Believe it or not, a roll in the sheets actually can be hazardous to your health. Your sheets can contribute to certain health concerns and may not always be the healing place that you envision them to be. Think dust mites and allergens and reconsider this very common belief. Your allergies, asthma or lowered immune system can be a direct result of the bed you’re sleeping in, or rather, the sheets on which you sleep.
Sheets that are cleaned regularly pose less risk for undesirable health conditions. There are still several things you should be aware of when caring for your bed. Rest easy with these helpful hints.
How Your Sheets Might Make you Sick
Different people may be more or less susceptible to certain elements found in the typical bed. Whether a certain person reacts negatively to these elements really just depends on his or her current health, genetic makeup, and personal sensitivities. Consider the following potential health hazards that could be lurking in your bed, and make a plan to put these dangers to bed by following the cleaning instructions later in this article.
- Toxins: This might seem unlikely, but it’s a fact. Many fibers used to make cotton sheets retain toxic chemical residues used to treat the fibers in production. Cotton itself is often subjected to chemical treatments when it is being loomed and prepared for cutting. For anyone sensitive to such chemicals, prolonged contact between the skin and the affected sheets may cause undesirable symptoms and feelings of illness. Allergies and asthma are two conditions that are often aggravated by sleeping on cotton sheets. If you want to avoid any reaction to such chemicals or toxins, consider purchasing organic cotton sheets, which promise to be free of these contaminants. Organic sheets are made with raw materials cultivated without the use of chemicals or toxins and are dyed with natural colorants such as clay. Many holistic practitioners believe that organic cotton is good for the body’s chi (energy) and may offer healing properties for those who sleep on it, as well as reduce the potential for allergies and asthma.
- Dust mites: You’ve probably seen the scary photos of these microscopic organisms that live in your bed and feed on your dead skin cells like a Sunday brunch buffet. These creepy bugs live and reproduce in the bed where you sleep and can cause allergies as well as lowered immunity. Washing your bed sheets on a regular basis is the best preventive action you can take to controlling the existence of dust mites in your bed.
- Other gross stuff: While toxins and dust mites are likely causes of allergies, asthma or lowered immune system concerns, there are other disturbing finds between your sheets. These various substances can cause an increase in the incidence of dust mites and may increase the likelihood that you will become ill. Dead skin cells are a definite presence in the sheets and attract dust mites, so it’s important to keep the sheets clean to minimize these nasty little bugs. In addition, you are probably sleeping at any given time on sheets that contain oils from your skin, sweat, bodily fluids and (if you eat in bed) food crumbs. All of these substances are fairly benign when it comes to causing any serious health issues, but it is best to keep your sheets clean to avoid sleeping in a less-than-fresh bed.
Proper care and cleaning of your bedding can greatly improve the chances that you are not sleeping with allergens or bugs (well, at least not too many bugs). Regular care of your bed sheets, blankets, comforters and pillows can help make your bed the sanctuary it’s meant to be!
The following instructions will help you care for your bedding.
- Sheets: Wash sheets in hot, soapy water and dry them completely in the dryer. Don’t wash sheets with clothes and use medium to low settings to keep from damaging the fibers. Lemon juice added to the water (about a quarter of a cup) can help brighten sheets.
- Pillows: Pillows should be fluffed daily to knock away dead skin and dust. Hang them on a clothesline outside on a routine basis to allow them to air out and wash the pillow cases with your sheets.
- Blankets: You can vacuum your blankets in between washings to remove dirt, dust and dead skin cells. Be sure to wash regularly in cold water and put on a low cycle in the dryer, especially if they're made of wool.
- Bedspreads and comforters: Many bedspreads or comforters require a commercial-sized washer and dryer to clean them. You can take your bedspread or comforter to the dry cleaners or local laundromat, or if your washing machine can handle the size and weight of the wet material, you can wash it and hang it to dry. Bedspreads and comforters can be vacuumed between washings like blankets to remove dead skin, dirt and dust. Plan to clean your bedspread or comforter every two to three weeks to keep dust mites and dirt to a minimum.
- Quilts: If you have an older quilt or one that has sentimental value attached to it (such as something that was made by a friend or relative) you probably want to hand-wash it and hang it to dry to be sure not to damage it. If it contains materials such as velvet or silk, do not attempt to wash it at all. Use a vacuum to remove dirt and dust gently.