Pillowcases can be ‘dirtier than the toilet’ during summer, experts warn

The extreme summer heat has many people drenched in sweat outdoors, indoors and even in their sleep.

Experts revealed how a sweaty night’s sleep could harbor bacteria in your pillowcase, making it more gross than a certain bathroom fixture.

“Your pillowcases could be considered dirtier than the toilet. The good news is these bacteria are very likely to be from you to begin with and, therefore, aren’t harmful,” Dr. Gareth Nye, a program lead for medical science, confessed to Wales Online.

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The medical expert encourages people to wash their pillowcases and bedsheets once a week to avoid the buildup of germs and bacteria growth lingering on them — even if they are their own.

“In terms of bacteria, some studies have shown that there were 17,000 more bacteria colonies on a pillow case after a week when compared to a toilet seat,” Nye added.

Real Simple also reported that “after one week without washing, their pillowcases carried an average of 3 million colony forming units (CFU) of bacteria per square inch.”

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Most people can lose between 500 millimeters and 700 millimeters of sweat on an average night. However, at least 200 millimeters of the water gets soaked into the bedsheets or pajamas, according to Nye’s studies.

“The body is replacing skin cells leading to skin cell shedding. With people losing an average of 500 million skin cells a day (most of which come off at night), the body is ALSO producing other body secretions and then you have the added fluid loss through drool/saliva,” Nye shared.

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If ignored, other issues can arise, such as fungi or dust mites, which thrive off dead skin cells and can leave droppings that trigger allergies and asthma.

“One study found that a typical pillow has as many as 16 different species of fungus and literally millions of fungal spores,” he continued.

The Post previously reported how making your bed immediately after you get rise can increase bacteria growth.

“By being in a hurry to make your bed , you run the risk of trapping damp air under the covers, which helps the nasty creepy-crawlies to breed,” the anonymous domestic diva behind Mrs. D’s Cleaning Reviews said.

Experts admit that people should allow their bed to breathe during the summer season and change their sheets frequently.

Nye suggests avoiding polyester bedding and considering “cotton or linen sheets or put the duvet away and utilize sheets alone.”

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