Pillowcases Harbor 17,000 Times The Bacteria On A Toilet Seat After One Week, Study Shows

You may want to wash those pillowcases more often, as they can hold up to 17 thousand times the bacteria as a toilet seat.

A new study by Amerisleep has revealed the gross findings. The mattress company came to the conclusion by examining the growth of bacteria on slept-in, unclean bedding over the course of four weeks. The results were extremely disturbing. After a single week, bedding contains up to five million colony-forming units of bacteria per square inch. When it comes down to it, that means that the majority of pillowcases that were laundered just one week ago have roughly 17,000 times as much bacteria as a toilet seat. Sheets that went even longer than a week without being washed attracted up to 25,000 times the bacteria seen on a bathroom doorknob. In addition to being absolutely disgusting, these germs can be hazardous.

Sweat, makeup, and dead skin are among the factors that make the bacteria build up on the bedding. With so many germs swarming around, this can lead to serious illnesses, including pneumonia, appendicitis, and gonorrhea. Many scientists suggest washing bedding once weekly. However, findings such as these suggest that may not be enough to keep you safe.

“It is important to know that you should be taking care of the bacteria on your bed. Sleep hygiene overall is very important,” reiterated sleep expert Dr. Juliet Bulnes-Newton.

Another factor that Amerisleep pointed out was the longevity of each pillow. The company suggests replacing them every one to two years to prevent the harvesting of bacteria.