Abstract
This study evaluated the efficacy of using a microwave heating method to heat bed bath towels in comparison with the method using hot water. Heating efficiency and the persistence of towel temperature were used to assess temporal changes. Firstly, we devised seven patterns for arranging eight towels by modifying the layout and folding of the towels during the heating process. The towels were then heated for 3 minutes using microwaves and the internal temperature, the highest temperature on the top of the towel, and the average temperature of both surfaces were measured. The towel patterns that showed the highest heating efficiency or the longest persistence of towel temperature were selected for comparison with towels that were heated using hot water (50℃). The pattern in which the towels were folded and positioned in a single line closely touching each other maintained their temperature longer than that of the towels heated using hot water. In this configuration, the highest surface temperature recorded for microwave heated towels exceeded that of hot water heated towels, and it was maintained for up to 12 minutes. In addition, microwave heated towels maintained the highest internal temperature and average surface temperature longer than that of hot water heated towels for up to 8 minutes but became lower after 10 minutes. Taken together these findings suggest that it is necessary to select the heating method based on the application and situation in which the towel will be used.
