12/29/2021

Caring for Bedsheets

Mattress Advisor, in an online article from May 2021, shared results of a survey from over 1,000 people about their bed-cleaning habits.  I found the results both disturbing and disgusting.  First, the average person changes their sheets approximately every 24 days.  Second, survey participants stated it could take up to 35 days before they considered their unwashed sheets gross.  After reading that second statistic, I stopped reading the article; I couldn’t stomach the thought of learning more.

A Cleaner World has shared this information before, but New York University microbiologist Philip Tierno also says the same thing, “sheets should be washed once a week.”  Here’s why:

• You lose between 30,000 and 40,000 dead skin cells every hour, so in 8 hours of sleep, you’ll deposit 240,000 dead skin cells onto you sheets.  That’s 1.6 million in a week’s time.
• Dust mites, microscopic bugs, can reproduce at unbelievable rates and can live exclusively off dead skin cells, so they live, die, and reproduce in your bedsheets.
• Your body produces an oily substance called Sebum to help lubricate your skin.  If you produce an abundance of Sebum, it can cause body oil stains on your sheets.  
• Did you know that most people leave around 26 gallons of sweat on their sheets each year?  That warm, moist environment is prime breeding ground for all kinds of fungus and microbes.  
• Do you shower every night before going to bed?  If not, you’re also carrying in dust and dirt from the day’s activities.

The buildup of all that stuff over 7 days is enough to gross me out, but can you image sleeping in it for 24 to 35 days?

Caring for your Bedsheets

1. Check and follow the manufacturer’s directions, especially if they have delicate trim or embellishments.
2. Wash them separately from other items to prevent damage from zippers and fasteners and to help reduce pilling and tangled garments.
3. Avoid overloading your washing machine; sheets need plenty of room to move so they get all the dirt removed and detergent rinsed out.
4. Pre-treat any stains before washing and be sure to check that stains have been removed before placing your sheets in the dryer.     
5. Dry sheets completely, remove and fold as soon as the cycle is complete.  Be certain sheets are completely dry before storing them away to help avoid mildew growth.

Of course, you can always trust A Cleaner World to provide the best care for your all your bedding, especially your sheets.  We have the equipment, spotting agents to remove tough stains, detergents, and most of all the experience to remove all that stuff from your bedsheets.