Kerry Katona revealed how often she washes her bedding in her New! Magazine column, and admitted she only changes her sheets every two weeks. A sleep expert has weighed in after the Atomic Kitten singer told fans about her cleaning routine and has warned others against washing their sheets fortnightly.
The 42-year-old said that due to living in a big house with her five children, it is a 'hassle' to constantly do the washing, adding that it's not good for the environment or energy bills. This comes after the TV star Stacey Solomon sparked a huge debate after sharing how often she washes her sheets.
While speaking with hosts Fleur East and James Barr on Hits Radio, she told listeners she cleans her bedding "once a week", Leicestershire Live reports.
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Kerry said: "I live in a big house with a lot of kids, so it’s a hassle. Share the same bleeding towel, that’s what I say!” She wrote, adding: "It’s not good for the environment, or for your energy bills to keep washing them. It’s the same as bed sheets. I probably change my sheets every fortnight."
Before long, a major debate sparked online with varying reactions from people. On Twitter @Helen86069097 said: "Should definitely be changed once a week no matter what." Another wrote: "Twice a week at least is normal for me!” Meanwhile, @TheBearSBW put: "Does it matter? Is this really a debate? Just make sure it’s clean, and aired daily."
Commenting on what Kerry said, sleep expert Martin Seeley has revealed how often homeowners should be washing their bed sheets. The MattressNextDay CEO says: "Ideally, you should be washing your bed sheets every single week.
"Every night, the average person sweats at least 200ml of liquid, which naturally seeps through to your duvet. Further studies show that the average bedding harbours around 20,000 dust mites which can be triggering for those that suffer from allergies, therefore, causing a runny nose, congestion and more.
"Given that 80 per cent of dust mites are made up of your dead skin, which you naturally produce more of overnight, you should be washing your bedding at LEAST once a week."
How often do you wash your bedding? Let us know in the comments.
He added: “However, if you tend to get night sweats or get hot flushes, you should wash your bed sheets even more often. If your bedding feels damp or ‘clammy’ in the morning, you should strip them and wash them straight away.
“In addition, some medical conditions require that your bed is as clean as it can be with no bacteria or dust to trigger allergies. Suppose you suffer from a skin condition such as eczema or psoriasis, or a respiratory condition like asthma. In that case, it may be aggravated by dust mites or bacteria built up in a dirty bed. Therefore, you should wash your sheets as often as possible.”
How to properly clean your bedding
In terms of how homeowners should go about washing their sheets, Martin said: “You should wash your bedding at 60 degrees as this is the recommended temperature for killing germs. You will however need to combine this wash with a good detergent to protect your bedding and keep it extra soft.
“When possible, you should always air dry your sheets, too. Not only does using a tumble dryer make your bedding more wrinkly, but as one the most energy-intensive appliances in your home, the costliest dryer can cost Brits £175 per year.
“With this in mind, try hanging your sheets outside allowing the creases to naturally fall out. Plus the ultraviolet rays of the sunlight will remove any bacteria and bleach your sheets, which is extra beneficial for those with white sheets.
Why you should never make your bed first thing in the morning
Martin warns that although the first thing many people do after waking up is tidy their bed, he says we should avoid doing so. “You should let your mattress air for at least 30 minutes in the morning before making your bed." He said.
"This is because dust mites tend to thrive in warmer environments, therefore, letting your mattress air allows it to cool down, decreasing the number of dust mites it attracts.”Martin warns that although the first thing many people do after waking up is tidy their bed, he says we should avoid doing so. “You should let your mattress air for at least 30 minutes in the morning before making your bed." He said.
"This is because dust mites tend to thrive in warmer environments, therefore, letting your mattress air allows it to cool down, decreasing the number of dust mites it attracts.”
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