The build-up of dirt and grime can also cause skin irritation or rashes. In extreme cases, bacteria can start to grow on the sheets, which can lead to acne, respiratory infections, or other health problems.
From ringworms to onychomycosis (skin lesions, crumbling toenails) and even pneumonia, your family and guests can contract many fungal and bacterial infections from sleeping on unwashed sheets. These infections can lead to rashes and severe itching and even leave scars.
Dead skin cells, sweat, saliva, and more can turn your comfy bed into a petri dish for germs to grow. For instance, lab tests found that swabs from pillowcases unwashed for a week harbored 17,000 times more colonies of bacteria than samples taken from a toilet seat.
Your bed may host bacteria
Take Staphylococcus aureus, which is fairly contagious and can cause skin infections, pneumonia and worsen acne. Not only have S. aureus been found to live on pillowcases, research also shows that some strains are resistant to antibiotics.
Research shows – even that not commissioned by publicists for homeware companies – that clean bedding improves your sleep. A 2012 study by the US National Sleep Foundation found that 73% of us sleep better on fresh sheets. (And also that our romantic lives improve.)
Experts recommend washing or changing sheets once a week. In this post we cover how best to do it, tips, and why it's good advice to follow.
Most people should wash their sheets once per week. If you don't sleep on your mattress every day, you may be able to stretch this to once every two weeks or so. Some people should wash their sheets even more often than once a week.
Brand new bed sheets may appear crisp, clean and ready to be slept on. However, the truth of the matter is they were produced in a factory and it would be a good idea to wash them before first use. Many people report an itchy, irritating sensation when sleeping on sheets that have not yet been washed.
One scent that bed bugs find appealing is dirty laundry or dirty bedding because of how it smells once it's come in contact with humans. Research has shown that bed bugs prefer previously worn clothing and used bedding, which is why you shouldn't leave these items on the floor close to your bed.
When it comes to not washing your sheets, there are a few things that can happen. First, you may start to notice a musty smell coming from your bed. This is because the sweat and oils from your body are building up on the sheets and not being washed away.
A Bedding Brush-Off
According to our findings, the average person changes sheets roughly every 24 days, or a bit less often than once every three weeks. Interestingly, pillowcases had a slightly longer average unwashed period, clocking in at 24.6 days before being cleaned or swapped for fresh ones.
Here's what we found: About 46% of the people we surveyed wash their bed sheets as often or more often than they're supposed to — a surprisingly large chunk of people. Bravo, SurveyMonkey pollsters. But still, the slight majority, 54%, do not wash their sheets often enough — only a few times per month or less.
To cut to the chase, Dr Browning says we should be changing our sheets once a week, or every two weeks at the most. Hygiene is a big factor, and one of the reasons is sweat. If you've ever tried sleeping in a heatwave, you'll know how difficult it can be.
Why wash your pillows. While you sleep, your body sheds thousands of dead skin cells. They in turn attract dust mites, which, although harmless, do produce droppings that contain allergens. Letting these build up can trigger anything from asthma and rhinitis to itchy eyes.
Lisa Ackerly, home health hygienist, described Sick Bed Syndrome to the Daily Mail as a condition where the bed becomes a breeding ground not only for dust mites, but disease causing bacteria and viruses.
If you don't adhere to the once-a-week rule, dermatologist Alok Vij, MD, warns that dirty sheets can cause itchy skin, asthma flare-ups, seasonal allergies or rashes. And while built-up dirt and sweat can contribute to these symptoms, dust mites and their fecal matter are most often to blame.
Wash with the hottest water temperature setting listed on the care label. Polyester blends are best washed using warm water, while cotton can toleratehot water. Hotter water kills most germs and also takes care of dust mites that thrive in bedding.
Your new sheets may feel stiff and rough because of the manufacturing process. New sheets are often treated with chemicals to make the sheets look and feel crisp and new, which is one reason we highly recommend washing your sheets before use. Luckily, new sheets soften up with regular washing.
We'll cut straight to the chase: You should be changing your bed sheets once a week. "The longest you should wait before changing out your sheets is two weeks," says Carolyn Forté, executive director of the Good Housekeeping Institute Home Care & Cleaning Lab "Weekly is even better."
“Washing once a week is best,” says lifestyle expert Cheryl Nelson. “But definitely wash sheets AT LEAST once every two weeks. That's the maximum amount of time you should go.
Dead skin cells, bacteria, and even sweat can accumulate quickly on your towels, so using a fresh one about every three days is a simple rule of thumb—for all kinds of towels. You can of course change them more often.
Why does fresh bedding feel so good? It's all about the sensory experience. The scent of fresh bedding employs our sense of smell and can encourage calm and relaxation.
To put it simply, dirt can cause breakouts. If you are sleeping on the same sheets and pillowcase for weeks on end then your skin will flare up. All of the oil from your face will transfer and mix with sweat as you sleep, and the dirt will seep back into your pores, resulting in spots and blackheads.