Germs from respiratory viruses can live a few days, while some that cause diarrhea can live for weeks. Bacteria can live for weeks and can even multiply. You should wash any soiled bedding as soon as possible and wash sheets regularly when someone is sick.
Instead, you need to be setting your washing machine to the hottest temperature setting. This is because heat kills germs! After all, we are all told to wash our hands with warm water and soap -- not cold water. So the same goes with washing your bedding.
MOST HYGIENIC BEDDING OPTIONS
Germs can live on bedding for just a few hours and are able to survive on different types of bedding fabric for different amounts of time. When it comes to health and the risk of getting sick, the less chance of germs surviving, the better.
The research conducted by Amerisleep, a company that sells mattresses and bedding, found that “after one week, pillowcases and sheets contain between three million and five million CFUs (colony-forming units [of bacteria]) per square inch.”
Your bed may host bacteria
Take Staphylococcus aureus, which is fairly contagious and can cause skin infections, pneumonia and worsen acne. Not only have S. aureus been found to live on pillowcases, research also shows that some strains are resistant to antibiotics.
Bacteria on your linen can cause breakouts, whiteheads, skin inflammation, and intense itching. They can also cause skin problems like acne or eczema or worsen existing conditions. Bacteria, dust mites, bed bugs are all responsible for affecting the health of your family's skin.
Surprisingly, even though your sheets and clothing are clean, bacteria can still be found in them. According to published research, domestic washing machines clean soiled clothing and textiles but do not sterilize them.
Depending on the type of fabric, bacteria can survive from several days to over six months.
Germs can spread not only through human contact, but through contact with soiled sheets and blankets as well. Washing your sheets in hot water and drying on high temperatures may remove some of these germs, but to really eliminate bad odors and built-up bacteria, you're going to want to bring in some reinforcement.
Cleaning your bedsheets and pillowcases
What's more, cleaning our bedding with detergent doesn't always remove germs like we may think. You should make sure you use a laundry sanitizer such as Lysol® Laundry Sanitizer, which kills 99.9% of bacteria and is gentle on even the softest of fabrics.
Also use on soft surfaces such as couches, pillows and mattresses. The fabric must remain wet for ten minutes then allow to air dry. Protect you and your family from viruses and bacteria daily. With Lysol disinfectant spray.
Experts say that you should change your bed sheets, pillowcases and duvet covers once a week or at the most every two weeks. However, a recent YouGov poll found that almost a third of people change their bed linen once a week or more often. 36% once every fortnight and the rest three to eight weeks or more!
If someone is ill, sheets, duvets and pillowcases should be washed immediately, as germs can spread or even enter the washing machine. In addition, the CDC says to wash and dry in the warmest temperatures recommended on the clothing label.
Detergent alone does not always kill bacteria. To kill bacteria, use Lysol Laundry Sanitizer in the fabric softener compartment or pour directly into the rinse cycle.
While soap is definitely important, the best way to kill off the bacteria and germs from your clothes is using heat! More specifically, heat from your dryer. Washing your clothes in hot water can help, but even at the hottest setting the water reaches below 140º.
The University of Arizona laundry study found that adding bleach to the load reduced the number of viruses by over 99.99%. Other commercial disinfecting laundry detergents can also help kill bacteria and germs that regular detergents might leave behind.
We'll cut straight to the chase: You should be changing your bed sheets once a week. "The longest you should wait before changing out your sheets is two weeks," says Carolyn Forté, executive director of the Good Housekeeping Institute Home Care & Cleaning Lab "Weekly is even better."
But still, the slight majority, 54%, do not wash their sheets often enough — only a few times per month or less. Of the 523 people surveyed, about 30% said that they wash their bed sheets a few times per month; and 22% said they wash them once a month or less.
Breakouts
— infections) and your bed. "Not only will you get stains everywhere, but bacteria can start to build up in the fibers, which can cause annoying whiteheads and patchy pimples, or exacerbate already existing acne — even if you have cleaned your skin," says Dr.
If you're not able to access a washer and dryer and want to sanitize your sheets, pillow cases, or blankets—especially if someone sick is using them—all you need is some steam. (Assuming the fabric doesn't have any major stains, since steaming can set-in the stain.)
To put it simply, dirt can cause breakouts. If you are sleeping on the same sheets and pillowcase for weeks on end then your skin will flare up. All of the oil from your face will transfer and mix with sweat as you sleep, and the dirt will seep back into your pores, resulting in spots and blackheads.
You may be thinking, can you get bed bugs from not washing your sheets? No—bed bugs have absolutely nothing to do with cleanliness levels. However, washing your sheets regularly gives you the opportunity to look for and remove any possible bed bug infestations.