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It’s hard to hear, but experts recommend washing your bed sheets weekly, as advised by a scientist in an interview with Business Insider.
The longer you delay washing, the more likely your bed becomes a "botanical park" for bacteria, according to microbiologist Philip Tierno of New York University. Your pillows alone can host up to 16 different types of fungus—and that’s not even counting the ones that settle in between your sheets.
Naturally, sharing your bed with microscopic creatures is unsettling for multiple reasons, the primary one being that it raises your chances of getting sick. Over time, bacteria from sweat, saliva, and other unmentionable sources mix with allergens like pollen, dust, and dust mites. As you spend about a third of your life in bed, these microbes can provoke allergic reactions such as sneezing or a runny nose—even if you typically don’t have allergies.
"If you touched dog poo on the street, you'd rush to wash your hands," Tierno explained to Business Insider. "Think of that as similar to your bedding. If you could see what’s there—but you obviously can't—you’d eventually ask yourself, 'Do I really want to sleep in that?'"
Now that you’ll be washing your sheets more often, don’t forget to check out our guide on how frequently you should clean other household items and clothing, from dish towels to jeans. You might want to grab some extra laundry detergent first.
