You just finished what seems like the longest work day of your life with endless meetings and tons of deadlines and you are (finally) home! All you want is to jump and cosy up in your sheets. But before you think that your bed is a big, fluffy slice of heaven, know this: your bed is a cesspool of dead skin cells, mites, bacteria and fungi that could be responsible for a constellation of health conditions.  Grossed out? Here's what happens when you don't wash your sheets often.

Dust Mites Trigger Asthma and Allergies

Dust mites are naturally occurring, microscopic bugs that feed off of our dead skin flakes. While they don’t bite like the bed bugs, their remains and waste products can trigger major allergy and asthma symptoms. Even if you do not have allergies, the mites can wake you up with red eyes and stuffy nose.

Bacteria Causes Flu

Your bedsheet can also harbour tons of bacteria that could also cause flu. So if you catch flu the next time, blame your sheets instead of blaming the weather. Flesh Eating Bacteria Invade Waters! Tips to Protect Yourself From Becoming Vibrio Food. 

The Virus Makes Your Family Sick

You surely cannot see the virus from last week's cold hiding in your bed. If you do not change your sheets after you start feeling better, you could be creating an environment for the virus to grow and infect someone else later (you surely do not want to get your spouse sick).

You Break Out

When you crawl on your sheets you are littering it with at least 50 million skin cells a day. Everything from the sweat, makeup, lotions, hair, and anything else you’ve picked up throughout the day, from pollen and pet dander to fungal mold and dirt particles, can clog your skin pores and lead to breakouts. Feng Shui Tips for Couples: 7 Ways to Attract Love and Romance in Your Bedroom. 

You Suffer From Skin Infections

The bacteria and fungi living in your bed mean that you can catch athlete’s foot easily off a partner. And if one of you have a fungal skin infection, you can well, give it to your partner. How To Sleep Better: Reduce Clutter In Your Bedroom To Get A Good Night’s Sleep. 

Change your sheets and pillowcases at least once a week. If you sweat a lot at night, you should change your sheets more often than someone who doesn’t. Also, ensure that you choose a hypoallergenic laundry detergent for laundering your linens.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Sep 05, 2019 12:07 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).