The age-old debate: top sheet or no top sheet? We delve into the hygiene pros and cons, expert opinions, and personal preferences surrounding this bedding staple. Join us as we explore the science behind sleep hygiene and discover the best practices for keeping your bed fresh and clean.
Sometimes I think I'm conflict-averse, but then someone says there's no need for a top sheet and suddenly I'm ready for battle. Call me a traditionalist, but as a Queenslander, I like my top—or flat—piece of linen to cover me on those (many) hot nights. Beyond personal preference, we asked experts if there were any benefits to using a top sheet when it came to hygiene, and how often you should clean your sheets.
Most of us use top sheets, according to our scientific study (aka Instagram straw poll). Users said a flat sheet helped keep their doona or duvet cleaner for longer, was a good light cover on hot nights, and was a 'hygienic' practice. Those against a top sheet in bed cited reasons including tangling, extra items to wash, and longer time making the bed. Our stats are in line with what Kate Croukamp has observed when making beds. She owns a cleaning business on the Gold Coast/Yugambeh language region, and is pro-top-sheet for her own bed. Photo shows A middle-aged woman rubs her forehead in bed, her pyjama singlet sticky with sweat. Ms Croukamp believes top sheets came about out of necessity, because washing a doona is not always as simple as taking the cover off. 'Back in the day, it was the whole doona or blanket you had to wash. To avoid that, a top sheet came into play.' 'I lived in the UK and don't do top sheets because it's always cold,' says Rietie Venter. She is an associate professor and head of the microbiology laboratory at the University of South Australia. 'I really don't like them—for non-microbiology reasons. They just get tangled and in the way.' 'It's another layer between you and the duvet. It's true sweat and could get through to the duvet itself, but like in my case, I just prefer to wash the duvet cover as frequently as I would have washed a sheet.' She says most of the germs living in our bed are normal skin microbiomes that keep us healthy anyway. 'The only thing that is more troublesome is microbiomes like fungi.' (Dr Venter says if there is dampness or wet, such as sweat, in sheets, fungi can grow and make spores, which can spread and make people ill. Ashley Franks, a professor of applied and environmental microbiology at La Trobe University in Melbourne, likes a top sheet. 'I prefer the feeling of a sheet on me, rather than being completely open to the air,' Professor Franks says. He says in hot and humid climates, bacteria is more likely to grow in our bed, but isn't a real danger to most people. How often your wash your top sheet or doona cover comes down to climate and other things, like whether you shower at night, says Dr Venter. Professor Franks says what you wear to bed might also affect how often you should wash your sheets. A nude sleeper, as opposed to someone who wears pyjamas, might find their linen needs changing more frequently. 'If you get rashes or skin conditions, that will tell you something is going on. 'But a lot of people don't bother and nothing happens. You might be in filth, but it's your own filth.' Get a mid-week boost and receive easy recipes, wellbeing ideas, and home and garden tips in your inbox every Wednesday. You’ll also receive a monthly newsletter of our best recipes
Top Sheet Hygiene Bedding Sleep Experts Microbiology Doona Duvet
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