What are the dangers of not washing the sheets
The bed is that cozy space where each person spends a large part of their life - at least 49 hours a week if they sleep seven hours a night - but how hygienic is the resting place? Sleeping in a freshly made bed is always pleasant, but not everyone finds it necessary to wash their sheets regularly.
Lisa Ackerley, a hygiene specialist, revealed to the Daily Mail newspaper that if the sheets are not washed weekly , the people who sleep in that bed could be putting themselves at risk of contracting serious viruses and infections. "Think of all the things you do in bed," Ackerley said. Apart from being the place where you sleep, the bed often becomes the work or study surface, the space to eat, have sex, support clothes or even the resting place of pets.
- What are the dangers of not washing the sheets and Bed Sheets Product
"Depending on the activities the bed is used for and also how clean one is when going to bed (and the fact that sleepwear is used), the bed can be a lot dirtier than we think, causing damage in our health ", warned the specialist.
Germs, bacteria, fungi, and viruses
Humans have all kinds of bacteria and fungi in their body that do not threaten their health and are necessary, but the bed is a great place for them to reproduce, especially if you take into account all the moisture that accumulates in the bed when sleeping, saliva, sweat, skin cells and everything that enters, from food to particles of fecal matter for not sanitizing the hands.
One such bacteria that can be spread on bed sheets is Staphylococcus aureus , which is commonly found on human skin or in the nose of a healthy person. Diseases such as skin or wound infections, urinary tract infections, pneumonia, and bacteremia (bloodstream infection) can develop if these bacteria enter the body. These bacteria will accumulate very easily on sheets that are not washed for several weeks and can cause infections in wounds or small cuts on the skin of the person who sleeps in that bed.
Athlete's foot
If some of the people who sleep in a bed (in the case of a married couple) have athlete's foot, being a highly contagious infection, it is most likely that they immediately suffer from the condition. Even if the person is under treatment, they need to think carefully about where the bacteria may have left their mark and clean everything, including bedding, rugs, towels, socks, slippers, and shoes.
In this case, it is recommended to wash the sheets at a high temperature to eliminate the fungus in the washing machine. At low temperatures not only will it not be removed but it is likely to spread.
Yeast infections
Anyone can "catch" a skin fungus infection just by sleeping in a bed with unwashed sheets. This can cause problems in the folds of the skin where moisture can lodge. Litter is a great breeding ground for such yeasts. To avoid them, it is enough to wash the sheets frequently and with hot water.
Virus
When a person has a cold or flu (or another type of viral illness) they need to wash and change the bedding more frequently to protect those who sleep in that bed and not aggravate their own health. The virus is spread by both sneezing and mouth-to-mouth contact, so dirty tissues in bed have to be avoided at all costs. It is necessary not to rest dirty tissues on these surfaces.
Dust mites
Dust mites ( Dermatofagoides pteronyssinus ) are microscopic organisms that feed primarily on dead skin, reason enough that sheets, armchairs, and rugs are their preferred domain. While they do not transmit disease, they can cause allergy problems.
In the excrement of these organisms, there is an enzyme that causes allergies that can lead to conditions such as asthma and rhinitis. According to ENT doctors, this can cause sinusitis and ear problems as well.
It is estimated that humans shed about 10 grams of skin a day, so the bed houses a great concentration. It is even believed that 10 percent of the weight of a two-year-old pillow may be made up of dust mites and their droppings. The solution is to leave the bed ventilated as long as possible before putting it back together, exposed to sunlight for as long as possible and, of course, frequently wash the sheets.
The keys to a healthy bed
1. First, get rid of the dust. Properly vacuuming the room and cleaning the mattress and duvet from time to time is very important.
2. Using pillow and mattress protectors is a common practice but will be extremely necessary to sleep in a clean bed. A good idea is to spray the fabrics with disinfectant.
3. Wash bedding above 60 degrees centigrade. Those temperatures kill all bacteria, but, with more delicate fabrics, a lower temperature is recommended and spray with sanitizer spray afterwards. Bacteria grow best at human body temperature, so a 30 or 40 degree wash will do nothing or make things worse.
4. Wash sheets and pajamas once a week or more frequently.
5. Take a bath before going to sleep and go to bed always with clean hands.
6. If you share a bed with pets it is useful to get a blanket for them to lie down to be washed every week at least.
7. If someone is sick, intensify cleaning and wash clothes more frequently.