The pillowcases we sleep on every day have become a great source of germs. If we don’t wash the pillowcases for 1 week, the germs that accumulate on the pillows will be more than the germs that accumulate on the toilet bowl!
Pillowcases are something that everyone touches every night. If there are a lot of bacteria or germs accumulated, they can directly enter our bodies. However, many people often neglect to clean their pillowcases. This neglect will cause many health effects.
When we lie down to sleep, our dead skin cells, cosmetics, dust, hair, lotions, or even fungi, bacteria, and viruses are all deposited in our bed sheets.
According to research from the American bedding company “Amerisleep”, they tested a pillowcase that had not been washed for 1 week and found that there were 3 million bacteria per square inch, which is 17,000 times more than the number of bacteria found on toilet seats or toilet covers and 25,000 times more than the bacteria found on bathroom doorknobs.
So where do the bacteria found in pillowcases and bed sheets come from?
1. Sweat: When we sleep, our body sweats, causing moisture in the pillowcase or bed sheet, which is a very suitable environment for bacteria to grow.
2. Dirt from hair and skin: Our dead skin cells, including chemicals from products we use, such as lotions, sunscreens, and cosmetics, etc.
3. Dust: Currently, there is more dust in the atmosphere every day, causing this dust to stick to the pillowcase or bed sheet, which becomes a good breeding ground for bacteria.
Scientist and cleaning expert Mary Gagliardi said that washing your bedsheets once a week may not be enough to prevent bacteria from forming. The cleaning method of your bedsheets is equally important.
When washing your bedsheets, wash them in hot water and spend longer than usual. Using detergent is also important because choosing the right detergent for the type of fabric will make the fabric cleaner. In addition, AmeriSleep recommends that you change your pillowcases every 1-2 years because dirt that builds up in your pillow can also cause disease. Even if you clean more, it may not be enough.
In addition to cleaning your pillowcases, bedsheets, or even changing your pillow, before you lie down to sleep, you should clean your body every time to prevent bacteria from building up.