A sleep expert has shared how often you should be washing your bed sheets, and it’s more often than you think – as you could be sharing your bed with 20,000 dust mites
We all know that keeping our bedding clean is crucial – but how often should we be chucking it in the wash to ensure peak cleanliness?
It’s tempting to put it off for another day, but with the weather cold outside and the heating likely to be turned up indoors, it’s time to nail down those cleaning routines – nobody fancies sharing their bed with dust mites and dealing with night sweats.
And if you’re not already stripping the bed every week, brace yourself: you could be snuggling up with around 20,000 dust mites, which is far from ideal, particularly for those with allergies. Martin Seeley, CEO and sleep expert at MattressNextDay, insists that sheets should be washed “every single week.”
Why? Because each night, we sweat out a minimum of 200ml of liquid, and it soaks right through to your duvet. He explains: “Further studies show that the average bedding harbours around 20,000 dust mites which can be triggering for those that suffer from allergies.”
Dust mites are notorious for causing stuffy noses and congestion, but a solid washing routine can help fend them off. Martin points out: “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.”
However, if you’re someone who perspires more at night, you might want to consider laundering your linens even more frequently. Naturally, changing bedding can be a bit of a chore, but it’s not something to be overlooked as bedrooms should be tranquil spaces.
When you’re laundering your bed sheets, don’t forget to set them on a 60-degree wash to effectively eliminate dust mites. Additionally, Martin suggests using a quality detergent to maintain its softness. And if you’re thinking about tumble drying your bedding, Martin advises that you might want to rethink – instead, try to air dry it outdoors where possible.