The average person spends a significant 8-10 hours in bed asleep, but a troubling question arises: how clean is the pillow you rest your head on each night?
A Silentnight survey has revealed a disconcerting statistic – 41% of Brits sleep on pillows that go unwashed, contributing to skin issues, allergy symptoms, and respiratory troubles.
However, Mary Futher, also known as Madame Sweat to her online following, has provided valuable guidance on pillow hygiene. In a viral video amassing over 7,000 likes, she queries viewers: “Why aren’t you washing these? Why aren’t you putting them in the washing machine? Well, that’s why I’m here. I’m the hygiene queen. And I’m here to tell you when and how you should be.”
Mary points out that pillows become reservoirs for sweat, dust mites, and bacteria, comparing their required upkeep to that of regular clothing by saying, “I know some people are going to say I have those antimicrobial pillow protectors on, which is fine.”
Yet, she adds a clear imperative for those without such protectors: “But if you don’t have them on, you should be washing your pillow every three months. Not all pillows are the same. The way you wash them depends on what they’re made of.”
Instagram users were evidently taken aback, with a number confessing their own pillow-washing neglect. One revealed their guilt, saying: “OMG! Guilty as charged. I never washed them. Thank you,” and another expressed feeling called out: “Yikes! I’m feeling personally attacked.”
Meanwhile, another commenter chimed in with additional advice, saying: “I love putting mine out in the sun after washing! The rays kill bacteria and I swear if there is a stain it’s like the sun zaps it away.”