It takes 7 weeks for a bed bugs infestation to be discovered so, how often should you wash your sheets?
There’s nothing quite like getting into a warm and comfortable bed after a long day. But before you get too comfortable, you might want to know that your bed and a toilet seat are not too different. A combination of sweat, dead skin cells, saliva, and food particles makes your bed a haven for bacteria, germs and bed bugs to make their home.
What are bed bugs?
Bed bugs are tiny insects which are around 5mm long. They commonly leave red itchy marks on your face, neck,
arms and hands. In some cases, bed bugs can cause severe skin reactions. They also cause other health problems including insomnia, anxiety and allergies.
Bed bugs can be carried to your home and into your bed on soft surfaces such as backpacks, clothing and furniture.
How often should you be washing your sheets?
According to the Sleep Foundation, it is recommended to wash your sheets weekly.
This is because sheets can accumulate particles we can’t see: dead skin cells,
dust mites and if you sleep naked, even faecal matter.
If we wash our clothes often, why shouldn’t we wash our sheets more frequently when we spend a third of our day in it?
Why should you be washing your sheets more frequently?
Different microbial species such as E.coli and S.aureus can live in your sheets for up to 2 weeks. In addition, a fungal species
known as “Candiba albicans” can also live in your sheets for up to a month. This fungal species can cause
urinary tract infections and genital yeast infections.
Washing your sheets at least once a week ensures that these species don’t grow and develop to serious health threats.
The best way to wash your sheets
It is always important to look at the care instructions on the label of your
sheets. It is recommended to wash your sheets and other beddings hot water with soap or detergent to fully kill the bugs.
The hotter the water and with soap or detergent, the higher the chance that allergens and bugs will be killed and removed.
How to keep sheets clean between washings
You can keep your sheets clean and preserve it by:
- Showering before getting into bed
- Keeping pets away from the sheets
- Avoiding eating and drinking in bed
- Removing any makeup before sleeping
- Avoid applying creams and lotions before getting into bed
The takeaway
A little diligence when it comes to taking care of your sheets and bedding can go a long way. It keeps it nice and fresh,
while also keeping your family healthy.
We know it can be time consuming to wash your sheets weekly. If you’re used
to washing them less frequently, it might be a good idea to get another set of sheets which you can swap out.
One thing to remember is when you do wash your sheets, use the hottest temperature you can.
Why let EasyLife wash your sheets?
At EasyLife, we make sure that sheets and clothing are washed at a high
temperature with detergent to kill and to remove germs, as well as bugs and other nasty things that can lead to health issues.
In addition, our team are fully trained to remove a stains and bad odour from your laundry.
With us, you’ll never have to stress about doing a big load of washing.
Your sheets are delivered back to you already ironed, folded, and smelling fresh!