Page 32 | Step son used my bath towel

Green0911 · 2025-01-19T01:31:06+00:00

Want to gauge if IABU here. My and my husband's towels are in the bathroom. Teenage SS keeps his in his room. We each have a hand towel and a bath towel. They all get changed every 3-4 days. When it came to changing them, I realised SS didn't have his towels in his room. He said he'd put them to be laundered a few days before. When I asked him which towels he'd been using in the meantime (he'd showered at least twice during this period), initially he claimed none, then admitted he'd used mine. I blew a fuse. Couldn't believe he thought this was acceptable. Husband has laughed it off and is accusing me of being dramatic/blowing things out of proportion. AIBU?

BIossomtoes · 19/01/2025 14:48

Whoarethoseguys · 19/01/2025 14:43

You are being extremely precious.
You blew a fuss? It's not unusual for households to share towels
Poor stepson .

Edited

It’s not usual in her household. It’s not usual in mine either. I don’t give a stuff what other people do.

Gloriia · 19/01/2025 14:48

BestestBrownies · 19/01/2025 14:06

Wow. This thread has been a real eye-opener.

No wonder the rest of Europe view the British as dirty. The fact that the majority of posters on here think the OP is overreacting and making a fuss about nothing proves it.

If anyone else (my own partner, child, whatever), repeatedly used my towel, and I had unknowingly used it afterwards, I would go completely apeshit. I do not want to inadvertently dry my face or fanny on the same bit of cloth they've dried their (likely not washed thoroughly), arse crack on.

OP, the dirty little bastard used yours on purpose as well. It was a very intentional "fuck you" that he knew could be passed off innocently to his father and make you look mental.

That's rather xenophobic isn't it, the 'rest of Europe view Brits as dirty'? I don't think so. Have you seen the state of some of the toilets in Europe?!

He isn't a dirty little bastard. On the contrary he is very clean as he'd just had a shower.

Hughs · 19/01/2025 14:49

1 towel per person, per day, unless I wash my hair, then I need one to wrap around that before I dry myself first. 8 towels a day, 9 on hair washing days for me. My washing, my problem, doesn't affect you.

As a resident of the planet whose climate you are helping to destroy, I beg to differ. Absolutely insane to wash 8-9 towels every day 🤦‍♀️

“Even after a shower, your skin still contains bacteria. And when you dry yourself, the moisture from the towel combined with the bacteria that gets pulled from your body becomes a mix of infectious bacteria,” he says.

This doesn't make any sense - you have bacteria contained in your skin that gets "pulled from your body" by a towel and when combined with water becomes infectious? 🤪
Yeah, not convinced.

Whydoeseveryonewanttoargue · 19/01/2025 14:50

Does anyone else think monogrammed towels for Christmas next year may be the way to go? 😂

MaryWhitehouseExperienced · 19/01/2025 14:54

mamaduckbone · 19/01/2025 14:39

Blimey - we share bath water and towels in our house, and don't wash them after every use either...partly for environmental reasons and partly just being a bit slatternly. I'm surprised we're still alive.

In answer to the OP's original question, yes YABU.

You do you.

Or rather Ewww do ewww.

Hughs · 19/01/2025 14:54

“E. coli grows quite well on towels. Within about three or four days, you’ll get fecal bacteria in the towel easily because it’s wet, it’s moist,” Gerba explained.

Also nonsense. If the towel has faeces on it, it will have faecal bacteria on it. If not, it won't, and it won't develop faecal bacteria over three or four days just from being wet. Honestly, please consider applying one or two brain cells to what you read.

If it's so dangerous to reuse a towel, why do you think millions of people happily do it all the time without getting ill?

Original poster

Green0911 · 19/01/2025 14:56

I can't believe what this thread has become! It's been very amusing reading all the responses on a lazy Sunday afternoon.

I didn't share towels with my parents, neither do I share towels with my children.

Also I'm not English so perhaps sharing towels is the cultural norm here and I never noticed. But I've never ever ever been expected to share a bath towel ever, and I've lived my entire life in the UK. A hand towel at a guest's house yes, the kitchen towel yes (which gets changed daily and isn't used to dry hands used to wipe urine or faeces). But not a towel used to dry the body after bathing.

OP posts:

Togetheragain45 · 19/01/2025 14:58

Growlybear83 · 19/01/2025 11:47

@CustardySergeant I'm still alive! But does anyone know the incubation period for leprosy? Or should I call 111?

I would go straight to A & E, to make sure.

Whydoeseveryonewanttoargue · 19/01/2025 14:59

BettyBardMacDonald · 19/01/2025 14:00

Well said, @SallymetLarry

People clearly don't understand the science.

The study, by luxury bathroom retailer Drenchch, claimed that couples who share used towels are at risk of sharing some pretty disgusting bodily excretions as well as infectious diseases, including E.Coli, ringworm, staph infections and faecal matterer.

www.menshealth.com/uk/health/a28606339/bathroom-towels-poo-bacteria/

"The longer towels stay damp, the longer the yeasts, bacteria, molds and viruses remain alive and stay active," dermatologist Alok Vij, MD, writes for Cleveland Clinic. "They can cause an outbreak of toenail fungus, athlete's foot, jock itch and warts, or cause these skin conditions to spread," he says, adding that dirty towels "can certainly cause a flare-up of eczema or atopic dermatitis."

“Even after a shower, your skin still contains bacteria. And when you dry yourself, the moisture from the towel combined with the bacteria that gets pulled from your body becomes a mix of infectious bacteria,” he says. “On day zero, when the towels are washed and still not used, you can still culture bacteria from the towel. On day one, the bacterial count increases. On day five of use, your towel contains so much bacteria, which I’m sure some of you can smell. That’s what the nasty wet towel smell is coming from: The bacteria eating the body oils in order to survive and grow in the towel’s material."

naturopathic.org/news/686106/How-Often-Do-You-Wash-Your-Towels-Doctor-Warns-Theyre-Probably-Full-of-Infectious-Bacteria.htm

Re the potentially deadly infection MRSA: • The spread of MRSA is more likely to occur when people share bedrooms, beds, towels (hand, face or bath) or hygiene items such as razors and toothbrushes with someone carrying the transmitted strain.

That’s some good science except it falls down spectacularly when you said couples. Why? Well couples would have to stop kissing, holding hands, sleeping in the same bed and wait for it transferring fluids and getting sweaty together from sex.

What an absolute load of malarkey.

BettyBardMacDonald · 19/01/2025 15:01

Hughs · 19/01/2025 14:54

“E. coli grows quite well on towels. Within about three or four days, you’ll get fecal bacteria in the towel easily because it’s wet, it’s moist,” Gerba explained.

Also nonsense. If the towel has faeces on it, it will have faecal bacteria on it. If not, it won't, and it won't develop faecal bacteria over three or four days just from being wet. Honestly, please consider applying one or two brain cells to what you read.

If it's so dangerous to reuse a towel, why do you think millions of people happily do it all the time without getting ill?

Well, that person quoted is a reputable academic researcher.

Further, some of us have standards a bit higher than "will it kill me?" I personally like to care for myself with fresh towels and linens, making a shower pleasant, rather than grabbing up any dank rag used by umpteen other people.

Or wallowing in bedding that hasn't been washed in weeks.

It's not necessary to lead life to the absolute lowest common denominator. I was born in 1963 and we were always issued separate towels, including by my grandmother who was born in 1910.

Wonderi · 19/01/2025 15:01

BestestBrownies · 19/01/2025 14:06

Wow. This thread has been a real eye-opener.

No wonder the rest of Europe view the British as dirty. The fact that the majority of posters on here think the OP is overreacting and making a fuss about nothing proves it.

If anyone else (my own partner, child, whatever), repeatedly used my towel, and I had unknowingly used it afterwards, I would go completely apeshit. I do not want to inadvertently dry my face or fanny on the same bit of cloth they've dried their (likely not washed thoroughly), arse crack on.

OP, the dirty little bastard used yours on purpose as well. It was a very intentional "fuck you" that he knew could be passed off innocently to his father and make you look mental.

Your attitude is absolutely vile!

Calling someone a dirty little bastard for using a towel is disgusting and I really hope you don’t have kids!

You and OP being so precious is not the norm.

It’s ok to prefer having your own towel but the over-reaction is absolutely not normal.

I don’t understand what you do when you visit friends and family and use their toilet.

Do you take your own towel with you wherever you go?
How do you dry your hands in someone else’s home?

BettyBardMacDonald · 19/01/2025 15:03

Green0911 · 19/01/2025 14:56

I can't believe what this thread has become! It's been very amusing reading all the responses on a lazy Sunday afternoon.

I didn't share towels with my parents, neither do I share towels with my children.

Also I'm not English so perhaps sharing towels is the cultural norm here and I never noticed. But I've never ever ever been expected to share a bath towel ever, and I've lived my entire life in the UK. A hand towel at a guest's house yes, the kitchen towel yes (which gets changed daily and isn't used to dry hands used to wipe urine or faeces). But not a towel used to dry the body after bathing.

Edited

It's not the norm, it's grim.

People shed lots of skin cells, sweat, oil, secretions and bacteria even when freshly out of the shower.

Crazyworldmum · 19/01/2025 15:05

Green0911 · 19/01/2025 14:56

I can't believe what this thread has become! It's been very amusing reading all the responses on a lazy Sunday afternoon.

I didn't share towels with my parents, neither do I share towels with my children.

Also I'm not English so perhaps sharing towels is the cultural norm here and I never noticed. But I've never ever ever been expected to share a bath towel ever, and I've lived my entire life in the UK. A hand towel at a guest's house yes, the kitchen towel yes (which gets changed daily and isn't used to dry hands used to wipe urine or faeces). But not a towel used to dry the body after bathing.

Edited

I think you might have exaggerated a bit but just the screaming not the sharing towels . No way it’s normal to share towels with others . It’s my first time even realising people do this, so I’m as shocked at you 😜

Nonaynevernomore · 19/01/2025 15:05

BettyBardMacDonald · 19/01/2025 15:01

Well, that person quoted is a reputable academic researcher.

Further, some of us have standards a bit higher than "will it kill me?" I personally like to care for myself with fresh towels and linens, making a shower pleasant, rather than grabbing up any dank rag used by umpteen other people.

Or wallowing in bedding that hasn't been washed in weeks.

It's not necessary to lead life to the absolute lowest common denominator. I was born in 1963 and we were always issued separate towels, including by my grandmother who was born in 1910.

Show quote history

Dank rag used by umpteen other people

Wallowing in bedding not washed for weeks

You’ve just proved your inability to be rational! Like there is nothing in between. 😆

Born c.1965
Mother born c.1925
Grandmother born c. 1890

Bignanna · 19/01/2025 15:06

stressedtothemaxdotcom · 19/01/2025 14:20

I remember growing up in a household of 4. A bath towel was on the radiator and everyone used it for whatever. No hand towel just the one towel

Yuk!!!

mydogisthebest · 19/01/2025 15:06

BettyBardMacDonald · 19/01/2025 15:03

It's not the norm, it's grim.

People shed lots of skin cells, sweat, oil, secretions and bacteria even when freshly out of the shower.

Show quote history

Well 84% think the OP is being unreasonable so it is the norm for many whether you like it or not.

Nonaynevernomore · 19/01/2025 15:06

Green0911 · 19/01/2025 14:56

I can't believe what this thread has become! It's been very amusing reading all the responses on a lazy Sunday afternoon.

I didn't share towels with my parents, neither do I share towels with my children.

Also I'm not English so perhaps sharing towels is the cultural norm here and I never noticed. But I've never ever ever been expected to share a bath towel ever, and I've lived my entire life in the UK. A hand towel at a guest's house yes, the kitchen towel yes (which gets changed daily and isn't used to dry hands used to wipe urine or faeces). But not a towel used to dry the body after bathing.

Edited

Is it cultural to flip your kid in the manner you did? Is your DSS ok?

Nonaynevernomore · 19/01/2025 15:06

Is it cultural to flip your kid in the manner you did? Is your DSS ok?

Show quote history

*lid

Gloriia · 19/01/2025 15:06

Green0911 · 19/01/2025 14:56

I can't believe what this thread has become! It's been very amusing reading all the responses on a lazy Sunday afternoon.

I didn't share towels with my parents, neither do I share towels with my children.

Also I'm not English so perhaps sharing towels is the cultural norm here and I never noticed. But I've never ever ever been expected to share a bath towel ever, and I've lived my entire life in the UK. A hand towel at a guest's house yes, the kitchen towel yes (which gets changed daily and isn't used to dry hands used to wipe urine or faeces). But not a towel used to dry the body after bathing.

Edited

Op. Have you apologised about blowing a fuse over towel use? I must've missed it if you said you were mortified by your overreaction..

Wonderi · 19/01/2025 15:07

A hand towel at a guest's house yes, the kitchen towel yes (which gets changed daily and isn't used to dry hands used to wipe urine or faeces). But not a towel used to dry the body after bathing.

So you’ll use a hand towel that has been used by multiple people after using their hands to wipe their anus and genitals (and most don’t wash their hands properly) and then use your hands to eat with and touch everything but you’ll blow a fuse sharing a towel?

Gloriia · 19/01/2025 15:10

Nonaynevernomore · 19/01/2025 15:06

Is it cultural to flip your kid in the manner you did? Is your DSS ok?

Show quote history

Yes it is fascinating that strict towel rules must be adhered to yet blowing fuses with kids is all fine 🤔

Whydoeseveryonewanttoargue · 19/01/2025 15:10

Growlybear83 · 19/01/2025 11:47

@CustardySergeant I'm still alive! But does anyone know the incubation period for leprosy? Or should I call 111?

No I think you need to just go straight to A&E. Best call rhe centre for disease control on the way over so they can prepare quarantine. 😂

Wtafisgoingontoday · 19/01/2025 15:10

This is totally grim, I cannot believe that some people think this is ok. I wouldn't share a towel with my husband or my own kids let alone anyone else, it's disgusting.

pilates · 19/01/2025 15:12

Op, a calm conversation with SS would be a better option than losing your shit. What is your relationship like apart from the towel situation?

Betchyaby · 19/01/2025 15:17

Yes I wouldn't be please about that either, thankfully my SS would find it gross anyway.

But blowing a fuse? No.