• News
  • Film and TV
  • Music
  • Tech
  • Features
  • Celebrity
  • Politics
  • Weird
  • Community
  • Advertise
  • Terms
  • Privacy & Cookies
  • LADbible Group
  • LADbible
  • SPORTbible
  • GAMINGbible
  • Tyla
  • UNILAD Tech
  • FOODbible
  • License Our Content
  • About Us & Contact
  • Jobs
  • Latest
  • Topics A-Z
  • Authors
Facebook
Instagram
X
Threads
TikTok
YouTube
Submit Your Content
How often you should wash your bed sheets or you could face health issues

Home> News> Health

Published 15:59 27 Jan 2025 GMT

How often you should wash your bed sheets or you could face health issues

Sleep experts have had their say

Callum Jones

Callum Jones

Here's how often you should wash your bed sheets to avoid health problems further down the line.

It's never a fun chore is it? While it may be quicker than running the vacuum around the house or doing the gardening, many would argue changing your bed sheets is a bit of a faff.

Nonetheless, we still have to do considering the hygiene disadvantages of using the same bed sheets - but how long is too long?

Well, Martin Seeley, CEO and sleep expert at MattressNextDay, revealed what will happen if you don't wash them often enough.

Advert

"Further studies show that the average bedding harbours around 20,000 dust mites which can be triggering for those that suffer from allergies," he said.

Dirty sheets can cause health implications (Getty Stock Photo)
Dirty sheets can cause health implications (Getty Stock Photo)

How often should I wash me sheets?

Martin advises you wash your bedding at 'least once a week'.

Advert

"Given that 80 percent of dust mites are made up of your dead skin, which you naturally produce more of overnight, you should be washing your bedding at least once a week," Martin added.

What happens if you don't wash your bed sheets regularly?

To begin with, dust mites can cause stuffy noses and congestion, though not washing can produce more serious health implications.

A study of hospital bed linen in 2013 from the Institut Pasteur de Lille in France found Staphylococcus bacteria on the dirty sheets.

Advert

While usually harmless, it can cause acne, skin infections and even pneumonia. The latter can leave you with a ton of nasty symptoms that include struggling to breathe, coughing, a fever, chills, fatigue, and chest pain.

Another study in 2018 in Nigeria found E. coli on unwashed hospital linen, along with bacteria that could cause urinary tract infections, pneumonia, diarrhoea, meningitis and sepsis.

Dr Manal Mohammed told the BBC: "People carry bacteria as part of their skin microbiome and can shed them in large numbers.

"Although these bacteria are typically harmless, they can cause serious illness if they enter the body through open wounds."

Advert

You're going to want to wash your bed sheets weekly (Getty Stock Photo)
You're going to want to wash your bed sheets weekly (Getty Stock Photo)

How often should you wash pillows and duvets?

According to WebMD, pillows should be washed at least twice a year, or four times a year if you have pets or eat in bed. They should also be replaced every one to two years.

Dr Almudena Nuño warned what happens if you don't wash your pillow, telling El Pais: "Over time, they accumulate traces of sweat, sebum and dead skin cells, as well as microorganisms like bacteria and dust mites, which is why they should be washed, not just the pillowcases. Proper hygiene helps prevent skin problems and allergic reactions."

Advert

Which? also advises you wash your duvet one or twice a year, and you can often do this in the washing machine.

Featured Image Credit: Getty Images/Kinga Krzeminska

Topics: Health, Sleep

Callum Jones
Callum Jones

Advert

Advert

Advert

Choose your content:

6 hours ago
9 hours ago
10 hours ago
11 hours ago
  • 6 hours ago

    Amazon Prime series with near-perfect RT score is labeled 'one of the best' by Stephen King

    The series starring Titus Welliver has been branded 'one of the most underrated TV shows'

    Film & TV
  • 9 hours ago

    People horrified after hearing tech billionaire Peter Thiel’s ‘sociopathic’ response about the future of humanity

    People have been creeped out by how he answered a simple question

    News
  • 10 hours ago

    Doctor issues warning over hidden symptoms of Lyme disease as tick bites near record highs in US states

    Parts of the US have seen a sudden uptick in tick bites

    News
  • 11 hours ago

    ‘World’s top couple’s therapist’ reveals the one surprising behavior in people’s relationships that ‘scares her’

    The psychologist said this one thing in other couples doesn't seem real

    News
  • Sleep study finds latest time you should go to bed before it starts harming your mental health
  • Doctor issues warning to wash body part that's often overlooked as it can lead to serious health issues
  • Real reason you often wake up naturally minutes before your alarm goes off
  • Health expert reveals six huge changes to your body when you give up sex for a year