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Sleep expert issues PSA as 41% of people admit to not washing their duvet
A survey from Happy Beds found that 41% of people don’t wash their duvet, which is particularly gross given the amount of sweat, dust, and dirt that builds up over time.
Despite the plethora of cleaning hacks available, washing your bedding is a monumental task when you consider the individual components like several pillowcases, a blanket or two, and the mattress itself. While you should be washing your duvet cover and pillowcases once a week, the duvet itself is another matter entirely.
You should wash your duvet three times a year
As the weather starts to cool and you switch over your tog, it’s about time to give your bedding a really good clean. But don’t stress just yet as Rex Isap, sleep expert and CEO at Happy Beds, has some guiding advice for you.
Rex’s public service announcement comes alongside the stark realization that 41% of people never wash their bedding. Roughly 8% of people have owned their duvet for over 10 years, meaning that’s a decade’s worth of grime and grit building up in your comforter.
“While you might wash your bedsheets weekly, comforters can become a breeding ground for bacteria. They are used every night and, subsequently, can hold dead skin, sweat, and body oils that can host thousands of dust mites and all other types of bacteria,” he said. If your comforter isnt washed regularly, that bacteria can build up over time, discoloring your comforter and even triggering allergies for some people.”
Because you should wash your duvet three times a year, Rex suggested scheduling it around the seasons to reduce the impact on your life. At the same time, you can then correctly store your bedding for the following year.
You should also replace your pillow every two years
Though you might already be switching up your pillowcases throughout the year, the pillows themselves should also receive some TLC, particularly if you’ve had them longer than the recommended two years like 35% of those surveyed.
Pillows last no more than two years and should be replaced every one to two years, or sooner if you feel a lack of support from your pillow. Dust mites and their droppings make up to around a third of the weight of pillows over two years old,” Rex said.
He added: One study also found fungi across pillows older than one and a half to two years, which pose particular problems for people with respiratory issues. This can also lead to further sleep disturbances if you suffer from the likes of sleep apnoea.
Another reason to ditch the nasty old pillow is the lack of support it will give your head, which could lead to everything from general aches to increased headaches and migraines.
“There is a way you can check, however, if your pillow is no longer up to standard. If you hold it up vertically with one arm, check to see if the pillow folds over while you hold it as thats an indicator that it no longer provides the support you need,” Rex suggested.
