Many people wash their bed sheets once a week because this is the commonly recommended routine.
However, a report by Amerisleep, cited by Iltalehti, suggests that bacteria may build up more quickly than expected.
The study examined how bacteria grew in bed sheets that were used for four weeks without being washed.
The results showed a significant increase after just the first week.
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Bacteria grow quickly
According to the report, a pillowcase could contain up to 17,000 times more bacteria than the average toilet seat after just one week.
The bed sheets contained even more bacteria. After one week, researchers found nearly 25,000 times more bacteria than on the average bathroom door handle.
The report also identified bacteria associated with pneumonia-like infections and food poisoning.
The key finding
The results show that bacteria can accumulate quickly, even if the bed sheets have been washed recently.
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This does not necessarily mean that the bed sheets are harmful to health, but it does demonstrate that bacteria multiply rapidly, according to Amerisleep's report.
The common recommendation to wash bed sheets once a week is probably not enough if the goal is to reduce the amount of bacteria in the bed.
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