Most people will run a mop over the surfaces in their house when visible dirt begins to emerge. They might wipe the kitchen counter after cleaning the utensils that they will use once more tomorrow.
Others are also used to washing clothes whenever the laundry basket is full and find themselves with nothing to dress in. However, at the end of a tiring day, it is easy to get into your bed without giving the bed sheets a second thought.
The bed sheets in your bed are in use for most of the day. Dead skin cells, sweat, and hair fester in your bed sheets and turn out to be food for microorganisms that may be living on the mattress’s surface.
These disease-causing germs will ultimately become airborne, which significantly affects the quality of air in your bedroom. To prevent this, use warm water to wash the sheets frequently.
For those stubborn stains you should use bleach; however, remember that it can damage the fibers of the sheet ultimately. In the end, this process can wear the sheet out, and what you should do is get a replacement.
If you want to go green you can use a solution of vinegar and baking soda as a substitute for bleach. Remember, bed sheets won’t last forever, so do not become too attached to those patterns and colors that you matched perfectly with the décor. Because of this, it is good to go for neutral.
How often should you wash bed sheets
You need to wash the bed sheets regularly if you:
- Go to bed without taking a bath
- Have a lesion or infection that makes contact with the pillows or bed sheets
- Allow pets to sleep in your bed
- Sweat too much
- Eat in bed
- Are sensitive to dirt or have asthma or allergies
Though our personal needs will differ, on the whole, it is best to wash the bed sheets every one to two weeks.
Over-washing bed sheets will result in needless wear and tear on the material. Not washing them will allow grease from the skin to seep into the fibers, even changing the fabric’s color over time.
Why do my bed sheets smell?
Foul smells are usually a result of fungi and bacteria. So, though you put the dry bed sheets on the shelf, they can absorb the moisture in the air offering favorable surroundings for mildew and bacteria.
And, the source of the foul odor is the microbes’ waste. To get rid of this smell it would be prudent to buy a quality desk fan that can be placed on your bedside.
How to make the sheets smell fresh and clean
- Never skip washing the sheets. Although bed sheets might not appear dirty, they can harbor oils from the hair and skin, dead skin cells, dust mites, and sweat stains. Wash the sheets frequently to kill microbes and keep the room healthy and happy.
- Using a laundry liquid with added softener. It can help in ensuring the bed sheets stay a bit perfumed. This will make your bed feel amazing when you finally make your bed.
- Dry bedding thoroughly before you store. Storing wet bed sheets in the cupboard will breed foul smells and mold (try save your air cleaning machine some work). You should dry the sheets outdoors (if you can) to ensure they stay dry.
- Freshen the bed sheets with fabric sprays. It is best to try this midweek and if you select a soothing fragrance, like lavender, it may even help you in getting a bit more sleep.
- Purchase 2 or 3 sets of the best quality best sheets. This needs to include pillowcases, duvet cover, and a sheet. This will let you rotate the bed linen frequently.
How often should you change your sheets?
With more and more bacteria, dirt and mites accumulating each time you cuddle under your covers, it is best that you wash and change the pillowcases, duvet cover and sheets weekly.
You should use high temperatures to wash your bed sheets. This is to make sure that gems are totally removed. Make sure you don’t overload the laundry machine and only wash the bed linen separately from the clothes laundry.
Most eco-friendly or gentle detergents are extremely efficient.
This means that they will not ruin the bed sheets as much as detergents and bleaches. When it comes to drying the bed sheets, consider air drying since the sun rays will help in keeping bacteria away. Of course, that isn’t always possible, particularly in cold areas.
For this reason, if you will tumble dry the sheets, you should make sure that you keep the temperature cool to prevent the fibers from getting damaged.
Do you have a couple of bedding sets on rotation?
If yes, you should keep the fresh ones in a storage container or bed linen cupboard to keep moths away and protect them from humid. Prevent the fibers from shrinking by using warm water and quality detergent to wash your sheets.
You should protect the color of your colorful duvet covers and pillowcases by washing them indoors. In addition, do not keep the bed sheets in sealed plastic containers, since this will trap dampness and result in mildew.
Based on allergies, it might be important to wash the bed sheets regularly. It might also be important to wash the sheets regularly during hot months, particularly if you sweat at night.
What happens if you do not change bed sheets?
Pillowcases, duvet covers, and bed sheets collect a range of dead skin cells, dust from outdoors and bodily fluids as you’re sleeping.
If you do not clean the bed sheets frequently, then the bodily fluids will permeate the mattress, duvets, and pillows that are always more difficult to clean up than the pillowcases, duvet covers or bed sheets.
From a health point of view, not washing sheets frequently will increase the spread of microbes. This will result in increased suffering from health issues like asthma and allergies.
If you don’t wash regularly, think about washing the bed sheets at least once weekly if any the following apply to you:
- You have been unwell
There is nothing like enjoying the comfort of the bed when you are under the weather. However, after many days between sheets, and sweating a lot when you are unwell, you should change bedding and bed sheets the moment you feel well again to avoid becoming sick once more.
- A lot of sweating
Sweating will cause an accumulation of bacteria that will lead to skin irritation, especially if you’ve got sensitive skin. Remember the pillowcase, as unclean ones harbor oil and dirt that will clog pores. This will lead to spots on the neck and face.
- You are allergic to pollen or dust
It does not take long for skin cells to cover the sheets, which are food allergens such as dust mites. Their droppings will cause symptoms such as coughing, eczema, fever, asthma.
Conditions like asthma and allergic rhinitis are usually worse during the night. Additionally, the feared house dust mite can be one of the causes of allergy.
- Allowing pets to sleep in your bed
It’s believed there are many health advantages to sharing your bed with a pet, which includes stress reduction and an improved sense of security. On the other hand, there are some related health dangers, which include increased risk of illness, and aggravation of asthma and allergies.
Is it bad to not wash your bed sheets?
Nobody likes laundry day; however, sleeping with all that bacteria and germs are even worse. People often believe that their houses are comfortable, clean spaces. Regardless of how cautious you are with cleaning your house, some spots still fill with unwanted dead human cells, pollen, fungal elements, dander, fecal matter, and dust mites.
What is worse, the area you sleep is one of those breeding grounds of germs. That is right; the bed. Not cleaning the bedsheets frequently will put all this in close contact with the skin while you’re sleeping.
This will result in a range of issues, which range from acne to skin irritation to probably even infections. Even if you cannot see stains or grime, the bed sheets are quite nasty as well.
All the bodily fluids, oils, dead skin cells, and germs gather on the pillowcases and bed sheets, and bacteria multiply quickly. This leads to numerous health issues later on.
Can dirty sheets cause bumps?
You should wash your bed sheets if you want to prevent asthma, allergies, and acne attacks. Pet dander and dust mites build up fast, which triggers allergies.
Oil and bacteria build up on the bed sheets (particularly the pillowcase) can result in aggravating existing bumps and breakouts.
Things such as dead skin cells, oil, and sweat are left behind after getting out of bed each morning. Leaving the bed sheets on for many days will do more damage than you think.
Professionals suggest that you should change the bed sheets every 7 – 10 days. Additionally, you can change regularly if you have pets that sleep with you, sweat a lot, have been sick, or do not shower before bed.
Launder the bed linen on the highest temperature on the washer, followed by a tumble in the dryer, to eliminate bacteria and mites. By doing this, you can relax, knowing you are both clean and comfortable.
Do not postpone changing the bed sheets until they get visibly filthy. It only takes a couple of minutes to change bed linen, and the reward is the smell and feel of fresh bedding on the bed.
