A sleep expert has revealed the best temperature to wash bedsheets (Image: Getty)
Many have been tweaking their laundry habits during the cost of living crisis by setting their washing machines to 30 degrees to save on energy bills.
However, when it comes to ensuring our bedsheets are bacteria-free, some still crank up the heat to 60 or even 90 degrees.
But a sleep expert has revealed that such extreme measures aren’t necessary.
Chris Tattersall from advises that 40 degrees is the optimal temperature for washing bedsheets, effectively killing bacteria and dust mites without draining your bank.
Chris explained: “Washing your bed sheets is a task that should be completed once a week, which can be extended to two weeks should you not sleep in your bed every evening.
A sleep expert suggested washing bedsheets once a week at 40 degrees (Image: Getty)
“This regularity is one that surprises many but is a result of bed sheets gathering large quantities of dead skin, sweat, body oils, dirt and most notably dust mites.
“Common throughout the home, dust mites thankfully do not bite, but they can irritate the skin and are a known cause of aggravating allergy symptoms.”
Chris, a sleep expert, has sounded the alarm for those with eczema and asthma, advising a particular cleaning routine to alleviate symptoms.
He declares: “Should you suffer from eczema or asthma, cleaning your sheets more regularly is the best way to alleviate symptoms.
“Moreover, in the summer months, you should clean your sheets more regularly due to the warmer weather which can cause excess sweating at night. When it comes to the washing, this should be done on a regular 40-degree wash.”
DON’T MISS [REPORT]
He also stressed the importance of checking other bedding components regularly, stating: “With duvets and mattress protectors, these have a lifespan of around five years, though this will be determined by the fibres used in your duvet.
“All of the dead skin and body oil, combined with your sweat as you sleep, is absorbed by your bedding, making it a breeding ground for dust mites by providing them with a food source.
“In turn, this can cause irritated eyes and a runny nose, and therefore disrupt your sleep meaning keeping your bedding clean is imperative.”
Additionally, he offered a telltale sign to recognise a worn-out duvet: “You can tell if a duvet has come to the end of its life when it feels limp and thin, a result of the filling being compressed which in turn means that the fibres are no longer able to trap air, and therefore maintain body temperature effectively.”