How often should I wash bed sheets? What happens if you don't

If you don't wash your bedding every week, it could reportedly lead to acne breakouts and a build-up of dead skin and dust mites.

Sweat and oils accumulate and can clog our pores, leading to acne breakouts across our body and face.

The advice comes from a team of mattress experts who share the five things that can happen when we don't wash our bedding often enough.

The mattress experts from WinstonsBeds have shared the unpleasant truths after a YouGov poll reported that only 28% of Britons change their bedding frequently.

Rebecca Swain, mattress expert from WinstonsBeds said: “If you’re getting the optimum eight hours of sleep a night, that means you’re in your bed for a total of 56 hours in just one week.

“Spending all of this time in the bed leads to a build-up of sweat, dead skin cells and other bacteria which is why it’s important to wash your bedding once a week if possible.

“It’s shocking to hear how little people wash their sheets which is why we’ve shared five unpleasant things that can happen if you sleep in the same bedding for too long.

“Not only can you ruin your bed but this may also make you more prone to breakouts and acne over your body as well as triggering your allergies.”

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5 things that happen when you don’t wash your bedding

In case you need some incentive to get a wash on, here are five reasons you should.

Buildup of dead skin cells and dust mites

When you don’t wash your bedding often, dead skin cells from your body begin to build up on the sheets.

Dust mites feed off of dead skin cells making this the perfect environment for them to thrive in.

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Breakouts

The accumulation of skin, sweat, and oils are a breeding ground for bacteria which can clog the pores on your body and face leading to more breakouts and acne.

This can also irritate skin conditions like eczema.

Triggers Allergies

Dust mites and other bacteria can trigger those with allergies and asthma.

Particularly sensitive people may find that breathing in these allergens leads to coughing and congestion the next day.

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You’ll ruin your bed sheets

Allowing stains from sweat and saliva to build up on your bed sheets will ruin them over time, leading to tough yellow stains which can be hard to remove.

Damaged mattress

Leaving stains to settle on bed sheets can also stain your mattress.

Not allowing the mattress to breathe and air out can trap bad odours and bacteria, not only will this cause your mattress to deteriorate quicker but it’s also extremely unhygienic.