Experts reveal how often you should change your bedding

By William On Jan 25, 2023

Stacey Solomon sparked the debate Tuesday morning when she and Hits Radio host James Barr discussed how often you should change your bedding.

After the radio host said he was considering changing his sheets ‘once a month’, the X-Factor star said: ‘You know what? While you’re single and enjoying that life, wallow in your own filth for a while. You have no one to impress.

However, despite Stacey and James’ casual attitude to changing the bed, experts told FEMAIL that leaving dirty sheets on a mattress could cause a number of health problems.

Abbas Kanani, a pharmacist at Chemist Click online pharmacy, told FEMAIL: “Proper hygiene is important when it comes to sleeping because dirty sheets can contribute to allergies, skin breakouts, asthma and alter the quality of sleep. sleep”.

Experts have revealed how often you should change the sheets on your bed, after Stacey Solomon sparked a debate on the issue during a radio appearance (file image)

Danielle Mason, director of product development for The Fine Bedding Company, cautioned: “On the surface, your bedding may appear clean, but it can lead to all sorts of health problems if not changed regularly, so we recommend changing sheets once a week. .

How often should you wash your bedding?

According to experts who spoke to FEMAIL, parts of the bedding need to be changed several times a week, while others can be left on longer.

Bed sheets – once a week

Pillow covers – two or three times a week

pillows – every six months

Mattress covers and protectors – once a month

Duvet cover – once every three months

“If you have pets or experience dust mite allergies, it should be every 3-4 days for optimal sleeping conditions.”

Abbas agreed, saying sheets should be changed “at most every two weeks, but ideally once a week.”

‘The is a general guide that may vary depending on your lifestyle.

“For example, people who don’t sleep on their mattress every day may wash their sheets less often.”

Dr Veronika Matutyte, Health Sciences, peachesandscreams.co.uk agreed, saying: ‘Bedroom hygiene is very important. Helps prevent the spread of bacteria, germs, infections and disease.

‘From an expert point of view, bedding should be changed after a week or two.

“The routine is likely to be different for people with issues like asthma and allergies and those who experience night sweats.

“For such cases, I generally encourage changing and laundering bedding once a week to keep the room fresh and clean and to remove potential irritants.”

Abbas and Dr. Veronika said there were a host of health problems that could arise from leaving bedding on for too long.

Abbas said: “The average person spends around 227,760 hours sleeping in his life, which is equivalent to 26 years.”

Dirt, dead skin cells, body oils, sweat, and dust mites, including their carcasses and fecal matter, can accumulate on bedding.

Dust mites can live solely on dead skin cells and reproduce rapidly. If you have skin allergies caused by dust mites, pollen, or other microscopic particles, wash bedding in hot water and this will help kill off dust mites and other irritating microbes.

Other ways to keep your sheets clean

– If you want to avoid washing your sheets more than once a week, you’ll need to minimize debris and other things that can settle on your bed.

– Wear pajamas or other nightwear to sleep.

– Take a shower or bath at night, so that your body is clean when you lie in bed. As a bonus, researchers have found that bathing 90 minutes before bed can help you sleep better.

– Eat your meals and snacks elsewhere. Chewing or drinking in bed can spread crumbs or lead to spills.

– Save ointments and lotions for the morning.

– Restrict your movements. If you’re the type to toss and turn, you’re more likely to spread skin cells and other debris across the bed.

– Sleeping with a body pillow can keep your body in one place

They can also make asthma symptoms much worse, so it’s very important to keep your sheets clean.

“When we move, friction forces dirt and bacteria into our pores, which can lead to blemishes and breakouts, especially if we have acne-prone skin.”

Meanwhile, Dr. Veronika said that one of the health benefits of changing bedding regularly includes rreducing the spread of bacteria and fungi, which can cause diseases such as pneumonia, skin infections, measles, influenza and chickenpox.

And while Dorothy Chambers, sleep health expert at SleepJunkie.com, suggested changing sheets once a week, she said pillowcases should be changed two or even three times a week.

Danielle also lamented the importance of washing other bedding items, including mattresses, comforters, and pillows.

She said: “Always check the care instructions and check if your duvet and pillows are synthetic or natural, but we recommend washing them every few months if you suffer from allergies, or at least twice a year otherwise.”

‘Washing at 60°C will kill dust mites, a common cause of allergies, but if you don’t suffer from allergies we always recommend a more environmentally friendly 40 degree wash.

“Your sleep environment is one of the main components that strongly affects the quality of your sleep and therefore your health and mood, so make sure you wash your sheets regularly and your bedding fill at least twice a year for a good night’s sleep.

The pundit comes after Stacey sparked a debate during a radio appearance earlier today.

The host of Sort Your Life Out, who has gained thousands of fans for her sorted ticks, chimed in about how often bedding should be changed.

Debate: Stacey Solomon has caused a stir by revealing how often she changes her bedding during a radio appearance on Tuesday morning.

Stacey was questioned by Hits Radio presenter James Barr, who asked how long he should be changing his bedding now that he’s recently single.

The pregnant TV star initially said: “Once a week I would say.”

James reacted with surprise and Stacey later changed her answer to once a month, encouraging him to ‘wallow in his own dirt’.

Then he said, ‘You know what? While you’re single and enjoying that life, wallow in your own filth for a while.

You have no one to impress. You know when you’re single and you don’t have to shave your legs? So just go full Gruffalo. I feel like it’s the same.