What happens when you don't wash your sheets every week, doctors say

You will want to start a linen load after reading this.


To obtain a good night's sleep is important for your health, but all these hours spent in the comfort of your bed can leave your sheets less than clean. The general consensus among experts is that washing once a week is ideal for ridding your bedding in non -hygienic accumulation, but a 2017 study revealed that Americans only change their sheets Once every 24 days, on average.

But what exactly is happening when you exceed this seven-day brand? Read the rest to find out what's going on when you don't wash your sheets every week.

Read this then: It's the worst absolute moment to brush your teeth, say dentists .

Most experts recommend washing your sheets one per week.

woman holding pile of sheets, health changes after 40
Shutterstock / Elvira Koneva

If you block the recommended sleeping hours per night, it means that you spend between 49 and 63 hours in bed each week. Meanwhile, your bedding accumulates perspiration, dirt, mites, dead skin cells and more. This is why most experts - of those of The New York Times to Good Housekeeping "Remove your sheets to wash once a week." By regularly stripping the bed, you can minimize this non -hygienic accumulation. AE0FCC31AE342FD3A1346EBB1F342FCB

Read this then: If you do this in the shower, stop immediately, the doctor says .

Here is what can happen when you do not wash your sheets often enough.

Woman with itchy, tingling arms scratching skin.
istock

If you do not adhere to the rule once a week, the dermatologist Alok VIJ , MD, warns that dirty sheets Can cause itching, asthma thrusts, seasonal allergies or rashes. And while dirt and sweat can contribute to these symptoms, mites and their fecal matter are most often to blame.

"" Mites are very common microscopic creatures in most households. They do not bite, but they can cause rashes and irritation, and can worsen the symptoms of allergies for many people, "said sleep foundation." Mites can reproduce at prolific levels and can only live from dead skin cells. At any time, there may be tens of thousands, even hundreds of thousands, mites living in your mattress and your bedding. Even if you are not allergic to mites, you probably don't want to share your bed with thousands of them. Washing sheets regularly can help. ""

Some people should wash their leaves even more often.

A woman measuring laundry detergent in the cap to pour into a washing machine
Shutterstock / Zivica Kerkez

Washing once a week is a good base for most people who spend an average time in bed. However, experts say you may want to wash your sheets more often if you allow pets to sleep in your bed , or if you know allergies or asthma. In these cases, washing every three or four days can help improve symptoms and reduce the risk of health problems.

If you plan to wash your sheets often, it is best to use leaves that have a high number of wire and are made of lasting materials - Egyptian cotton, for example - which can withstand regular washing and drying cycles .

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Here is the best way to wash your sheets.

washing bedsheets
Whisper

To make sure that your sheets remain in shape to wash them with a certain frequency, you will want to start by prestracting stains before you start. To do this, you can use shout, oxiclean or even dish soap, working in the affected area (you may want to wear gloves, depending on the product you use).

Then put your sheets in the washing cycle on a low -temperature adjustment - 40 degrees Fahrenheit is considered ideal for weekly washes. However, if it's cold and the flu season, or if your sheets have spent more than a week between washing, you may want to increase the temperature to kill germs. "Try to avoid using fabric softeners and dryer sheets, or at least do not use them for each washing. The softeners leave residues that decrease the breathability and the absorption of the fabric. And if this residue s 'Accumulates over time, you can end up feeling overheated on your sheets, "adds The New York Times .


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