Publications
Partners
- Your pillowcase could contain 17 000 times more bacteria than a toilet seat, according to a new study.
- Conducted by Amerisleep, the study asked volunteers to swab their bedding over a period of four weeks without washing them.
- The most common bacteria found were gram-negative rods, which commonly cause pneumonia and other infections.
Although you may wash it often, your pillowcase is not as clean as you think. This is according to a study conducted by Amerisleep.
Researchers conducted the study with a group of volunteers who were asked to swab their bedding over a period of four weeks without washing them.
How clean is your pillowcase?
According to the study, after just one week of use, pillowcases and sheets contain between three and five million colony-forming units (CFU) of bacteria per square inch. To put that in perspective, a pillowcase washed a week ago reportedly contains 17 000 times more bacteria than a toilet seat.
Four types of bacteria were commonly found on the bedding, and the most common kind was gram-negative rods. "These bacteria commonly cause pneumonia and other kinds of infections," the study explains. Bacilli, bacteria that usually cause food poisoning, were found on the bedding, too.
And in case the toilet seat stat didn't gross you out enough, the team also compared dirty pillowcases to other germ-infested objects.
READ MORE | It might be convenient, but buying pre-cut fruits and veggies could be risky business - here's why
- A pillowcase washed two weeks ago has 332 times more bacteria than a tap handle.
- A pillowcase washed three weeks ago has 405 times more bacteria than a kitchen sink.
- And a pillow washed 4 weeks ago has 39 times more bacteria than a pet bowl.
What about your sheets?
- A sheet washed one week ago contains 24 631 times more bacteria than a bathroom doorknob.
- A sheet washed two weeks ago has 302 times more bacteria than a pet toy.
- A sheet washed three weeks ago has 280 times more bacteria than a coffee reservoir.
- And a sheet washed four weeks back has 5.4 times more bacteria than a toothbrush holder.
READ MORE | How do I improve my immunity? Expert shares tips on what to do - and what to avoid
So how do you keep your pillowcases clean?
"Some people may want to wash their pillowcases that they sleep on more frequently if they sweat while sleeping, have oily hair or skin, or go to bed with makeup on," Mary Gagliardi, Clorox's in-house scientist and cleaning expert, told Martha Stewart.
"Eight hours times seven days equals 56 hours of use - even if you don't sweat or have oily hair, that's enough 'wear' to necessitate washing them with the rest of the sheets."
Mary adds that it's also important to use the proper detergent and wash your pillowcases on the right cycle in your washing machine.
"People often reach out for advice on pillowcases that just won't get clean, and it turns out they are washing in cold water and not using the appropriate bleach along with their detergent," she tells the publication.
"Pillowcases need to be cleaned very thoroughly, so using hot water, a heavy-duty cycle for longer agitation, a good detergent with enzymes, and the appropriate bleach for the fabric and colour will make a huge difference."
