Moldy Loofahs Are Not This Year’s Shower Accessory Fad

The exfoliating magic of these little scrubby sponges is due to their porous texture. Aka, they have a ton of teeny-tiny little holes that help it scrub off dead skin cells. That being said, all of those holes can then trap those particles, plus any soap that you use. It’s about as sanitary as it sounds, unfortunately.

Loofahs are also doused with water every single day and live in a moisture-rich room. Not to mention, they probably don’t get the opportunity to dry out as much as they should. Combine that with the particles mold loves to eat and you’ve got a moldy dream home on your hands.  

Not exactly the extra cleaning step we’re going for during that coveted shower time. 

The Makings of Moldy Loofahs: A Dream Home 

So, what does mold consider a perfect living environment? Let’s break it down.

1. Oxygen (this barely counts because they hardly require any)
2. Temperature (40-90 degrees Fahrenheit is ideal, but some like the extremes)
3. Food (like teenagers, they eat almost anything)
4. Moisture (the often missing ingredient)

Your loofah hanging out in the bathroom ticks every single one of those boxes, which makes it a perfect moldy oasis! There are tons of water opportunities, foody particles in the form of dust, skin cells, and shower products, abundant oxygen, and a temperature-controlled room that routinely gets all warm and toasty. When a mold spore pictures a dream home, that’s pretty much what it imagines. 

Before you know it, poof, moldy loofahs are born.

Not A Healthy Alternative 

When a mold spore begins to grow, it immediately starts to release more spores into the air. Some can also release microscopic toxins called mycotoxins, which are double-trouble for our health. ⁴

Indoor mold growth releasing all of those particles into our air is bad for a few reasons. 

A high volume of spores in the air means there’s a higher chance that they’ll stumble on another place they can call home and start to colonize. This starts the process all over again, except now you’re dealing with two mold factories. With the bathroom being constantly bombarded with water, chances are that one mold problem will quickly spiral into multiple issues, and that’s not even including other opportunities in different rooms of your home. 

On the other hand, the high number of spores and toxins in the air are small enough to make their way into your lungs. Your immune will attempt to fight off all of those foreign particles, but it will eventually get bogged down, causing potential exposure-induced health problems. ⁵’⁶’⁷’⁸

Researchers are still attempting to figure out exactly to what extent mold exposure affects our health, but with over 100,000 species, variable mycotoxin presence, and immune system status, it’s a hard answer to nail down. Not to mention the role genetics, volume of contaminants, and exposure time play. 

What they do know is that anyone with compromised immune systems or developing immune systems is at greater risk of developing symptoms faster and to a greater extent.

The potential for symptoms to develop is enough of a reason to actively work towards preventing moldy loofahs. Not to mention, you’re not just breathing in mold spores, you’re also rubbing them on your skin. That’s icky and bad for your health. To make matters worse, bacteria may also be along for the ride and be joining the microscopic particle party. 

In short, moldy loofahs are bad news.

Preventing Moldy Loofahs 

This maaaay sound controversial, but the best way to avoid a moldy loofah is to give up that trusty scrubby sponge and opt for another accessory like a washrag. It’s not ideal for the loofah-fanatics out there, but alternatives like washrags can be thrown into the wash after use and dried properly, which helps prevent mold growth. 

For those who absolutely have to have that trusty scrubbing friend, the steps below can help ensure you’re not enabling a moldy wonderland! 

1. Swish and Flick 

The first addition to your loofah maintenance plan should be thoroughly rinsing it off after use. This will help get rid of all the little skin cells, bath product particles, and whatever else managed to slide through one of the bazillion holes the loofah contains. After rinsing, shake it vigorously to get as much water out as possible, even from deep within the depths of that porous scrubber. Dabbing it with a towel to remove even more moisture is also not a bad idea!

2. Leave To Dry

Properly storing the loofah after use is of the utmost importance! Do NOT just leave it on the edge of the tub to dry. This will result in pooled water and a loofah that never actually gets aired out, which is a spore’s daydream. Instead, hang it up somewhere other than inside the shower. The less-moist air outside of the shower will help promote faster drying so that the spore never gets the chance to live. All it takes is 24 hours on a wet surface for a spore to join the world of the living.

These steps help prevent moldy loofahs for a few reasons: 1) fewer areas for mold growth means that the chances of a rogue mold spore finding your loofah are lower and 2) less moisture in the air helps ensure your loofah dries properly. It’s all about setting the stage for success.

4. Keep That Accessory Sparkly Clean 

Mold spores are everywhere, which means that no matter how hard you work to prevent livable conditions, sometimes the stars align, and a lucky one will sneak in and start to grow. Mold growth happens! To help prevent this and get rid of any unwanted particles, the loofah needs a good cleaning at least once a week. Soak the loofah in a white vinegar solution for about 30 minutes and then do a few quick squeezes and swooshes through the solution before removing it. Rinse well after the soak and then allow the loofah to dry completely. Vinegar is a descaler as well as an antifungal, so it will help kill the mold and lift any mold particles from surfaces they’re stuck to. It’s pretty much a rockstar mold fighter.