Emma Miller
Bedding is the closest thing to your body when you sleep. Dermatologists believe that too few changes in duvet covers, sheets, and pillowcases can cause serious health problems.
How Often Should Bed Linens Be Changed?
Dermatologists advise laying clean linen every 7-10 days, while many textile manufacturers, on the contrary, believe that the less often you wash the bedding, the longer it will remain attractive in appearance and pleasant to the touch.
What happens if you don’t change your bedding for a month or longer:
- particles of keratinized skin cells accumulate in the linen, attracting bed bugs;
- A lot of sweat from sleeping will stay on the sheets and cause dampness;
- Dust and dirt are deposited on the bedding, which can cause breathing problems.
Moreover, the human body secretes a certain secret that remains in the fibers of the bed linen. If you regularly sleep on such a fabric, there is no need to talk about hygiene issues – there will be an unpleasant smell.
When to change the bedding – individual indicators
Before adhering to strict rules, study the situation in the first person. Everyone sleeps and sweats differently, so you should use common sense to determine the frequency of laundry. If your body excretes too much secretion, there are animals in the house, or the bed gets dirty quickly for other reasons, you should change your bedding at least once a week.
The same goes for situations where people with allergies live in the house. If you see that in 7 days the linen is not particularly dirty, still smells good, and pleases you tactilely – you can change it at 2-3 weeks.
How often do you need to wash and change a pillowcase?
The issue with the pillowcase is a little different than with the bed linen – it is recommended by doctors to change it once every two days. The reason is that the skin particles, makeup residue, and sweat that remain on the surface of the pillow over two nights continue to come into contact with your body. They can cause rashes, skin irritations, breathing problems, and even insomnia. In addition, the moisture and specific smell attract a variety of insects, from gnats to bedbugs.
How often should you change your bedding for a patient – recommendations
Hospital staff should consider the condition of the patient before changing the bedding. If the patient can move around by himself, the bed should be changed every 7 days. The same applies to seriously ill patients – in such cases, the linen should be changed after showering or also once a week. Bedridden patients need to change pillowcases, duvet covers, and sheets once every two days and when the bedding is soiled.
How often to change bedding for children – tips
Children’s bedding should always be made of hypoallergenic materials, so as not to harm the health of the child. You can change the linen once a week or as the baby gets it dirty. The same applies to changing the bedding in kindergartens – make sure that the linen is changed at least once every 7 days, and that pillows and blankets are always aired outdoors.
