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Our bedding collects sweat, dirt, dust and more. How often dirty bedding needs to be cleaned depends on the skin, habits and the possible possession of pets. Changing bed linen is very important because this factor has a strong influence on our health.
- Experts: it is advisable to wash bed linen at least once a week
- Washing the pillowcases too rarely can have unpleasant consequences for your health
- How to properly wash bedding? Check out the top tips below
- You can find more such stories on the TvoiLokony home page
Linen change. How often should you do this?
It is important to know how often you should wash your bedding, as we spend a large part of our lives in our own bed.
According to Annie Gonzalez, a dermatologist at Riverchase Dermatology in Miami, most people should wash their bed linen once a week.
Washing once a week can eliminate a build-up of dead skin cells, feces, mites, body fat, dirt and sweat
– said the expert.
A dirty mattress can be a big problem
If we do not have a mattress cover, the dirt that accumulates on it comes into contact with our bedding, and ultimately with our body.
For skin problems such as eczema or acne, frequent drooling on a pillow, sleeping with pets, not showering at bedtime, and sleeping naked, Dr. Gonzalez recommends washing the linen at least twice a week.
Dirty bedding can irritate sensitive skin and worsen our healthespecially in the case of asthma and allergies.
If you don’t wash your bedding infrequently, you can have serious consequences
If we do not wash bedding often enough, we are endangered by grease, bacteria, dead skin and dirt. These can block pores and contribute to acne.
Failure to wash your bedding can cause contact dermatitis (red itchy rash), cause eczema and worsen existing acne. These are just some of the examples of how a mess in your home can make you sick.
Dirty sheets can lead to skin irritation, rashes and infectionssuch as tinea versicolor and fungal infections.
Dirty bedding is a challenge for the respiratory system
We spend a third of our lives in bed. It is therefore worth remembering to wash the bed linen regularly. Even if we do not have allergies or asthma, the constant strain on our immune system from inhaling pollutants can cause them to develop over time.
Allergic reactions can be triggered by constantly inhaling dust particles.
The reality is not that you can become infected with these organisms, but they can exacerbate allergies and asthma if you have pre-existing asthma … or over time, you may develop asthma or an allergic reaction if you constantly inhale large amounts of these particles
– reported Philip Tierno, professor of microbiology and pathology at the New York University School of Medicine.
How to wash bedding? Bedroom hygiene advice
I recommend washing your bedding with the highest temperature water as the hot water kills most mites and germs
– said Dr. Anna Gonzalez.
Cotton bedding tolerates hot water, while polyester bedding is best washed in warm water. Also, never stuff a lot of pillowcases into the washing machine. As Dr. Gonzalez says, it must circulate freely in the drum to cleanse itself.
The most important piece of advice from Professor Tierno is instead investing in mattress and pillow covers.
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