Pillows carry many germs or human respiratory pathogens. Respiratory pathogens are not only present on the cover but can seep through fabrics and seams and into the filling material. Common pathogens found on sleeping surfaces include bacteria, fungi, and adenoviruses.
Pillows and upholstery can carry bacteria, allergens and tiny insects such as dust mites, bed bugs and fleas.
They swabbed their bed for four weeks to see how much bacteria grew. The study revealed that after just one week of use, pillowcases were found to have 17 thousand times more bacteria than a toilet seat. While pillowcases that were left unwashed for four weeks had 39 times the bacteria of a pet's bowl.
You see, bacteria also love a good unwashed pillow case or sheet a lot. Another study found that unwashed pillow cases and sheets had up to 39 times more bacteria than pet-food bowls and several thousand times more bacteria than a toilet seat. Like Staphylococcus aureus, which in some rare cases can be deadly.
Tests were conducted on volunteers' sheets and pillowcases every week over four weeks of use. The results found a higher bacteria count on the bedding than on many of the grimiest places in your home. “Pillowcases washed a week ago have over 17,000 times the number of bacteria as a toilet seat!” the results shouted.
Sprinkle small amounts of baking soda on your pillows to remove moisture and smells. This ingredient effectively protects against bacteria and pathogens. Let it settle on your pillows for at least 30 to 60 minutes. Remove it using a vacuum cleaner with an upholstery attachment.
In the kitchen, your trusty sink sponge is health enemy number one. In fact, that sponge is likely the dirtiest item in your home, Gerba says. “It's probably home to hundreds of millions of bacteria,” he says. NSF agrees.
Why wash your pillows. While you sleep, your body sheds thousands of dead skin cells. They in turn attract dust mites, which, although harmless, do produce droppings that contain allergens. Letting these build up can trigger anything from asthma and rhinitis to itchy eyes.
If you or your partner has been ill, toss your sheets into the wash right away to kill any lingering germs. Most bacteria or viruses can survive on soft surfaces for minutes to hours.
In addition to regularly cleaning your sheets and comforter, you should also be caring for your pillows, mattress, and mattress topper. Pillows, especially, should be washed at least two to four times a year (say, every four months) to help them last longer.
It turns out, your pillows are ideal breeding grounds for dust mites and the flu. One British study found that after two years, approximately one-third of a pillow's weight contains dead skin, dust mites (which eat the dead skin), and droppings (poop from all those mites).
Washing is cleaner than wiping, says a Urologist:
"Think about using dry toilet paper. You're leaving a residue of stool and bacteria, whereas if you're using a bidet, you're washing that away," said Dr Phillip Buffington, the chief medical officer of The Urology Group in the US.
Without regular cleaning, dirty sheets can contribute to allergies, skin breakouts, asthma, and more. For your health and sleep quality, it's important to keep things clean – but how often should you wash your sheets?
Most experts recommend replacing pillows every 1 to 2 years. Doing so helps to ensure that you're using pillows that are supportive, clean, and free of allergens. It is also important to care for the pillows you use to ensure their longevity. Generally, you'll be able to tell when it's time to replace your pillows.
Experts recommend washing or changing sheets once a week.
To cut to the chase, Dr Browning says we should be changing our sheets once a week, or every two weeks at the most. Hygiene is a big factor, and one of the reasons is sweat. If you've ever tried sleeping in a heatwave, you'll know how difficult it can be.
Spray a light mist of vinegar over the pillow, then wipe it down with a mild dish soap solution and white cloth or a sponge. If spots remain, wipe them with rubbing alcohol on the tip of a cotton swab. Air out the affected pillow for a day or longer, if possible, in non-humid conditions to help remove lingering odors.
Pillows start to turn yellow due to a variety of factors, most of which involve the accumulation of moisture. Sweat, drool, wet hair, and even skincare products can contribute to yellow stains on a pillow. And these stains are more than just unsightly.
Is it okay to change your bed sheets once a month? While your specific sheet changing habits might vary a little bit depending on your lifestyle, your body, and your preferences, most experts agree you should change your sheets every week or every two weeks.
The kitchen holds the title for “germiest place in the house”, where bacterial contamination is far more common than in the bathroom, for example: Kitchen rags, towels and sponges are notorious for bacterial contamination.
Dish Sponges
The dish sponge is not only the filthiest item in your kitchen—it's the nastiest, grossest, most germ-infested thing in your entire home. A recent study found your average kitchen sponge contains roughly 10 million bacteria per square inch, making it 200,000 times dirtier than your toilet seat.