How often do you wash your pyjamas?
Fashion marketing expert Harpa Gretarsdóttir at IceWear has revealed how often you should really be washing them - and you might be surprised.
Let's think about this for a second. We wash our underwear and socks after every wear.
But our pyjamas, which are usually worn to lounge around the house or, of course, to go to sleep in, don't seem to get the same treatment - which, when you think about how much dirt and oil build up in them, is pretty gross.
Harpa recommends that we wash them every three to four days because of this.
She explained: "Pyjamas are the only intimate clothing we tend to wear multiple times as standard, with many wearing pyjamas as the only layer and without underwear beneath.
"This intimacy against our skin and parts of our bodies, for 6 to 8 hours a night under bedding, makes them a perfect breeding ground for bacteria and other germs."
And since the human body sheds 30,000-40,000 skin cells per hour, your pyjamas will be full of 'nasties'.
How often should we be washing them?
Harpa recommends washing your pyjamas after wearing them for three or four nights - but this can be extended to five to seven nights if you shower every night before bed.
However, for those who are prone to night sweats or who have particularly oily skin, she says you should wash them every other day, if not daily.
When it comes to washing your pyjamas, you should do so on a 'hot' wash - that's any cycle above 60C, as this helps to cleanse the fabric.
If you prefer a cooler wash, make sure to add a laundry detergent that kills 99.9 per cent of bacteria.
As soon as the wash is complete, either tumble dry or air dry, then store in a drawer or wardrobe.
Why is it so important to wash your pyjamas frequently?
Harpa says not washing your pyjamas can cause germs to come in contact with any wounds that could make us sick, as well as acne and other skin issues.
On top of this, dirty PJs can also "contaminate" other items in your drawer too as microbes can be transferred between clothes.
"[This can then] potentially spreading harmful bacteria and fungi to the rest of your wardrobe, or even that of your flatmates, partner, or family," she said.
How often do you wash your pyjamas? Let us know in the comments.
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