It's Time To Throw Your Loofah Out If This Happens

Using a loofah feels surprisingly refreshing. It scrubs away dead skin, leaving you soft and smooth, and it even helps boost circulation under the skin. If you've ever wondered where loofah sponges come from, they're not from the ocean like sea sponges. They actually come from a type of gourd that's dried out and hollowed before making its way to your shower.

Give your loofah a good whiff. The scent of your body wash may linger, but if it also has a moldy smell, it's time to throw it out. This could happen in as little as two to three weeks. Why? That loofah does a good job clearing away old skin, but not all that skin rinses down the drain. Those little holes in your loofah can trap your dead skin cells. Even if you hang your loofah to dry after every shower, the moisture of your bathroom makes your loofah a fertile place for dangerous bacteria to grow, which could cause allergies or infections. (Here's what can happen if you never change your loofah.)

You may want to throw out your loofah if you knew what's hiding deep in those crevices. An older study in the Journal of Clinical Microbiology found that used loofahs can harbor harmful bacteria that feed on your skin cells, such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa. This bacteria is common in bathrooms and can cause infections in your urinary tract, skin, and ears. Even worse, P. aeruginosa is known for evolving resistance to antibiotics, making infections harder to treat.

You'd think letting your loofah dry out would get rid of the bacteria, but not entirely. Researchers found that while bacteria levels dropped after drying for two weeks, they bounced right back once the loofah got wet again. And it's not just used loofahs you need to worry about — new ones aren't exactly sterile, either. Even fresh out of the package, they can contain traces of bacteria from the environment and your skin. When researchers soaked new loofahs in sterile water for 24 hours, previously undetectable bacteria started to thrive.

If you just can't give up your loofah but want to avoid the bacteria, there's some hope. The study also found that if you soak your loofah in a 10% bleach solution, you'll zap those little bugs. You should clean your loofah at least once a week. After each shower, be sure to rinse it completely and hang it in a cool place to dry. That means getting it out of your bathroom.

You don't want to use a loofah every day, especially if you shave your body parts. Those tiny cuts from shaving can make it easier for any bacteria on your loofah to infect your body. Bacteria such as E. coli can also enter your body through your genital area, so avoid using a loofah to clean these areas. Also, you should never share your loofah with other members of your household.

As far as loofah substitutes go, nylon poufs aren't the best choice. These colorful loofah alternatives can also hold onto those same bacteria. Antimicrobial bath sponges still need to be cleaned and replaced often. Sea sponges have natural antibacterial enzymes, but also need to be swapped out. Remember that mold can also grow on these bath sponges, triggering headaches and other allergy symptoms.

Your safest bet is to use a regular washcloth to avoid bacteria and other nasty things. Washcloths can be tossed into the washing machine after each use and last much longer than loofahs.