Bounty Paper Towels Reveals Potential Spots for Bacteria in the Home
P&G's Bounty Paper Towels is addressing hidden bacteria in homes with a new initiative featuring experts like Bill Nye and Mayim Bialik. A survey showed nearly 92% of Americans have changed their cleaning habits recently, yet many still use unwashed dishcloths, posing health risks. Only 11% of consumers wash their kitchen towels weekly. Experts warn that used dishcloths can harbor harmful bacteria, leading to cross-contamination. The initiative will include educational content to promote safe cleaning practices.
- Engagement with influencers and scientists to promote hygiene.
- High consumer awareness with 92% changing cleaning habits.
- Continued use of unwashed dishcloths by consumers.
- Only 11% of consumers wash dishcloths weekly, ignoring potential health risks.
P&G’s Bounty Paper Towels is setting out to uncover potential hidden bacteria in the home and has recruited key scientists and influencers to unveil where microbes can be present, and offer their expert tips to get the level of clean people want in their homes. Partners include science educator and media personality Bill Nye, neuroscientist and actress Mayim Bialik, YouTube content creator Nick Uhas, as well as microbiologists Kennen Hutchison and Jessica Malaty Rivera.
A used dishcloth can be a haven for bacteria, especially when wet. Using the same cloth to wipe up spills or messes without washing or replacing it could cross contaminate surfaces in your home. (Photo: Business Wire)
A new survey* by Bounty revealed that Americans are spending more time cleaning than ever before and nearly
“Used dishcloths can be a haven for bacteria,” says infectious disease expert and microbiologist Jessica Malaty Rivera. “Because they are multipurpose and often go unwashed between uses, the wet and absorbent nature of the product can provide a flourishing environment for bacteria to grow.”
When asked how often consumers wash their kitchen towels, the survey revealed that just
According to Kennen Hutchison, a virology PhD student, “Studies** have confirmed that used dishcloths can contain E. coli and coliform bacteria (fecal contamination) which isn’t visible to the naked eye. And when you wipe up a spill on the counter with a used towel, or dry a dish, you could cross contaminate multiple surfaces.”
Through an educational video series that will include live demonstrations and creative experiments, this troupe of scientists and influencers will share their tips and recommendations to help consumers achieve a healthy home.
Experts such as Rivera and Hutchison recommend using a fresh paper towel, rather than a used dishcloth, to wipe up and throw away messes, and help reduce the risk of cross contamination from one surface to another.
Consumers can follow the series of experiments on social using #HygieneBeginsWithBounty or at @bountypapertowels.
* A survey conducted by www.OnePoll.com on the topic of cleaning behaviors was distributed in February 2021 to a sample group of 2,005 respondents with the US general population.
**A published study on ResearchGate.com from 2014 found that out of 82 kitchen hand towels collected across the U.S. and Canada, coliform bacteria (fecal contamination) was present in nearly 9 out of 10 and E. coli was present in 1 in 4.
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210415005235/en/
FAQ
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