YOUR TOWEL, RULES

Health experts caution against using others' bathroom essentials — the risks may linger longer than you think

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Imagine you're away from home but forgot to pack your towel, razor or toothbrush.

Should you use other people’s?

Here's why it’s probably best not to make a habit of it.

Many disease-causing bacteria, viruses or fungi live on cloth, plastic and metal objects in your bathroom. These so-called pathogenic microbes can remain viable on these surfaces for extended periods. That is, they're able to cause infection for days, months or years.

For example, the fungus Aspergillus can remain viable for more than a month on cloth and plastic. Some bacteria can survive on these surfaces for years. And many viruses can remain viable for hours to months on some materials such as ceramics, metals, cloth and plastics.

But what is the risk from particular items such as used towels, razors and toothbrushes, you ask?

Scientists haven’t run randomised controlled trials (the gold standard study design) to determine the risk. This would be when one group in a study is chosen at random to, say, shave their legs with someone’s used razor, and the infection rates of known pathogens compared with those randomised to a control group who didn’t.

But there are other studies that give us some clues.

Can I share towels?

If you play footy, maybe not. Less robust studies suggest an increased risk of picking up a skin infection from used towels.