Housework never ends, there are always things to clean and wash. That the dishes, the kitchen, the refrigerator, the bathroom, the rooms and...
The ideal is to wash the sheets once a week, but the reality is that very few people do it, even a study published in Hammonds revealed that many people living in the UK admitted that they wash their sheets only once! year!. This is commonly seen in people who live alone. But the research is not surprising, since some people are unaware of the importance and consequences of not washing their sheets frequently.
What can happen if you don't wash your sheets often?
Not only will your bed smell bad, but it also leads to the proliferation of mites, bedbugs, and fungi that can cause serious health problems, even death. Let's see below in more detail:
1. Accumulation of bacteria
It is normal that during the day we collect germs in the body caused by sweat, secretions, and contact with the outside; so when we get home and decide to go to bed, all those germs stay on the sheets and pillowcases. Imagine how many you can accumulate for a month or more!
According to experts, 5 million bacteria called staphylococci, E Coli and other similar bacteria known as gram-negative can accumulate in just one week. These reproduce forming colonies and so on they grow more and more.
Also, you should know that about a third of people carry Staph aureus bacteria in their bodies, which means that it is very likely that their sheets are full of these bacteria.
The problem is that when we sleep we have contact with our dirty sheets and that can cause pneumonia, urinary tract infections, diarrhea, and some other infections resistant to antibiotics.
2. They attract insects
Many people have heard about skin mites, which are small animals that are 0.2 mm long, have eight legs, and are similar to spiders or ticks. These live for about a month, but the female produces 20 eggs at a time and their multiplication is great.
They are really harmless in some cases, however, there are people who are allergic and may suffer from atopic conditions such as asthma. These animals are commonly found living on the surface of the bed, on mattresses, sheets, and pillows.
Other microscopic insects that we can find on our sheets are bed bugs, which are insects that are about 5mm long, reddish-brown in color, and flat. These animals come out at night to look for food, which is blood. The only thing that can cause us is that when they are stung, their saliva, which contains a dangerous substance, will prevent the blood from coagulating.
3. Athlete's foot
An athlete's foot is an infection caused by perspiration on the feet when they are locked up in tight-fitting shoes. It usually causes scaling and causes itching, stinging, and burning.
This infection is contagious and can be spread through open sores, cuts, and breaks in the skin. If your partner has an athlete's foot, it is likely that you will get it from contact with the sheets since you share the same bed.
In addition, you should know that there are other bacteria and fungi that can cause infections such as ringworm, toenail fungus, among others if the sheets are not washed frequently. Even other research published in the journal "Allergy" indicates that pillows contain large amounts of various species of fungi that can cause respiratory diseases.
4. Appearance of acne
Many women are not in the habit of removing makeup before bed. This bad habit can cause bacteria such as Escherichia coli and others to accumulate in the pillowcases.
Therefore, by not having a good personal hygiene habit, it is common for excess makeup to cause sebum known as acne and pimples. This infection is caused by too many dead cells clogging the skin pores, so bacteria can get trapped inside the pores and reproduce, causing the skin to swell and turn red.
5. Allergies
The dust that enters the house and especially in your bed can cause allergies such as asthma. There are even people who suffer from dust mite allergies that cause them to have frequent sneezes, nasal congestion, and watery eyes.
For this reason, it is advisable to wash the sheets frequently, at least once a week, with hot water to eliminate any bacteria, fungus, or stains and thus prevent allergies.
Now you know, it is very important to keep your sheets clean to avoid infections that put your health and that of your family at risk. Even if you think about it differently, the dirt on your sheets and pillows can also give you insomnia, keeping you from being able to rest.
There is nothing like sleeping in a clean place to replenish all the energy spent during the day. So now you know, don't stop washing your bedclothes.
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