The dark reality that is hidden under your sheets (and that you are not going to like it at all)

The bed is not only used to sleep. Sometimes it becomes a reading room, other times a nest of passion and many others an improvised kitchen. That is, we spend a lot of time in it, and not just at night. Therefore, it is essential to change the sheets at least once a week. Otherwise, we can contract numerous conditions, infections and viruses.

Dr. Lisa Ackerley, a Hygiene specialist, has warned 'The Daily Mail' of this. "Depending on how and what you use your bed for, and how clean you manage to keep it, it may be causing you significant bodily harm," she says. The expert has listed one by one all the risks that your body runs by living in a bed where hygiene is conspicuous by its absence.

1) Germ infection

Our body is full of bacteria and fungi that are good for us. But it is one thing to have them in our body and quite another for them to live in our bed. And, worst of all, that they reproduce with the humidity that accumulates as we sleep, coming from saliva, liquids that we secrete, from skin cells and, even, fecal matter.

Dust mites accumulate in the bedroom. It is believed that 10% of the weight of a two-year-old pillow is made up of dust mites and their droppings.

One of the bacteria that spreads easily is Staphylococcus aureus, which is normally found on the skin of humans and in the noses of healthy people. But if these bacteria enter the body from foreign material, they can cause skin and wound infections, urinary tract diseases, pneumonia, and bacteremia (bloodstream infection). If we do not wash our sheets periodically, we must take it for granted that we will develop one of these conditions.

2) Fungal Diseases

Athlete's foot is a skin disease caused by a fungus that normally attacks the feet, and which you will get if you don't wash your sheets. If you have this disease and you sleep with someone, you better get them out of bed as it is highly contagious. In addition, you must thoroughly wash all bedding, carpets, socks, slippers, shoes, towels and bathroom rugs... everything! To permanently eliminate the fungus you should wash everything at a high temperature, because if it is low you will need another wash.

Another fungal infection is that produced by Candida albicans, which can enter your bed from the body and would be eliminated through thorough and regular washing of bedding.

These are just a few, but you can get many more fungal diseases. Remember that your bed is a perfect breeding ground for these yeasts, especially if you do not maintain proper hygiene.

3) Viruses

If you have a cold or the flu, you should immediately wash your sheets and change the bedding as much as possible to avoid infecting your partner. Remember that the virus is spread both by sneezing and by mouth-to-mouth contact, and the dirty fabrics of your bed are a perfect habitat for it.

4) Dust Mite Allergies

Dust mites (Dermatophagoides) are microscopic organisms that live on dead skin and, while they don't cause disease, can cause allergy problems in some people. The matter is serious because it is estimated that humans shed around 10g of fur per day, providing an important food source for dust mites.

If the bacteria from the bedding get into your body, you can get skin and wound infections, urinary tract diseases, and pneumonia.

The allergies that we can contract from dust mites can cause us to develop diseases such as asthma and rhinitis (blocked nose, itching, discharge or continuous sneezing). Rhinitis, in turn, can cause sinusitis and ear problems.

Dust mites accumulate in areas like the bedroom, mattresses and even pillows. It is believed that 10% of the weight of a two-year-old pillow may be made up of mites and their droppings.

How to avoid all this

The ideal for proper hygiene is to wash bedding once a week with hot water, something essential to maintain a clean and healthy space, help prevent allergies and maintain good body hygiene. If you live in a city with a very hot climate, warns the expert, it is best to wash more frequently, because it increases your night perspiration.

It is also recommended to wash the sheets once a week at a temperature between 55 and 65 degrees, and then dry them with a hot water program to effectively kill bacteria. It is also advisable to dry them outdoors, since sunlight is very effective in eliminating microorganisms.

The pillows, meanwhile, need to be washed every three months. If we have never washed it, up to a third of its weight corresponds to mites, bacteria, dead skin and up to 16 species of fungi. You have to take the feather ones to the dry cleaner, but if they are synthetic you can safely put them in the washing machine, at 60 degrees you will kill all the bacteria. It is also very important to dry them well, otherwise mold will appear. Spin the pillows well (if your washing machine is not great, do it twice) and hang them in the sun.

Like the sheets and pillows, the mattress accumulates dust, bacteria and mold that can lead to infections and allergic reactions of all kinds. To thoroughly wash a mattress, you have to take it to the dry cleaner, but it is not necessary to get so involved. It is enough to vacuum the mattress and air it well every six months. If it has any stains, rub the surface with a cloth dampened with cold water and upholstery soap. Again, it is very important that you dry it well after the operation.