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.
Bacteria and Germs: Bed sheets can harbor bacteria, viruses, and fungi from sweat, saliva, skin cells, and other bodily fluids. If sheets are not washed regularly, these microorganisms can proliferate, potentially leading to infections or illness.
Sheets that go too long without washing can actually lead to a variety of health issues. According to allergist and immunologist Purvi Parikh, MD, "If you don't wash your sheets regularly, they can accumulate dirt, skin cells (which dust mites feed off), dust mites, and mold.
The general rule of thumb is that you should change your sheets around once a week. But what about your other bed linen? Most experts agree that pillowcases should be changed once a week and duvet covers should be changed approximately every two weeks.
Some people should wash their sheets even more often than once a week. Leaving bed sheets unchanged for long periods of time could lead to a whole host of health problems, such as infected wounds and athlete's foot. If the sheets are not washed regularly, and you have scratches or wounds, they can become infected.
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.
When you're sick with a cold, certain household items may become a breeding ground for germs. Items like bed sheets, towels, and phones need to be thoroughly sanitized in order to make sure your cold doesn't linger.
Proper hygiene is important in all areas of life. When it comes to our bedding, it's perhaps more important than you might think. Without regular cleaning, dirty sheets can contribute to allergies, skin breakouts, asthma, and more.
On average, your bedding should last anywhere between 2 years and 10 years, with some luxury bedding sets lasting as long as 15 years, if they are well cared for. Here are the average amount of washes you can expect to get out of your bed linen: Pillowcases: 70 washes. Bed Sheets: 120 washes.
Medical experts recommend washing your bed sheets once per week. This is seen as the standard, although the average person will typically wash them once every two weeks (which is still good).
According to a recent survey by Mattress Advisor, the average person changes their sheets about every 24 days. But that's not the best schedule for optimal hygiene and freshness. How often should you wash your sheets? It depends on a few factors, but some general rules work for most people.
High-quality percale or sateen cotton sheets can last up to three years, while linen sheets may last as long as five years before you need to replace them. With one-third of our days spent in bed, it's no wonder that our bedding begins to accumulate and harbor dirt, debris, dead skin cells, and pet dander.
If you use a sheet set every day of the year, you'll need to replace it after about two years. However, luxury cotton sheets, like percale and sateen, can offer another year or so of use. And with linen, you'll get three to five years — sometimes more.
Bacteria, Fungi and Viruses
Fungi, such as molds and yeasts, flourish in damp areas, fueled by sweat and moisture from the environment. Species like Aspergillus and Candida can colonize your sheets, contributing to fungal infections or exacerbating allergies.
“Dust mites, pollen, dust, and loose dirt can cause allergies and trigger asthma attacks,” says Brian Sansoni, senior vice president of communications at American Cleaning Institute. “Sleeping on a clean mattress can prevent these triggers and help you to have a good night's sleep."
If you sleep alone, don't have pets and live in a climate-controlled home, you can probably get away with washing your sheets every two weeks. But some people should wash them more often — like, once a week.
Bacterial Bed Buddies
Dead skin cells, sweat, saliva, and more can turn your comfy bed into a petri dish for germs to grow. For instance, lab tests found that swabs from pillowcases unwashed for a week harbored 17,000 times more colonies of bacteria than samples taken from a toilet seat.
Most experts recommend replacing pillows every 1 to 2 years. Doing so helps to ensure that you're using pillows that are supportive, clean, and free of allergens. It is also important to care for the pillows you use to ensure their longevity. Generally, you'll be able to tell when it's time to replace your pillows.
Bacteria and viruses can live on soft fabrics for hours, making it even more important to wash your sheets regularly if you want to avoid getting sick. Sleeping in dirty sheets can also impair how well you're actually sleeping.
If you don't wash your body, it makes it easier for germs that cause actual skin infections to flourish. If you didn't wash at all, dirt, sweat, dead skin cells and oil would start to accumulate, and infections or ongoing skin conditions can become more serious, more difficult to manage, and harder to undo.
Dark and damp – the perfect breeding ground for bacteria and mould in any form. With the perfect environment, and your dead skin cells and sweat as food, storing your dirty clothes for too long is only going to result in mouldy, bacteria-infested clothing that will eventually end up as a health hazard.
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.
Viruses like influenza, the coronavirus and RSV can cause a fever, Jone said. "Fever is a sign that the body is fighting these viruses, and patients will have chills related to the fever. Staying warm will reduce the discomfort of the chills and help circulate blood to carry the immune cells to their destination."
Dirty sheets don't cause scabies because the disease isn't related to hygiene or cleanliness. But scabies can spread from person to person through bedsheets. If you have a rash and it's so itchy you can't sleep, make sure you contact your healthcare provider.