How and Why You Should Keep Your Loofah Cean

Natural loofahs are a fantastic zero-waste alternative to synthetic sponges and plastic body scrubbers. Made from the dried fibrous skeleton of the loofah gourd, they’re biodegradable, compostable, and perfect for exfoliating the skin naturally. But while they’re a great eco-friendly addition to your bathroom, natural loofahs do need a little care to keep them clean, hygienic, and long-lasting.

Why we need to keep a natural loofah clean

As with a plastic loofah its important to keep your natural loofah clean so that bacteria and mould don't build up and get transferred to your skin upsetting the balance of good bacteria that's keeps your skin healthy.

Natural loofahs are incredibly porous, which makes them ideal for exfoliating — but also for trapping dead skin cells, soap residue, and moisture. That combination can create the perfect environment for bacteria, mold, and mildew to grow. Plus they are plant material which can easily rot and breakdown but with a little care here's a few ways to avoid any buildup of nasties.

How to clean and extend the life of your loofah

The key to keeping your natural loofah sponge clean is rinsing after every use and allowing it to dry. If you do this each time you use it you shouldn't need to do any extra cleaning but if you do there are several ways to clean your loofah thoroughly:

• Hand washing: Use soap or a little body body wash and work into the loofah, rinse out well, shake off excess water and allow to dry.
• Washing machine: Wash in the washing machine on a gentle cycle - I have a customer who regularly does this and she swears by it, this will shorten the life span of the loofah but it's easy and works for her.
• Bleaching: You can give your loofah a quick light bleach in a bucket to kill off any bacteria but be careful not to leave too long as it can degrade the fibres. Add 1 tablespoon of bleach per quart (1 liter) of water for about 5 minutes is perfect. Rinse thoroughly, shake off and let dry completely.
• Sun Bleaching: Hang out in the sun after rinsing, it only takes a short while to dry and the sun also has a natural bleaching effect. Tip: make sure its pegged or secured well as it will blow away in the slightest breeze.

When to Replace Your Loofah

For our particular strain of loofah, we expect customers to get about 6-8 months of use out of them if used as a body sponge but as I mentioned above this timeframe could be shorter if washing in the machine or regular bleaching. Even with using occassionally, with the proper care, natural loofahs don’t last forever. Replace yours if:

• It starts to smell musty or sour

• It’s too soft, slimy, or falling apart

• You see dark spots, red pataches, any knid of mold, or signs of mildew

It is extremly important to not use a moldy loofah on your skin.

Natural loofahs are a fantastic, eco-friendly tool for exfoliating and cleansing — but they do need a little maintenance. Cleaning your loofah regularly keeps it fresh, safe, and effective, and helps you get the most from your sustainable skincare routine.

Rinse it, shake it and dry it which is what we recommend doing for natural loofah, plastic loofah and exfoliating gloves too. Don't be afraid to toss it when it’s time. Your skin (and your shower) will be better for it.