Gross Things Happen When You Don’t Wash Your Sheets BY LISA ROTH COLLINS November 28, 2021 Updated: November 28, 2021
How often do you wash your sheets and put fresh ones on your bed? That’s OK, you don’t need to let anyone else know; you can keep the answer to yourself. However, the best answer is no longer than two weeks, and less in some cases.
If you and your family are sleeping on sheets that have been on your bed longer than that, then there are some gross and unhealthy things that may be happening in your bedrooms. So be prepared: What follows may not be for the faint of heart.
What’s Happening to Your Sheets
The human (and pet) body is constantly shedding skin cells. How many is a matter of some debate, but it is significant, like millions of cells a day. Since you spend about one-third of your life in bed, plenty of cells are accumulating in your sheets.
Skin cells aren’t the only things that are gathering in your bed. Some of those other “things” have legs. Moisture from sweating can accumulate during the night, making your sheets a breeding ground. Therefore, according to hygiene physician Dr. Lisa Ackerley, failing to wash your sheets often could be putting you and your family at risk for significant health problems. Let’s explore what those problems might be.
Health Hazards When You Don’t Wash Your Sheets
Here are a few of the health issues that can arise when you keep your sheets on the bed too long.
Mighty Mites: The dead skin cells that accumulate in your bed linens in between clean sheet replacements are dinner for dust mites that enjoy this delicacy. Mites and their droppings may trigger asthma and allergies and contribute to eczema.
Pet Issues: Cat and dog hair and dander are dinner for dust mites as well. In addition, if your canine friend sleeps in your bed and has mange, the mites can irritate your skin. Pet sleep buddies may also transmit ringworm. If you want to allow your pets to sleep with you, be sure to routinely check their health and change your sheets weekly.
Germ Garden: Dead skin cells, sweat, saliva, yeast, fecal matter, and other bodily deposits in your bed are a fertile garden for germs to thrive. Some tests, for example, have found that pillowcases unwashed for one week had 17,000 more bacterial colonies than a toilet seat.
One bacterium that can linger in your sheets is Staphylococcus aureus, which is found on both healthy skin and on cuts and other skin conditions. Yeast is another threat, as it can accumulate in folds of skin where there is moisture and result in skin infections.
Acne Problems: If you suffer from acne, you should be changing your pillowcase every two to three days. That’s because bacteria, dead skin cells, and dirt in the pillowcase can contribute to outbreaks and clog your pores.
Lingering Germs. Whenever you or family members are ill, bacteria and viruses can linger in your sheets for up to several hours, depending on the microorganism. Therefore, it’s a good idea to wash your linens more often to kill germs.
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Poster Comment:
I do not have any pets, and try to not get skid marks on the sheets.