What hides under our sheets (and why they are not usually as clean as it seems)

There is nothing like getting into bed, wrapping on the blankets and lying on the pillow.But before you settle too much, maybe you would like to know that your bed is not very different from a Laboratory Petri plate.

The combination of sweat, saliva, dandruff, dead skin cells and even food particles make this environment optimal to grow a large number of germs such as bacteria, fungi, viruses and even small insects.

Here are just some of the things that hide under our sheets.

Bacteria

Our beds can house a vast variety of bacterial species.

For example, studies that analyzed hospital bedding found that staphylococcal bacteria were common.

These bacteria are typically harmless, but they can cause serious diseases if they penetrate the body through an open wound.And, certain types of staphylococcus can be more harmful than others.

Let's take the Staphylococcus aureus (a golden staphylococc.

This bacterium has not only been found in the covers of the pillows, the research also shows that some strains are resistant to antibiotics.

The analyzes also point out that as well as staphylococcus, and.Coli and other similar bacteria, known as gram -negative bacteria, are also common in hospitals.

Gram -negative bacteria have a serious health problem because they are highly resistant to antibiotics and can cause serious human infections, including urinary infections, pneumonia, diarrhea, meningitis and septicemia if they manage to enter the body.

Some strains of E.coli can also be very infectious and can cause urinary infections, traveler and pulmonony diarrhea.

That is why the proper hand washing after going to the bathroom is important to avoid the transfer of these bacteria to other parts of our home.

Of course hospitals are very different from our home environment.But that does not mean that it is not possible for these bacteria to get into our beds.

In fact, about a third of people carry the golden staphylococcus in their bodies.The bearers of the golden staphylococc.

Insects

Your skin releases about 500 million cells a day while sleeping in bed.These skin cells can attract and be devoured by microscopic mites.These mites and their feces can generate allergies and even asthma.

Bedbacks can also be a danger.Although these small insects (about 5 mm), which are known, do not transmit diseases, can cause red ranches that bite, while a variety of mental health effects, including anxiety, insomnia and allergies.

These insects can be introduced to houses on soft surfaces, such as clothes or backpacks, or by family members.

Washing and drying of bedding at high temperatures (about 55 ° C) kills mites, but bedbugs have to be professionally exterminated.

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Home germs

They can also take germs to the bed of contaminated home objects, such as clothes, towels, the toilet or bathtub, kitchen surfaces, or even pets.

Bathroom and kitchen towels are receptacles of several bacterial species, including the golden and e e staphylococcus.coli.

Bad washing can also spread those germs to other objects, including our sheets.

Even diseases such as gonorrhea can be transmitted by contaminated towels or bedding.

Different microbial species can survive in fabrics during various periods of time.The golden staphylococcus, for example, can survive for a week in cotton fabric and two weeks in plush.

And fungi species (such as Candida Albicans), which can cause Muguet (oral infection), urinary infections and genital candidiasis, are able to survive in fabrics up to a month.

Influenza viruses can also survive in fabrics and fabrics between eight and 12 hours.Some other types of viruses, such as vaccinia, can remain in wool or cotton up to 14 weeks.

Bed Hygiene

The correct and usual washing is key to ensuring that germs do not become a true health threat.But how often should you change the bedding?

As we cannot wash the sheets every day, something you can do is air the sheets every morning.

As humidity accumulates in them while sleeping, withdrawing theite (or blankets) so that the sheets breathe before making the bed makes them and the matt.

Mattresses can also be a great source of bacteria and microbes due to the accumulation of dead skin, food and fungi particles over the years.

As it is difficult to wash a matt.

Aspi the mattress and bed base every month also helps eliminate allergens and dust.Turn the mattress frequently or buy a new one if it is over 10 years.

It is recommended that you wash the bedding every week (or more frequently, if possible), especially if you spend a lot of bed, sleep naked or sweat a lot at night.

It is also advisable to change the covers of the pillows every two or three days.

All bedding must be washed in median to high temperatures (between 40 ºC and 60 ºC) to effectively kill germs.

Avoid filling the washing machine too much and use enough detergent, and make sure the bedding is completely dry before wearing.

Showering before going to sleep, avoiding naps, not sleeping sweaty, take off your makeup and refrain from using lotions, creams and oils before going to bed they can all help keep the bedding cleaner between washing between washes.

Avoid eating or drinking in bed, not letting pets rise and remove used socks can also help.

*Manal Mohammed is Professor of Medical Microbiology at the University of Westminster, the United Kingdom.This article was originally published in The Conversation, whose English version you can read by clicking here.

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