Changing your shower routine could mean you don’t notice the harmful bacteria you’re sharing your sheets with. Previous studies have shown that one in four people prefer a morning shower to a nighttime routine. However, experts at MattressNextDay are urging people to change their bathing habits with an urgent warning.
Experts are warning people about their shower routines, as postponing bathing until the morning could promote the spread of harmful bacteria such as E. Coli on bed sheets.
Research has suggested that bacteria can survive for months on surfaces such as a mattress, and experts warn: “The older the mattress, the greater the risk” of E. Coli being present.
This devastating disease has spread across the UK this summer and can cause diarrhoea, food poisoning and a host of other illnesses including pneumonia.
And if you don’t rinse off at night, you could be lying next to these insects for hours, unaware and unprotected.
Experts have clarified that during the day, whether at work or simply performing daily tasks, the skin accumulates bacteria and pollutants in the air.
These germs will stay with you until you remove them, meaning if you skip a nightly shower, you’ll be taking them to bed with you, too, experts said.
Additionally, showering at night has been shown to improve sleep quality. Taking a warm or hot shower before entering a cold room can signal to the body that it is time to sleep by mimicking the drop in temperature experienced when falling asleep.
Using lavender-scented shower gels, scrubs or creams can have a calming and relaxing effect, which promotes a more restful sleep. However, even nighttime showers carry certain health risks.
Home experts warn that leaving a towel near your bed after a shower can create an ideal breeding ground for dust mites and other bacteria, particularly Staphylococcus aureus. This bacteria is commonly found in beds, but can be deadly if it enters the bloodstream.
To avoid this cross-contamination, experts recommend keeping the towel in the bathroom, away from the bacteria in the bedroom, and washing it at least every three uses. The amount of bacteria lodged on the towel can multiply exponentially after each shower.
