According to a study by the University of Arizona, towels are the most germ-infested household objects. This is largely because they are designed to retain moisture and they live in one of the most germ-ridden areas of our homes - the bathroom.
Even when a towel looks clean, if it has been used at least once - then it isn’t. In fact, it is the perfect home to produce and grow bacteria.
And it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out that added bacteria is bad for our skin. Especially for sufferers of acne. So what can we do to ensure that each time we wipe our face we are wiping bacteria away and not adding to the problem?
The ‘Clean Towel Method’ is exactly what it sounds like. It means using a clean towel every single time you wash your face. The advantage of this is that there is no bacteria build-up waiting to be smeared all over your clean face. But there are some disadvantages, like the amount of washing this would mean and the impact that has on our environment. So here we suggest some alternative ideas.
If you want to use material cloths (not paper towels):
Go small - don’t use anything larger than a face towel (typically 30 cm x 30 cm). This will cut down on the laundry pile.
Go hemp or linen - if you aim to use a cotton-based cloth, always choose organic cotton which is less detrimental to the environment. Alternatively, choose hemp or linen which are more sustainable materials than conventional cotton.
If you want to use paper towels:
Go recyclable - using paper towels can be a great alternative to face cloths if you are concerned about the environmental impact of washing BUT, this is only true if you make green choices about which paper towels to use.
Go green - don’t use bleached, bright white paper towels, ideally chose totally chlorine-free, 100% recycled alternatives.