Buzz
Loofah is made from fibrous strands found in tropical fruits related to the gourd family. The spongy texture of loofah is ideal for exfoliating the skin, keeping it smooth and soft. To use it properly, apply soap and water onto the loofah sponge and rub it all over your body. After use, it should be rinsed, dried, and sanitized to ensure the sponge stays clean.
Steps
Using a loofah
Prepare a piece of loofah. Loofah usually has a light yellow color and a faint herbal scent. This type of bath sponge comes in various shapes and sizes, with the most common being cylindrical or flat round loofah. When dry, loofah has a rigid texture, but it softens and becomes more flexible after being soaked in hot water.
- Loofahs are available at most personal care stores, including pharmacies.
- Loofah is different from plastic bath sponges. Although both are used for bathing, loofah is made from plant-based materials and is gentler on the skin.
Wet the loofah under the shower or in the bath. Warm water helps to soften the loofah more quickly. However, if you prefer not to have the loofah too soft, which can reduce its exfoliating roughness, simply dampen it slightly before use.
Apply soap to the loofah. Many people use shower gel because it absorbs into the loofah easily, but you can also rub a bar of soap directly onto the surface of the sponge. You only need a small amount of soap, about the size of a coin.
Exfoliate your body with the loofah. Gently but firmly rub the loofah in circular motions on your skin, starting from the chest area (the skin between the neck and chest). Continue this motion down to your ankles and repeat along your back. Don't forget to exfoliate your arms and hands as well.
- Be gentle on sensitive skin areas, like under your arms.
- If you have dry skin, rinse the soap off the loofah before scrubbing your arms and legs.
- You can also use the loofah on your heels and the soles of your feet. Be cautious if you're standing on a slippery surface.
- Using circular motions helps to remove dead skin cells and is gentler on your skin than scrubbing up and down.
Rinse with cold water. This step helps to close your pores, leaving you feeling refreshed and revitalized. If you're looking to relax and drift into sleep in the shower or bath, use warm water instead.
Storing the loofah
Rinse the loofah thoroughly after each use. Use hot, clean water to wash away any remaining soap. Soap residue left in the loofah can cause unpleasant odors.
Allow the loofah to dry completely between uses. Place the loofah in a well-ventilated area to ensure it dries completely. This helps prevent bacteria from growing inside it. Hang the loofah on a hook outside the bathroom.
- Placing the loofah near a vent or fan will help it dry faster.
- Since most bathrooms are humid, it is better to dry the loofah in another location.
Disinfect the loofah once a week. You can wash the loofah in the washing machine with hot water along with towels, run it through the dishwasher, microwave it for 30 seconds, or rinse it with boiling water for a few minutes to kill bacteria. No matter which method you use, make sure to disinfect at least once a week to keep the loofah clean.
- Dermatologists have recently discovered that loofahs harbor more bacteria than we might have thought. Therefore, regular disinfection is essential.
- Plastic sponges also have this issue. Even though they are not made from natural materials, they still have the potential to harbor bacteria.
Replace the loofah every three weeks. After this period, the loofah will start to soften due to regular use, machine washing, or boiling. If it hasn’t been disinfected by this point, the loofah will pose a higher risk of infection. In other words, it's time to replace it with a new loofah.
- Recently, many people have switched to towels because they are easier to wash and last longer than loofahs.
- If you still prefer loofahs, make sure to dry them properly after each use and replace them regularly to keep your body healthy.
Advice
- Moisturize your skin after exfoliating.
- If you also want to use the loofah to wash your face, you should add another loofah for better effectiveness.
Warning
- When using the loofah to exfoliate, make sure to scrub gently but firmly. Scrubbing too harshly may cause your skin to scratch or peel, while scrubbing too lightly may not be effective.
