How the towel went HIGH-TECH
They now promise to kill germs, zap smells and blitz blemishes . . .
PERSONALLY, I’d never thought of towels as an important part of my skincare routine. But a new trend for antimicrobial, skin-friendly face and body towels that kill acne-causing bacteria could soon have us looking at them in a whole new way.
These are towels that not only dry you but clean you, too — and themselves.
The latest entrant in the high-tech towel game is Resorè, backed by model Rosie Huntington-Whiteley. It has silver particles woven into the fibres that are proven to kill bacteria and harmful pathogens such as MRSA and E-coli. No bacteria means no musty smell and a towel that stays cleaner for longer.
But are our normal towels really causing us skin and health problems? Research, not yet published, by microbiologist Professor Charles Gerba at Arizona University discovered almost 90 per cent of bathroom towels were contaminated with faecal bacteria, and 14 per cent carried E-coli.
The awkward truth is that most of us aren’t that good at washing, says environmental health expert Dr Lisa Ackerley. ‘Unless people are cleaning themselves really thoroughly, bath towels get quite mucky and might spread potentially harmful microbes,’ she says.
Anti-bacterial technology can be a useful part of our armoury, she believes.
‘There are a lot of new products using this technology. Silver has been used as an antibacterial for many years and it’s been shown to be effective, but not as an instant kill for the bacteria. It’s an extra layer of hygiene but it doesn’t mean you can stop washing your towel.’
If you don’t want to shell out for a high-tech towel, she recommends changing a traditional cotton bath towel every three days. Wash them at 60c (140f) minimum.
Here, we put the new hightech towels to the test.
HIT THE SPOT Resorè body towel, £99, uk. resore.com or harrods.com
IT’S not cheap but you can see where your money goes: it’s the thickest, fluffiest towel I’ve ever seen, and had zero smell after a whole week of use.
Its secret is Silverbac, an infusion of silver into the fibres that zaps acne-causing bacteria and other nasties such as
MRSA, E-coli, fungi and mildew, and is promised to last the lifetime of the towel. Those with acne-prone or easily irritated skin might like to try the face towel (£35), which promises to break down pore-clogging bacteria. 4/5
GREAT DANES
Nordifakt Copenhagen bath towel, ¤57 (£49) plus ¤10 (£8.50) shipping, nordifakt.com
THIS loosely woven towel from Denmark is so stylish it really seems a shame to hide it away in your bathroom.
The yarn has been treated with Polygiene, which uses recycled silver chloride to kill bacteria, fungi and other microbes. Lab tests show it lasts the entire life cycle of the fabric. 4/5
SUPER SOFT
Dunelm Micro-Fresh Antibacterial bath sheet, £20, dunelm.com THIS one feels luxuriously soft, satisfyingly enormous (100cm x 140 cm) and is very good value.
It uses Micro-Fresh technology developed by award-winning British chemist and entrepreneur Byron Dixon OBE.
The silver in the fabric disrupts the cell walls of bacteria and stops them reproducing. Because the towel will be free from bacteria, you can wash safely at low temperatures. 5/5
SILVER LINING
Silvon Luxury Antibacterial towel set (face, hand and bath), $60 (£43) plus shipping from silvonhome.com THIS product uses clever technology to weave natural silver that’s finer than a human hair into the thread. Fabrics are tested against specific bacteria linked to acne and skin problems.
I gave it the ultimate test — it was left damp on a teenager’s dingy bedroom floor for a few days. The result? No bad smells Silvon recommends washing its towels once a week. 3/5
ALL WRAPPED UP
Aquis Copper Sure Rapid Dry Hair Wrap, £30, aquishair.co.uk or lookfantastic.com COPPER has effective antibacterial properties and it’s woven into the fabric of this hair turban. It’s made of a thinnish moisture-wicking fabric, so dries hair quickly and doesn’t weigh it down and cause frizz or damage the ends.
My heart sank when I saw the instructions for applying the towel to your head, but as long as you get the button at the back of your neck, give a quick twist and fasten, you’re sorted. 5/5