Beware germ hot spots lurking within bedrooms!
Our bedrooms are not the safe havens we assume they are, with germs in carpets alone outnumbering those on a toilet seat. The most unsanitary spots in bedrooms have been uncovered, and the facts don’t make for comfortable reading.
Between bathroom handles, kitchen sinks and remote controls, homeowners don’t have to travel far to come into contact with a variety of nasty germs.
But there is plenty of bacteria building up right where we sleep.
You may think twice about your pillow being a warm, soft spot for you to rest your head once you know that they can accumulate several thousand times more bacteria than a toilet seat in just one week.
Luckily, organisms found on pillowcases are largely harmless - a build up of skin cells, sweat and saliva. It is recommended to wash bedding once a week.
Carpets collect dust and dirt from foot traffic, but from other sources too, so should have a good weekly vacuum.
Lamps may not be thought of as germy items, but lampshades and bases attract dust and dirt. As common touch points, lamps should be disinfected weekly.
Although your curtains may appear clean, they gather dust, pet hair and even mould spores over time. Every time curtains are opened or closed, dirty particles swirl around.
A full curtain wash is recommended at least twice a year, and more often for those with dust allergies.
We spend a third of our lives sleeping and relaxing in bed - but it’s a hotbed for germs. Yeast, mould and bacteria could be bunking in your bed, especially if your mattress is more than eight years old. As well as microbes, skin cells and food particles transferred to our mattresses from our bodies, are airborne particles of dust and debris that settle on the bed. Daily exposure to this array of micro-organisms is not healthy, so it is recommended to switch your mattress every seven to eight years.
Nic Shacklock from onlinebedrooms.co.uk, who issued the advice, said: “Spots like pillowcases and curtains are silent killers. Even though they might look clean, they hide nasty bacteria that could lead to enhanced allergies, unpleasant odours and skin issues.”
For more information visit www.online-bedrooms.co.uk.