Once a week, twice a month or just when it starts to smell? There is no definite answer to the question of how often to change bed linen, but it is worth considering how insufficient hygiene in this area can negatively affect our health.
Why should you change bed linen for clean ones?
Clean, fragrant and freshly washed bed linen will certainly make your night’s rest more pleasant. If we assume that our sleep lasts for eight hours, then the bedding touches our skin for about 240 hours a month. Therefore, we should keep in mind that dirty and sweaty bedding is a breeding ground for mites and microorganisms that can contribute to the deterioration of our skin and negatively affect other health-related aspects.
There is minimal friction when the bedding touches the skin, allowing our epidermis to settle into the fabric. When dust, food crumbs or cat or dog hair are added to this, ideal conditions are created for the growth of invisible mites and, in extreme cases, mold.
Dust mites in bedding can worsen allergy symptoms, increase the risk of asthma and atopic dermatitis.
How often should I change my bed linen for clean ones?
Many people assume that a month of using one bed sheet is a good time to wash it and replace it with a clean one. However, experts in the field of hygiene, healthy sleep and allergies are more radical on this issue.
Some point out that we should change bed linen once a week, while others believe that it should be done once every two weeks. In spring and summer, when the temperatures are high, which promotes sweating, the bed linen should be changed to clean ones at least once a week.
For different types of infections, it is recommended to change bed linen weekly. Fresh and clean bedding not only increases our comfort, but also reduces the risk of spreading bacteria and viruses. Of course, even allergy sufferers should pay attention to the regular and frequent change of bed linen.
The exchange for clean bed linen should not be forgotten even in the case of small children and seniors. This is also true for teenagers during puberty, as their sebaceous glands produce large amounts of sebum, which promotes an oily scalp, resulting in a bad pillowcase.
At what temperature should bed linen be washed to get rid of mites and micro-organisms?
Washing bed linen at the right temperature has a big impact on ridding the fabric of mites and micro-organisms. Of course, it cannot be said that we would get rid of “unwanted guests” from our bed linen 100%, but washing at a high enough temperature definitely reduces the risk of them surviving the process.
It is recommended to wash cotton and linen bed linen at 60°C. Softer and more delicate fabrics should be washed at a lower temperature of 40 degrees C. However, before setting the temperature in the washing machine, check the bed linen manufacturer’s recommendations.
After washing and thoroughly drying the bed linen, it is also advisable to iron it at a temperature of 100 °C, unless the manufacturer indicates contraindications.
Do this before you throw the bedding in the washing machine. You will forget about ruined duvets. It will be as soft as in a hotel
