How often should you change your sheets to avoid bacteria build-up?
If you've gotten into the habit of changing your sheets once a month or every two weeks, you may well need to change your habits...
Even though the task may seem like a pain, it's essential for your health. In order to maintain healthy bedding, experts recommend washing it regularly, i.e. once a week. The microbiologist at the University of Arizona and sleep hygiene expert, Dr. Charles Gerba, as well as the dermatologist and sleep hygiene specialist at the Hospital Clínico de Barcelona, Alejandro Ruiz, believe that this frequency is necessary to avoid the risk of dust mites and bacteria accumulating. The Spanish doctor Alejandro Ruiz explains: "Changing your sheets every week significantly reduces the number of dust mites and allergens in the bed, thus improving the quality of sleep and general health".
What are the risks?
While you sleep, your body sheds dead skin, it also releases sweat and other bodily fluids, creating an environment conducive to the proliferation of bacteria and mites, underlines the media Linternaute. Bacteria are likely to cause health problems such as skin infections. Mites, for their part, can cause or aggravate asthma or certain allergies.
Are you sick? Do you suffer from allergies? Do you often eat in bed? Do you have young children? ... In some cases, you will have to change your sheets even more frequently, sometimes every two days to avoid inconvenience.
(MH with AsD - Source: Linternaute - Illustration: Unsplash)