With Mpox rates on the rise in Europe, health experts are pushing for increased cleanliness, especially when it comes to potentially virus-laden towels.
As a new variant of Mpox makes headlines across Europe and the WHO labels it a worldwide health emergency, a wave of fresh advice is hitting home about how best to shield oneself and family from the virus.
Amid recommendations on boosting towel-washing frequency, Martin Smith, the boss at Showers To You, stepped up to say: “Everyone should ensure they are ensuring a regular routine of washing their towels in line with guidance from health professionals.”
A Showers To You survey has revealed that as many as 1.5 million Brits do their towel laundry only once annually, igniting concern when considering bacterial populations can zoom to 94 million on just a week-old towel, bringing a shudder-worthy visual to anyone’s bathroom scene.
Dr. Hamdan Abdullah Hamed MBChB, skin expert and PowerYourCurls.com co-founder, chimed in with: “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.”
The message from specialists is to wash towels every three to four uses at scorching temperatures, ensuring “optimal hygiene” and dodging avoidable health pitfalls.
A survey has revealed that one in six people only wash their towels when they become stiff, while the majority rely on the “sniff test” to determine if a towel needs cleaning.
On the flip side, one in 20 Brits are washing their towels daily, with nearly a quarter doing so weekly.
Laundry guru Salah Sun, who is the Head of Product Marketing at Beko Plc UK & Ireland, emphasised that towels require a “more aggressive cleaning approach” compared to other laundry items, recommending a separate wash cycle for them.
The WHO has highlighted that Mpox can be transmitted through contact with infected individuals and can linger on various items such as clothing, bedding, towels, and surfaces.
The virus’s persistence raises the risk of infection, especially if someone touches these objects and then their face or broken skin without washing their hands.
They advise: “Cleaning and disinfecting surfaces/objects and cleaning your hands after touching surfaces/objects that may be contaminated can help prevent this type of transmission.”