Oh… For the Love of your Loofah!

That squishy ball of netting you squirt your favourite body wash onto in the shower is actually not keeping you clean at all.

In a study published by the Journal of Clinical Microbiology, researchers found that the dirt and grime scrubbed off your skin remain stuck in the loofah itself – to make matters worse, the bacteria trapped in the netting can spread overnight.

“Then, you put them in this environment in the shower that’s warm and moist and gross, and it’s a set up for bacteria, yeast, and mold to grow in the loofah.”

If a germ-filled loofah is used on newly-shaved skin, the bacteria can also get into any cuts or open wounds which increases the chances of infection.

9 out of 10 dermatologists recommend simply throwing out your loofah or to not use one at all, but if your bath routine is incomplete without one make sure to replace it every three to four weeks and leave it to dry somewhere not as moist or warm as near the shower.  Experts also recommend using a wash cloth instead, it can easily be thrown into the laundry after use.

So now what?  If you’re looking to hang onto your loofah, you could use them for Halloween!