Whether it’s a sexy nightgown or a comfortable two-piece, pajamas are worn by people all over the world. But how often should you wash your favorite pajamas?
It’s a question that has plagued social media users this week, with some claiming changing pajamas every day is “insane and unnecessary”.
Previous research has shown that the average Briton wears their pajamas for up to two weeks without washing them.
But is this enough? Dr Primrose Freestone, Associate Professor of Clinical Microbiology at the University of Leicester, puts the debate to rest once and for all.
In an interview with the Daily Mail, she explained that it’s best to change your pajamas every day.
If you shower before bed and don’t sweat too much, you may be able to wear it 3-4 times at a time.
However, most people are at risk of developing bad odors and even harmful infections from repeated use. We’re wearing the same pajamas.
Dr. Freestone says, “The more you sweat, the smellier your pajamas will become, so you may need to change your sleepwear every day.”
Scientists have revealed how often you actually need to change your pajamas, and that’s bad news for people who don’t like washing (stock image)
The question of how often to change your pajamas has sparked heated debate on social media.
On the other hand, some people argue that wearing pajamas more than once or twice is unhygienic.
One commenter wrote about X: “New water every night and bed linen changed weekly so I must be one of those people who wastes water.”
Another user claimed it would “wear up to two times,” while another asked, “What about the sweat?” How does your crotch smell?
But many other social media users were shocked to learn that people change their pajamas more than once a week. ”
“You think you’re supposed to keep wearing it all week? Come on, it’s just to sleep at night,” one commenter retorted.
“I thought pajamas were basically a weekly subscription and not something I would change every day,” added one.
And one person wrote: “Crazy and unnecessary every night.” However, every 3-4 nights is fine. ”
The question of when to change out of your pajamas has sparked heated debate on social media, with some arguing that it’s best to change your clothes every day.
However, other social media users were shocked to learn that people often change their pajamas.
Some commenters who didn’t particularly care even argued that it’s better to keep wearing your pajamas until they start to smell.
“Some things change every day. Some things change week to week. Some things change when they get funky,” one commenter wrote.
Meanwhile, one social media user claimed: “If it still smells like laundry detergent, I’ll wear it again.”
But Dr. Freestone says people need to think more carefully about the hygiene of their pajamas.
she says: “Pajamas are in close contact with the human skin, and the skin is naturally covered with millions of bacteria, fungi, and viruses.”
Whether you shower before bed or not, everyone sweats about half a pint every night, and almost all of it ends up on your pajamas.
This creates a warm, moist environment within the bedding that is perfect for microbial growth.
Microorganisms feed on the dead skin, sweat, and oil that builds up in your pajamas and emit the foul-smelling chemicals that create BO’s distinctive smell.
One commenter said changing pajamas every night was “crazy and unnecessary” and instead opted to change pajamas once every three or four nights.
One commenter joked that she thought of pajamas as a “weekly subscription” rather than something that needed to be changed every day.
Some social media users preferred to rely on the old-fashioned smell test to see if their pajamas were still wearable.
Eating in your pajamas can make the situation even worse, as food particles become trapped in your clothes, providing a breeding ground for bacteria.
To make matters worse, Dr. Freestone points out that sweat isn’t the only cause of bad pajama odors.
she says: “If you have flatulence and release a lot of wind from your anus, each fart will cause a small amount of fecal matter to be thrown into your pajamas, which will start to stink over time.”
“Most people have a few milligrams of feces in their underwear every day from farting. Multiply that by wearing your pajamas for days on end, and you have another level of odor to consider.”
Beyond just smelling bad, getting your pajamas too dirty can pose a real health risk.
Researchers at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine have found that bedding and pajamas can spread the infection from person to person.
In fact, pajamas pose a higher risk of infection than other types of clothing due to direct contact with genitals and body fluids.
This is particularly true for faecal-related infections such as norovirus, and the NHS has given special guidance to staff to be careful when washing patients’ clothes.
Experts say you should change your pajamas every day, especially if you sweat a lot or eat in your pajamas (stock image)
Dr. Freestone adds, “Skin cells inevitably get stuck on your pajamas, and they also act as food for dust mites and fungi if they’re present.”
“The more dust mites eat and reproduce, the more feces accumulates in your bed. Dust mite feces are allergenic and can cause asthma attacks and skin irritation.”
Similarly, the fungus can also feed on human skin cells, causing asthma attacks and a lung infection called Aspergillus fumigatus, which can cause severe illness in people with weakened immune systems.
If you want to ensure you avoid the risk of infection, it’s important to change your pajamas regularly and wash them thoroughly.
Washing at a low temperature may remove dirt and sweat, but it’s not enough to kill the bacteria that grows in your sleepwear.
It must be cleaned to kill germs. Must be at least 60°C (140°F) or higher If high temperature cleaning is not possible, use a laundry disinfectant.
Dr. Freestone says, “To further ensure the removal of residual bacteria, high-temperature tumble drying or steam ironing are highly effective at killing bacterial and viral pathogens in pajamas.”
