5% of British men wash their towels once a year and are at risk of infection, research shows

The bathroom, which should be the personal hygiene room, may not have this role for many UK residents.

Research from bathroom items supplier Showers to You revealed that 5% of British men sanitize their towels just once a year. As for women, the percentage decreases to 1%.

According to the survey carried out with 2,200 people in the country, one in 10 said they only wash their towels twice a year.

Due to this poor hygiene practice, hundreds of people could be at risk of contracting a skin infection or other health problems.

In an interview with the Daily Mail, dermatologist Dr. Hamdan Hamed explained that the humid environment of these tissues is conducive to the growth of bacteria and fungi, including those that cause skin problems, athlete's foot and other fungal infections.

Still, 11% of those interviewed said they were not at all concerned about hygiene issues.

Among the reasons that lead them to wash towels, even a few times a year, 67% indicated visual cleaning, 61% due to the smell and 58% due to “number of uses”.

The dermatologist recommends washing towels every three or four uses to eliminate bacteria, dirt, dead skin cells and allergens.”

Martin Smith, founder of Showers to You, said that “many people may be skipping a key step in ensuring proper bathroom hygiene,” as this space should, in theory, be one of the cleanest in the house.

He adds that everyone should maintain a regular routine following the guidance of healthcare professionals.