And above all don’t share them with anyone – that means your partner, or any of your family members.
Earlier this year, research by bathroom company Drench found that half of couples admitted to sharing towels – a quarter of which said they’d been doing this since the first month of their relationship.
Only 30 per cent of couple said that they would never share a towel, no matter how close they are or how long they had been together.
But even your own towel can put you at risk of some pretty gross things – like faecal matter – if they’re not regularly washed.
Perfect environment
Diana Gall, of Doctor 4 U, said: “Damp, warm towels are the perfect environment for germs.
“And if towels are being used repeatedly by different people, they may never get a chance to dry completely, allowing bacteria to thrive.”
She said the main concern is contamination from bacteria such as E.coli, which comes from faecal matter.
“E. coli poisoning can be so serious that it can be life-threatening in certain circumstances, meanwhile coliform contact can also cause urinary tract infections like cystitis,” she said.
“Staph infection is also another real risk, as the staphylococcus bacteria can be transferred from towels to a human body if you’ve got any sort of cut or open wound.
“A staph infection might manifest as swollen skin, red lumps, as well as sore eyes and eyelid – but it can also cause serious MRSA infections.
“And at this time of year it’s important to protect yourself from cold and flu by not sharing towels.
“The flu virus is capable of surviving outside the body for around 24 hours, giving it ample opportunity to infect a new host.”
