A new study emphasizes the importance of washing your bedding weekly, revealing that unwashed pillowcases accumulate staggering amounts of bacteria—17,000 times more than toilet seats within just one week. If you're not washing your pillowcases and sheets regularly, a recent study might change your habits. Experts recommend laundering bedding at least once a week to maintain hygiene, and new research from mattress company Amerisleep highlights why this is so important.
The study revealed that unwashed bedding can harbor bacteria levels comparable to some of the dirtiest surfaces we encounter daily—like toilet seats and pet bowls. Amerisleep tested the buildup of bacteria on pillowcases and sheets over four weeks, with shocking results. After just one week, pillowcases were found to contain around 3 million colony-forming units (CFU) of bacteria per square inch, which is 17,000 times more than the amount found on a toilet seat.
Sheets held an average of 5 million CFUs, which is 25,000 times more than a bathroom doorknob. By week four, the numbers were even worse—pillowcases had almost 12 million CFUs, while sheets averaged close to 11 million CFUs, far exceeding the bacteria found on pet bowls and toothbrush holders. So, how dangerous is this bacteria? Some of it can pose risks, including gram-negative rods, which may cause antibiotic resistance and infections, and Bacilli, known for food poisoning.
However, not all bacteria found were harmful—some were relatively harm.