Doctor issues warning to anyone who doesn't wash pillowcases weekly
We are all guilty of not washing our bedding enough but it turns out we should be cleaning our pillowcases pretty much every week.
When it comes to washing your bedsheets, how often do you do it? While we often forget due to our busy schedules it can easily be missed.
According to Dr Gareth Nye, it should be every week. However, it all depends on whether you sleep alone or not.
He told the Mirror: "The reason is down to sweat, skin flakes and the build-up of microorganisms.
"People have variable sweating rates through the night, with men normally sweating less and women going through menopause sweating the most."
But what about when it comes to pillowcases?
Mattress experts at WinstonsBeds.com are urging people to wash their pillowcases more often to improve their sleep hygiene.
Despite most people washing their bedding now and then, the experts state that the same rule does not apply to pillowcases.
Pillowcases can hold around three million bacteria colonies per square inch after just one week of sleep.
This build-up of dirt, sweat, grease and dead skin cells touches our faces every night and can cause breakouts and irritation for those with sensitive skin.
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The team at WinstonsBeds are advising people to put their pillowcases in the washing machine whenever they do their normal load. This way they can keep their pillowcases fresh and free from bacteria without having to wash them separately.
Rebecca Swain, mattress expert at WinstonsBeds said: “Our faces come into contact with our pillows every night for eight hours and if it’s not clean, it can cause skin irritation and breakouts.
“Your pillow harbours a lot of built up, grease and oils from your scalp, not to mention dead skin and drool.
“Those with longer locks who wash their hair around once or twice a week will find their pillowcases are probably dirtier thanks to their greasy hair. Most people will wash their bedding around once every two weeks but this just isn’t enough when it comes to your pillowcases.
“That's why it’s worth chucking the pillowcases into your regular washing loads whenever you get the chance.
“The pillows themselves should also be washed around once or twice a year to get rid of any sweat and build-up that has seeped through the pillowcase. You can do this by simply just putting them in the machine but it’s best to check their care label first.”
How often do you wash your pillowcases? Let us know in the comments below.
