After a long day, your bed is not only your favorite spot to relax but also a haven for millions of germs, mold spores, unseen bugs, and viruses. The warmth from your body, sweat, dead skin cells, and tiny food particles often create an ideal environment for these microorganisms to thrive.
Every day, around 500 million dead skin cells fall off our body, and these cells are a primary food source for dust mites, the tiny creatures found in household dust. Unfortunately, these invisible mites and the moisture released from their bodies can cause allergies, eczema, or asthma.
According to British research, sweat from the scalp can lead to billions, even trillions, of fungi residing in your pillow. Dust mites can also be present in our beds, and their excretions contribute to fungal growth. Studies show that most people don’t wash their pillows regularly, allowing fungi to persist for years.
Even washing pillow covers with water at 50°C won’t necessarily kill the fungi. As for washing the pillows themselves, it doesn’t help because it adds moisture, which allows fungi to spread.
What to Do If Washing Pillows Doesn’t Help? British Professor David Dening suggests that if you don’t have lung disease or asthma, you should replace your pillows every two years. However, those with respiratory conditions should replace them every 3 to 6 months.
How Often Should You Wash Bed Sheets? Experts recommend washing and ironing bed sheets every week to reduce germs significantly. If your child wets the bed, wash the sheets in very hot water with extra care.
If you have pets that lie on your bed, it can increase the presence of germs and fungi. Additionally, lying on the bed without bathing, wearing dirty socks, or applying makeup or lotion to your face can introduce germs.
Professor Dening advises that while he doesn’t discourage eating or drinking in bed, you should make sure to pay attention to washing your sheets if you do so.
