READ THIS NEXT: 40 Percent of People Only Wash This Clothing Item Once a Year, Survey Says. A recent survey of 2,250 adults in the U.K. found that nearly half of single men (45 percent) waited up to four months to wash their bedsheets. Even more concerning, 12 percent said that they only wash them “when they remember,” Metro reported, which could mean the sheets are unwashed for longer periods of time. Comparably, nearly 62 percent of single women said they change their sheets every two weeks, while only 25 percent of single men said they wash at the same rate. Being in a relationship appeared to improve this frequency, as 35 percent of couples reported tossing their sheets in the wash every three weeks. If you’re cringing, you might also be surprised to learn why those who were surveyed said they don’t load their sheets in the washing machine more often. According to BBC News, the top reasons people cited were forgetting (67 percent), not being bothered (35 percent), and not having other clean bedding to use (22 percent). Some respondents had other reasons, with 18 percent saying they shower at night and therefore don’t get their sheets dirty.ae0fcc31ae342fd3a1346ebb1f342fcb
RELATED: For more up-to-date information, sign up for our daily newsletter. There are basic hygiene reasons to keep your sheets clean, sleep expert Lindsay Browning, DPhil, MSc, told BBC News. Sweat buildup can become clogged in your sheets and smell, and your body also gets rid of dead skin cells while you sleep, which can then lead to unwelcome pests like mites. Sweating is less of a concern during the cooler months, but you could still be sullying your sheets with potentially dirty hands, the air you breathe from your mouth, or allergens like pollen, Browning added. “It’s really important to wash your sheets regularly because you’ll get those allergens in the bed, which will cause you to have that congestion,” she said. Overall, she recommends keeping your sheets clean and making your room a safe place for sleep. By creating a “sanctuary,” you allow yourself to feel more relaxed and welcome when you head to bed—which can be particularly important for those with insomnia. According to Browning, “if your sheets are not washed, and they look dirty, they smell, it’s adding to that sensation that your bed isn’t somewhere that you want to be.” According to the Independent, experts at Pizuna Linens, the bedding retailer that conducted the survey, said that sheets, bed linens, and pillowcases should be washed once a week. Any blankets or duvets (which go inside a duvet cover) should be scheduled for a wash every two to three months, and pillows can go a bit longer, washed every four to six months. “At current times, when sleep health awareness is on the rise and more people would love to get into bed with clean, fresh sheets, it’s surprising that many people, whether they’re single or in a relationship, may leave it a number of weeks before changing their bedding—longer than the recommended,” Aureen Chinchpure, brand communications manager at Pizuna, told the Independent. However, not everyone wants to follow these recommendations, Metro reported, as nearly 41 percent of respondents said they did not believe these guidelines were true. Whichever stance you’re taking, if it’s been a while since your sheets have seen the inside of your washer and dryer, consider reuniting them sooner rather than later. READ THIS NEXT: The One Thing You Should Never Put in Your Washing Machine, Experts Warn.
