What Can Happen If You Don’t Wash Your Sheets

We spend most of our lifetime (about one-third of it) sleeping. And as we sleep in our beds, residual materials, such as oil, skin cells, and dirt, can be left in our sheets, accumulating over time.

Here at Bright Side, we all love to have a good night’s sleep in clean bed sheets. But do you know what happens if you leave them unwashed? To find out what built-up dirt can do to you, keep on reading.

Acne breakouts and irritated skin

Have you noticed breakouts on your skin? Chances are, your pillowcase is dirty! Everyday use can cause dead skin, oil, and bacteria to build up and cause clogged pores, leading to acne. Your skin could also end up getting red, due to bacteria present in Demodex mites, which are bugs present in sheets and pillows.

If your skin is looking “unhappy,” try changing your pillowcase every 2 to 3 days and let us know what happens.

Bad allergies from dust mites

Do you sneeze and get itchy eyes during the night? You may be suffering from allergies! Causes of allergies can range from pollen and dust to actual dust mites living in your bedsheets. These dust mites, while microscopic, could cause serious cases of allergies and asthma.

To avoid these allergens, make sure to wash your sheets with hot water. You could even purchase breathable and hypoallergenic bedding to avoid suffering from these symptoms.

Harmful effects of sleeping with your pets

Sleeping with your pets might be cute and comfortable, but there are some risks involved that you should be aware of. Because some pets carry ticks, it’s important to get rid of these bugs since they can cause Lyme disease. Pet fur could also attract dust mites to live in your bedding.

If you decide to keep your 4-legged friends on your bed, be sure to wash your sheets regularly and always maintain their health and hygiene.

An itchy scalp

Warm and moist pillow covers can be a great home for fungi known as dermatophytes. These fungi cause itchy bald spots on the scalp, otherwise known as ringworm of the scalp. While you can easily seek treatment from medical professionals, prevention is key. To reduce the chances of having an irritating sensation on your head, make sure to wash your pillows and covers.

Pink eye reinfection

If you’ve had conjunctivitis, also known as pink eye, your sheets are also compromised. This is due to bacteria present in the bedding, especially pillowcases. If you or someone who shares a bed with you has recently had a conjunctivitis episode, wash your sheets and bedding with hot water to reduce the chances of re-infection.

Now that you know what happens if you don’t wash your bedsheets, you may be asking yourself how often you need to do it. To kill germs, use hot water to wash your sheets and bedding. Do this at least once a week and you should be good to go! What about you? How often do you wash your bedsheets?

Let us know in the comments!