A survey by Hammond Furniture has found that a third of Britons wash their bedding only once a year. And it’s no surprise many Brits put off this tedious task.
However, according to researchers, this can be the cause of several deadly conditions, including pneumonia, appendicitis and gonorrhoea, a sexually transmitted infection caused by bacteria.
Studies have shown that not washing your bed sheets frequently and not putting clean linen on your bed can become a health hazard as mattresses can become a source of pathogens, the Mirror reports.
Sleep experts at Bed Kingdom have reportedly stated that during sleep every night, the body emits oils and fluids along with thousands of dead skin cells which attract dust mites.
These dust mites expel faecal matter which is linked to asthma, allergy, rhinitis and eczema flare-ups.
“Changing bed sheets daily is recommended for people who are ill,” Bed Kingdom explains.
They add that some people can experience severe allergic reactions to the faecal matter and dead bodies of dust mites.
“Symptoms may include coughing, sneezing, skin rashes, itchy eyes, and a runny nose. Dust mites are also a very common trigger for asthma sufferers.
“It is therefore beneficial to your comfort and health if bedding is washed more frequently.
There are reportedly more bacterial organisms in our bodies than our own cells, Cleveland Clinic dermatologist Alok Via, said.
He states, “When you let the dead skin cells rest in your sheets, those bacteria can thrive. If they get back onto your skin it can lead to folliculitis,” said the expert.
Folliculitis is a skin condition that occurs when the hair follicles become inflamed.
It has also been proven that soiled linen causes the transmission of infections.
Amongst the more dangerous bacteria is staphylococcus aureus. It is considered harmful because it is more contagious than other kinds of bacteria.
It is also reportedly closely linked with severe health conditions like pneumonia, which causes the air sacs in the lungs to be inflamed.
People also face the risk of appendicitis when parasites or bacteria enter the digestive tract.
According to Johns Hopkins Medicine this may occur when the tube that joins the large intestine and appendix is either trapped or blocked by stool.
If at all the appendix ruptures, it can lead to "serious and deadly infections."
Keeping all these health factors in mind, experts at Bed Kingdom advise washing your bedding at least once a week to avoid bed sheets from becoming a vehicle of transmission.
A spokesperson for the Bed Kingdom is quoted as saying, “Washing bedding can be seen as a hassle and chore for many of us.
“As with any chore, it can be easy to procrastinate and leave it to the last minute, but the potential effects on your health are a great reason to dedicate the time.
“Sticking to a schedule of stripping the bed in the morning is useful as you will be rewarded with clean sheets the next time you get into bed.
“If you can dry your sheets in the sunlight, this will save you money on tumble dryer costs as well as killing germs further.”
