There is nothing quite like getting into a bed with some freshly-cleaned sheets. But while debate rages on over how often you should clean your bedding - with once a week the most common answer - your pillowcases may need to be washed sooner.
Your pillow holds several days' worth of drool, sweat and germs, The Mirror reports. A dirty pillowcase could also be the cause of breakouts and other skin problems.
Sam Cinkir, CEO of leading skin and hair clinic Este Medical Group explained: "As gross as it sounds, our pillowcases are a lot dirtier than we might think and are often full of dead skin, oils, sweat, sebum and even tiny bugs such as dust mites.
"This in turn can clog up and inflame the hair follicles on our face, which then bulge outward as the body tries to heal itself. To avoid this cross-contamination, we should all be changing our pillowcases at least once a week, although people with oily skin may need to do it every four days."
Of course, if you are struggling with blemishes on your skin, there might be other factors at play, but it's worth thinking about the all too common problem. Or as the expert put it: "Blemishes can be down to a range of factors, but there's no doubt that our environment can play a big part in causing breakouts."
As for your sheets, there's lots of conflicting opinions out there. But the Bedding experts at Bed Kingdom have shared their best recommendation - plus the reason behind their professional opinion. "Once a week is a healthy balance between washing sheets regularly enough to avoid the build-up of bacteria, germs, and dirt, without being so often that it becomes hard to fit into your routine."
The pro added: "We lose a lot of fluid and body oils each night through sweating and respiration. We shed dead skin cells, and dirt rubs off our bodies as we toss and turn. These can build up over a week, making your bed sheets dirty and smelly. This can attract bacteria and fungi, which can cause various skin and health conditions."
