I love taking showers at night, there is no better feeling than being super nice and clean and then getting into a nice clean bed. Or I thought I was clean. The sponges and loofahs we all know and love to have in our showers are the perfect breeding ground for bacteria, and should be replaced or sanitized on a regular basis.
More From Good Housekeeping. Good Housekeeping UK spoke to dermatologist Dr. Stefanie Williams about what we should be using in the shower. “I usually advise against the use of a mesh shower puff, as the warm moist conditions promote growth of bacteria and fungi,” she told us.
You ever have one of these guys?
If there is one of these guys in your shower, you should probably just throw it away right now. In a study published by the Journal of Clinical Microbiology, researchers discovered that all of the gross stuff you scrub off of your skin becomes entrapped in the nooks and crannies of the netting. All bacteria needs to flourish is air and water… Insert shower life here, and the bacteria trapped in your shower pouf multiplies and spreads overnight.
“Then, you put them in this environment in the shower that’s warm and moist and gross, and it’s a set up for bacteria, yeast, and mold to grow in the loofah,” says J. Matthew Knight, M.D., dermatologist with Knight Dermatology Institute.
Knight says 9 out of 10 dermatologists recommend throwing out your loofah for good, but if you have to have one, replace it every three to four weeks and leave it to dry somewhere not as moist or warm as near the shower. Experts also recommend using a wash cloth instead, it can easily be thrown into the laundry after use.
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I love taking showers at night, there is no better feeling than being super nice and clean and then getting into a nice clean bed. Or I thought I was clean. The sponges and loofahs we all know and love to have in our showers are the perfect breeding ground for bacteria, and should be replaced or sanitized on a regular basis.
Ditch your plastic bath pouf!
FAQ
Do bath poufs hold bacteria?
Are poufs sanitary?
Are mesh poufs good?
Can you use a mesh pouf in a body wash?
You will eventually get an infection from using a synthetic mesh pouf to lather up your body wash. If you insist on using them, do take the time to rinse them after each bath and leave them to dry somewhere not humid. Replace poufs every three weeks, or when they start to smell different. Would Using a Simple Washcloth Be Better?
Are synthetic Bath poufs bad for You?
Synthetic bath poufs are typically made of nylon, and have dense layers of mesh in a circular pattern. Bath poufs can still grow bacteria in them, just like natural loofahs. In fact, they may be even worse. Silicone bath scrubbers may have antimicrobial benefits but should still be cleaned regularly.
Is a mesh pouf better than a loofah?
Mesh poufs are no less problematic than loofah, even though they’re made of synthetic material like nylon. You’d be hard-pressed to find a single dermatologist that would recommend the use of a loofah or a mesh pouf. Because organic matter from your body still gets trapped between a pouf’s fibers, bacteria can still grow in it.
How long should a bath pouf last?
You should toss a mesh bath pouf, which is more resistant to bacteria, after eight weeks [sources: Crean, Fitness Magazine ]. If you want to be extra cautious, you can also disinfect your bath sponge every few days. The presence of bacteria is a fact of life, and it exists everywhere.