Beds serve as the comfort zone of many people, either from physical or mental exhaustion. People spend a lot of time on their beds, with some even having their original beds from a decade ago.
Although that is not entirely bad, having unclean mattresses and dirty bedsheets could invite many unwanted organisms. Germs, bacteria, virus, and bugs will easily find their way into this big petri dish.
People may have logged in 30,000 hours of sleep for over ten years on their beds, which is a decade's worth of sweat, saliva, and dead skin cells on top of beds that have not been cleaned or replaced.
Microbiologist Manal Mohammed, a lecturer of Medical Microbiology at the University of Westminster, explains why beds are also considered a big petri dish.
Bugs on Beds
According to Bustle, an average bed contains between 100,000 to 10 million dust mites coming from the dead skin cells that humans shed. Pillows that are over two years old have 10% of their weight composed of both living and dead dust mites and their dust mite poop. They are also covered in fungi because they are mostly covered with drool.
Additionally, Mohammed wrote in The Conversation via Science Alert that bedbugs could be a danger that humans can get from their beds. Although bedbugs are only 5 millimeters in size, they can cause itchiness, and mental health effects, like anxiety and insomnia.
Bedbugs can be carried through soft surfaces, such as clothes or backpacks, by other family members. Washing bed sheets at high temperatures at around 131 degrees Fahrenheit (55 degrees Celsius) would kill dust mites, but bedbugs must be terminated by professionals.
Beds Play Host to Different Bacteria Species
Beds also harbor different species of bacteria. Studies on hospital beds showed that Staphylococcus bacteria were common. These are harmless bacteria but may also cause serious illness when they enter the bloodstream via a wound.
In pillowcases, S. aureus has been found. Some studies have shown that some strains of that bacteria are resistant to antibiotics. Meanwhile, Staphylococcus aureus is fairly contagious and could cause skin infections like pneumonia and acne.
E.Coli were also reported to be found on beds, as well s other gram-negative bacteria that are a serious health problem as they can cause human infections and are highly resistant to antibiotics.
Different microbial species could also survive on fabrics for different periods. Some could stay for up to two weeks, while fungi sometimes last for up to a month. Influenza viruses can also survive fabrics for eight to 12 hours, while some other types could live for up to 14 weeks.
Proper Bed Hygiene
How long should people wash their linens or bedsheets?
Since washing bedsheets every day is not always applicable, Mohammed recommends airing bedsheets every morning to dry out the moisture buildup from sleeping and to let it breathe.
Also, vacuuming the mattress and bed base every month will help remove allergens and dust. Getting a new bed will also help, especially if it is already over ten years old.
Moreover, all bedsheets should be washed at high temperatures and use enough soap to kill germs effectively. Make sure they are completely dried before using them.
Lastly, shower before bed and avoid taking naps or getting into bed when sweaty or when the makeup is still on. He also recommends avoiding lotions, creams, and oils before bed to keep linen clean. But most importantly, avoid eating or drinking on the bed and keep pets off the sheets.
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