Not washing your sheets can make you sick — ‘cleanliness calculator’ reveals if your bed is a danger zone

If you give a sheet about your health — wash your bedding more often.

A study conducted by bedding retailer Pizuna last year found that 45% of single men only wash their bedding once every four months. Single women fared a bit better by washing their bedding around every two weeks and couples washed their bedding around once a month.

Not only is not washing bedding gross, but it’s actually unhealthy, according to experts from Happy Beds.

Your immune system could be in a pillow fight with harmful bacteria and dust mites, increasing your risk of infection, allergies and skin irritation.

“Sorry to shatter the illusion that your bed is this glorious cozy, fresh place, but your bedding is often filled with sweat, dead skin and dust mites,” said Happy Beds CEO Rex Isap.

“In case you don’t believe us, a study in 2022 saw volunteers swabbing their sheets over four weeks. In just four weeks, a pillowcase was found to have 39 times as much bacteria as a pet bowl, whilst sheets have 5.4 times more bacteria than a toothbrush holder. If that doesn’t make your skin crawl, then we don’t know what will!” he added.

Another report from Amerisleep found that pillowcases contain more bacteria than a toilet seat.

Happy Beds created a cleanliness calculator that asks users 10 questions to determine whether their bed is a danger zone or clean and comfy like a fluffy cloud.

It asks questions about how often you wash your duvet cover, how long you’ve owned a comforter and how long you’ve owned your pillow. It then tells you what needs to be done in order to give you the ideal environment for sleep and health.

According to the experts, duvet covers, sheets and pillowcases should be washed once every two weeks — if you shower before bed or wear pajamas. If you aren’t washing yourself before bed or sleep nude, they recommend cleaning your bedding more frequently.

Your comforter inside of your duvet should be washed twice a year because it accumulates bacteria and your dead skin. You should wash it even more if you sweat profusely, have a pet or spill something on your bed.

They also recommend you wash your bedding more often if you suffer from allergies.

The pros said that a third of the weight of your pillow is dead skin, dust mites and bugs, so you should wash your pillow at least once every three months in a hot wash.

The experts also recommend you use a mattress protector and wash it every two months.

There are other precautions people can take to keep their bed in a clean place. Researchers are urging people to stop wearing dirty socks to bed after realizing they have the same bacteria found in cockroaches and their poop.