Good habits determine people's lifestyle and quality of life, and they also have a significant impact on people's health without them realizing it. It can be said that there is a great deal of knowledge in daily living that contributes to a healthy and long life. Everyone uses towels every day, they are an indispensable part of daily life and can accompany us throughout our lives. A good towel not only allows us to enjoy a high quality of life and start each day with a good mood, but it can also put us one step ahead on the path to good health.
As the saying goes, "knowledge is everywhere in life." Although towels may seem small, there are important considerations when using them.
From a health perspective, a person's towel should be replaced after about 30 days of use, and the maximum usage time should not exceed 40 days. Alternatively, towels can be sterilized and softened by boiling at high temperatures. However, traditional habits and consumer attitudes have led many consumers to overlook the role of towels in maintaining their health, resulting in unscientific usage habits. For example, sharing towels among multiple people, using one towel for multiple purposes, not replacing them until they are worn out, reusing them repeatedly, and not paying attention to towel hygiene. Towels that are used for too long can harbor a large number of bacteria on their surfaces, which can be detrimental to human health.
This is especially true in the summer when towels with a large number of bacteria and viruses can penetrate the body through the senses and skin, causing harm to one's health.
When using towels, it is important for each person to have their own dedicated towel. Different towels should be used for different purposes. Towels should be regularly disinfected, washed, and dried in a timely manner. Towels are mainly made of pure cotton yarn, and cotton fibers have a tubular structure that can store moisture. The main chemical component of cotton fibers, cellulose, contains a large number of hydrophilic genes, which allows them to absorb moisture well. This moisture absorption and storage capability of cotton yarn makes towels comfortable to touch, effective in removing dirt, and suitable for facial cleansing, among other characteristics.
However, it is also because of this characteristic that cotton fibers are prone to accumulate dirt. Secretions such as sweat and tears from the human body, as well as pathogenic microorganisms from the environment, provide a "breeding ground" for bacteria. Bacteria thrive in warm and humid environments. When towels are in a warm and moist state for a long time, they become a paradise for bacterial growth. Additionally, oils, dust from the skin, impurities in water, and bacteria in the air accumulate on towels. Using such towels to wipe the skin not only fails to clean it effectively but also dirties the skin and clogs the pores, resulting in the opposite effect of cleanliness.
In this case, if towels are not washed, dried, or replaced regularly, a large number of bacteria will remain and multiply in them. Using such towels to wipe the body can potentially lead to infections. Women who wear makeup and children with fast metabolism are particularly at risk as their skin produces more oils, making towels more susceptible to contamination. Furthermore, many low-priced towels in the market are made from waste, old, fake materials, and inferior dyeing agents. This compromises the breathability and water absorption of the towels, and some towels even contain carcinogenic substances such as aniline. Prolonged use of such towels can cause significant harm to one's health.
Warm reminder:
Using a bathrobe when taking a shower can provide insulation and prevent cold air from invading. However, individuals with weak constitutions should not use a bathrobe to shower. This is because the air inside the bathrobe is limited, and the air inside and outside the bathrobe is isolated. As the person exhales carbon dioxide and inhales oxygen, the oxygen inside the bathrobe decreases while the carbon dioxide increases. After some time, individuals with weak constitutions may experience dizziness and chest tightness due to lack of oxygen. Therefore, individuals with weak constitutions should avoid using a bathrobe.
