The Alarming Truth Of What Happens If You Don't Wash Your Sheets Each & Every Week
By Dreamer
No one likes changing the sheets. It's an enormous hassle to strip the bed, spend hours washing the sheets, pillowcases and bedding, then remaking the whole thing again - just for the steps to be repeated the following week. But laundry expert, Mary Marlowe Leverette, says going through this grueling process every seven days is more than worth it.
The first warning Mary gave ATTN about changing the sheets all has to do with what comes off of our bodies when we sleep. It may seem hard to believe, but our hours of rest can actually produce and transfer a ton of bacteria, fungus and other bodily fluids.
"During sleep, we continue to perspire, and body oils and soil are released. It is possible to find saliva, urine, genital fluids, and fecal matter in the fibers. If the [linens] are not washed regularly, and the occupant has scratches or wounds, they can become infected. Athlete's foot and other fungi can be transferred from fabrics. Infrequent cleaning of sheets and pillowcases allows the fluids to seep into the pillows and mattresses, and those are MUCH more difficult to clean than tossing sheets in the washer."
Just letting these germs sit and fester can lead to worsened allergies, sickness and other serious health problems!
It's not just about the frequency of washing - it's also about the temperature in which you do it! High temperatures are needed to get rid of the mite "poop" that's leftover after they feast on you dead skin cells.
"The excrement of the mites can cause breathing problems for those with allergies and asthma, but can easily be removed by washing in hot water. By not washing linens frequently, the oils and fluids build up and embed in the fibers, making them much more difficult to remove. If you have ever pulled some sheets from the linen closet, and they smell slightly rancid and stale, that is body soil left in the fibers because the sheets were not cleaned thoroughly."
You don't want to spend all of those hours washing and changing the sheets just to have the same crunchy, dirty smells as they did before you cleaned them!
Mary explains that washing our bedding isn't exactly rocket science. For example, those who run hot during the night may have to up their washings from once a week, to twice!
"Ideally, bed linens should be washed every week using the hottest water recommended for the fabric. If the weather is extremely hot, and the sleepers perspire heavily or the sleepers are ill, more frequent washings are recommended."
It seems as though our mothers were right when it comes to the "every week" rule. Putting this chore off is more than a simple act of procrastination - it's downright negligent to our health and wellbeing!
Learn even more about the nasty habits of dust mites and our shared history here!
Sources: ATTN
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