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Many household items harbour more bacteria than we realise — and your pillow might top the list. While washing pillows regularly may not be practical, their covers should be cleaned weekly. According to the National Sleep Foundation, unwashed pillowcases can collect up to 17,000 times more bacteria than a toilet seat in just one week. These germs thrive on sweat, oil, dust, and dead skin cells, leading to acne, eczema, respiratory infections, and allergies. Hidden Bacteria On Pillow Covers Dirty pillow covers can contain gram-negative rods, gram-positive rods, bacilli, and gram-positive cocci bacteria. While some of these are harmless, others, such as Staphylococcus and Streptococcus, can cause skin infections, respiratory illnesses, or worsen existing wounds. Dust, sweat, and oil mix with dead skin cells, creates a breeding ground for these bacteria on pillow covers. Dangers Of Ignoring Pillow Hygiene Moist pillows can also develop fungi, increasing the risk of infections like ringworm. Dust mites, mould, and pet hair accumulate on unwashed pillow covers, aggravating allergies and asthma. Symptoms include sneezing, watery eyes, difficulty breathing, and nasal congestion. Prolonged exposure may lead to chronic respiratory problems and poor sleep quality. How To Keep Your Bedding Clean? To avoid these issues, Wash pillow covers and bedsheets every week using hot water to destroy bacteria and fungi and Dry them in direct sunlight to eliminate mould and parasites. Maintaining clean bedding not only protects your skin and respiratory health but also promotes deeper, more restful sleep.
