Ever find yourself sneezing, coughing, or dealing with itchy eyes at home for no apparent reason? Research has shown that your bed sheets, pillowcases, and duvets might be the culprits. They can become breeding grounds for bacteria and mites, which can trigger allergies. So how should you wash your bed sheets to sterilize and remove mites effectively? Here are some tips from microbiologist Professor Wang Shaohong.
Why do bed sheets and pillows have odors?
After a workout, the clothes you toss into the laundry basket can start to smell pretty quickly. This happens because your body’s sweat and skin flakes become food for microorganisms, leading to their growth and the resulting odors. The same goes for your bed sheets and other bedding. Overnight, your sebum, skin flakes, sweat, and even saliva can fall onto your bed sheets and pillowcases, creating a perfect environment for bacteria and mites to thrive.
Humidity is another crucial factor. The right level of humidity, combined with a certain temperature, provides an ideal condition for bacteria and dust mites to grow.
How many bacteria can accumulate on unwashed bed sheets?
If you don’t wash your bed sheets regularly, bacteria will increase over time. A study by Amerisleep shows the following bacteria counts and comparisons:
- One week: Bed sheets not washed for one week have over 5 million bacteria, 24,631 times more than those on a bathroom doorknob.
- Two weeks: Bed sheets not washed for two weeks have over 5.73 million bacteria, 302 times more than the bacteria on pet toys.
- Three weeks: Bed sheets not washed for three weeks have over 9.24 million bacteria, 280 times more than those in a coffee machine’s water reservoir.
- Four weeks: Bed sheets not washed for four weeks have over 11.32 million bacteria, 5.4 times more than those on a toothbrush holder.
Four methods to sterilize and remove mites and bacteria from bed sheets
1. Use water and detergent
Research indicates that washing bed sheets and other bedding with plain water and detergent in a washing machine can effectively remove more than half of the dust mites. One-third of the allergens can also be eliminated.
2. Heat water above 50°C
Dust mites cannot withstand temperatures above 50°C. Washing with hot water or using a dryer to increase the temperature can effectively remove them.
3. Add essential oils
Even if the mites are killed, their bodies or feces can trigger allergic symptoms. Therefore, using essential oils can help prevent mites and other microorganisms. However, adding essential oils only repels bacteria and does not directly kill them. So the best way to clean pillowcases, bed sheets, and other bedding is to wash them frequently.
4. Keep dry
Thoroughly dry the washed bed sheets and other bedding because humidity is an important growth factor for mites and bacteria. Dust mites find it difficult to survive in environments with humidity below 50 percent and cannot continue to reproduce. Therefore, maintaining indoor humidity below 50 percent effectively inhibits bacteria and mites.
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