You are using the best cleaning products to keep your home clean from germs. Your kitchen is sparkling clean; your bathroom smells clean and sanitized. And yet, there may still be germs and bacteria hiding in plain sight. Make sure this is not your case by washing and replacing your linens.
Kitchen Towels
It might surprise you to know that kitchen towels can be one of the dirtiest items in your home. Think about it. How often do you get the towel to dry your hands, wipe utensils, clean up spills, and clean surfaces? If not washed regularly, it can be a source of germs and bacteria that can make your family sick.
It’s important not to use the same towel for multipurpose uses. If you do so, you may be inadvertently spreading germs around the kitchen. For that reason, it is recommended to have different towels for different uses.
How often you should wash the towels depends on how you use the towel. If you use a towel just to dry your hands, you can reuse it for two to three days. The towels should be replaced every day when used to dry dishes, clean up spills, or clean countertops. Change it immediately if the towel comes in contact with raw meat and poultry.
Wash all used towels once a week using the hot water cycle. If the towels are white, wash with soap and bleach.
Bathroom Towels
Bath towels
When we dry ourselves with a bath towel, the towel becomes damp. It is a thriving environment for microbes, such as bacteria and mold. For this reason, allow the towel to air-dry fully after every use and replace the towel after three or four uses.
Hand towels
These towels are used several times every day, so it’s necessary to wash them frequently. If more than one person uses the one towel to dry their hands, consider changing it every day. If the towels don’t dry completely, that’s an invite to bacteria. In this case, it’s necessary to change them after every use.
Washcloths
You should replace them after every use. Reusing a washcloth defeats its purpose. Instead of cleaning, you are introducing new germs to your face. It can also cause skin problems such as acne.
Bed Linens
If you wake up with a stuffy nose and sneezing after a night’s sleep, the culprit may be your bed linens. Although we can’t see dust mites with the naked eye, they thrive on dirty sheets and pillowcases. Dust and pollen can also be a cause of skin problems, such as eczema.
The general guideline of how often to wash your bed linens is once a week. However, if you have pets that sleep in your bed or you sweat excessively during the night, you might want to consider washing them twice a week. If you get sick, wash your linens as soon as you feel better to avoid a possible relapse.
Conclusion
Perhaps the suggestion of changing your linens frequently does not agree with your busy schedule. But knowing that germs and bacteria could be growing on your linens may be an incentive for you to make the necessary adjustments. Have peace of mind knowing your kitchen, bathroom, and bedroom linens will be germ and bacteria-free.
Dirtfree will help you in this area by reminding you when to wash your linens. Try it today with a 2-week free trial!
