Exposed: The dirty secrets hiding in your sheets

IT'S a debate that has raged for years - but some men have been slow to get the message. Finally we answer the question. How often should you wash your sheets?

ACCORDING to a report by a UK mattress company, it takes bachelors a total of three months to change their bed linen. Yes. Three whole months.

Of the 2,004 people interviewed by Ergoflex, couples came out the cleanest, changing their sheets every two weeks, while single women weren't far behind changing theirs once every two and a half weeks.

But it gets worse. Mummy blogger Beth Macdonald said her husband was lucky to have washed his sheets in six months when they first met.

"There was a film of grease and scum over his sheets," she described.

@the_mattyoung @newscomauHQ once a fortnight. My ex never used to wash his sheets. Ever. I'd do it on the sly.

— LesleyJane (@Lischen13) October 31, 2013

While six months is probably a stretch, how often should you change your sheets?

First, some science.

House dust mites, which are commonly found in mattresses and pillows, collect in your bedsheets, because it's the easiest place to source dead skin cells.

These mites produce "faecal pellets" which are breathed in by humans and can become lodged in our throats.

The Ohio State University entomology department says the weight of a two-year-old pillow can be comprised of up to 10 per cent dust mites and their excrement.

Strike a pose. Imagine breathing in these little critters' faeces. Because we are.

You do the math: if a human spends eight hours a day in bed, and we shed one gram of skin and a pint of water in sweat when sleeping, that's quite a build up - and the perfect environment for those dirty mites to live and breed.

We shed up to 3.6 kilograms of skin each year and an average bed can contain anywhere from 100,000 to 2,000,000 dust mites.

@the_mattyoung @newscomauHQ I fear the replies may be scary here! Once a week at the longest. And towels are used for 3 days max.

— Amanda Elliott (@Gissy_Manda) October 30, 2013

"If you're someone who doesn't shampoo your hair that often, that greasy pillow is the most disgusting thing ever," said Macdonald.

So how can we avoid this bedtime nightmare? Is there a hard and fast rule?

Not necessarily, but experts like Macdonald and Jane Tepper, who invented a top sheet that clips underneath your quilt cover to protect your bedding, believe that two weeks is the norm.

"The old fashion way was to always wash your sheets once a week," said Tepper.

"Today you're lucky if you get it down to two weeks. It comes down to time, people are busy so they put it off."

@the_mattyoung @newscomauHQ every time they see some 'action'....so currently about every 2 years! :-)

— Chris Hitchen (@ChrisHitchen1) October 30, 2013

Best practice?

"I'm washing about once a fortnight," said Macdonald. The key is to have a spare set.

"Build up your linen cabinet so you can rotate and you don't have to wait for your washing to dry.

"For me the best way to wash them is to hang them on the line. Sunshine is such a great natural disinfectant and it also whitens your sheets.

"Fresh crunchy sheets off the line, there's nothing better."

On that note, better get washing.

@the_mattyoung as soon as I smell more dog than snuggly. I just can't say no to the li'l thing. (Every two weeks)

— Milli Hutchinson (@MilliHutchinson) October 31, 2013

SECRETS TO SHEET SUCCESS

1. Invest in a good mattress protector that you clean regularly. Mattress protectors prevent exposure to dust mites, and can repel any liquid.

2. Change your pillows every two years. Pillows can harbor mould, yeast and bacteria, asthma or bronchitis. In between wash your feather or fibre pillows twice a year and pillow protector often. If you do suffer from allergies, a latex or memory foam pillow will best suit you.

3. Change your sheets and PJs once a week to avoid build-up of sweat, dirt and dead skin cells.

4. Update your mattress every seven years and look for a mattress that has hypo allergenic properties.

5. Don't let your pets sleep in your bed. Fleas from dogs and cats can get stuck in your beds for weeks or even months.

6. Ban midnight snacks. Cake might taste delicious but those crumbs will entice creepy crawlies into the bedroom.

- courtesy sleepmaker.com.au

How often do you wash your sheets? Be honest! Continue the conversation via Twitter @the_mattyoung | @newscomauHQ