Every now and then I like to write a post about my cleaning obsession which I am actually very proud of 🙂 And what better occasion than spring cleaning time to talk about bedsheets and how oftern you should change them?

Some time ago I read an article regarding children’s bedsheets and I cannot help but think that sometimes we underestimate the amount of germs that a bedsheet can contain.

Before going ahead I’d like to stress that I was not paid to write this article and as odd as it sounds, I actually like giving out information to keep your house as germ free as possible (yeah it’s an odd liking).

In my previous article I talked about the importance to make sure that your clothes and your sheets are not only cleaned but disinfected too. This time I’d like to talk in particular about the real possibility that your bed could make you sick…yep!

New research has found up to 10 million dust mites live and feed in just one bed! Whilst dust mites themselves are harmless, their faeces and body fragments can trigger allergic reactions prompting our body to release histamines to attack the allergen. This can cause eczema and hay fever, and estimates suggest dust mites may be a factor in up to 80 percent of asthmatics.

Items that comes into direct contact with the body, such as bed linen, are most likely to be contaminated with pathogens and after just one night of use, your bed sheets can accumulate a horrifying array of dead skin, bacteria, fungus, mites, and even faeces EEEEWWWWW

We spend around a third of our daily routine in bed so making sure that it is hygienically clean is a must if we want to prevent the spread of harmful bacteria. So what exactly should we do?

Experts suggest that:

– we’d need to change our bedsheets at least once a week

– we should wash our bed linen separately from the rest of the laundry

– if washing at lower temperature we should make sure to use a disinfectant (I use Dettol antibacterial) which is actually proven to kill 99.9% of bacteria

– Decrease the temperature and humidity levels in your bedroom to reduce the number of dust mites

· Regularly vacuum all soft furnishings, including your mattress, within the bedroom

Out of these five valid points I’m guilty for number 1 and 5. Honestly, sometimes the time goes so fast that I think I changed the sheet only the week before but actually 2 weeks have gone by. I’m better when it comes to the kids bedsheets as I probably feel more guilty thinking that they could get germs from their own bed. Somehow I like to think that by providing added protection while they sleep I take better care of them especially knowing that they daily get enough germs from the nursery!!

Last week it was finally a bit warmer so I got the opportunity to wash our pillows and let them dry outside.  I just added a bit of Dettol antibacterial to the washing machine to make sure they were properly disinfected. I usually buy the big bottle in Costco so it lasts longer. At the moment I’m actually using the antibacterial for all my laundry and the idea that I can wash at lower temperature but still disinfecting them gives me a piece of mind especially when i see my kids coming home every day either with the a cold, a cough or a runny nose…

So just remember not because it smells good and it is stains free,  it means that it is actually hygienically clean.