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Railway blankets are washed once or twice a month: beware of deadly infections that can catch youWhat happens when bedding goes unwashed for a long time?Serious side effects of unwashed sheets and pillowcasesskin eruptionFungal and Bacterial InfectionsAllergies and respiratory problemssleeplessness and insomniaHow often should you wash sheets?
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Health
Railway blankets are washed once or twice a month: beware of deadly infections that can catch you
A disturbing RTI response from the Indian Railways has revealed that the bedding provided in air-conditioned coaches – including bedsheets, pillows and blankets – is washed once or twice a month, raising concerns over hygiene issues. Is. According to experts, not washing or cleaning bedding regularly exposes the sheets to many unwanted guests – including dust mites, fungus, bacteria, molds and even bed bugs – which can lead to deadly skin infections, allergies, etc. , itching, pain and even insomnia occur. , Read on to know more.
Railways’ RTI reply states that blankets are washed once a month or sometimes twice, depending on their condition.
In an extremely worrying revelation, Indian Railways has revealed the washing schedule of bedding provided in air-conditioned coaches – raising serious questions about the cleanliness and hygiene of blankets, pillows and bedsheets used by passengers during travel. Have become.
Passengers in AC coaches are usually provided bedding neatly packed in a brown envelope at their seats. While bed sheets and pillowcases are usually a deep white – giving the impression of cleanliness, the dark color of blankets – often black or dark brown – leaves much to be desired in terms of visual cleanliness.
The Railways’ RTI reply said the blankets are washed once or sometimes twice a month, depending on their condition – meaning they go several weeks without being washed despite daily use.
What happens when bedding goes unwashed for a long time?
According to experts, your body produces 25+ gallons of bed sweat each year and sheds approximately 30-40,000 dead skin cells per day. And so, the combination of sweat, saliva, dandruff, dead skin cells and even food particles make it the optimal environment for many deadly pathogens like bacteria, fungi, viruses and even tiny insects to grow uncontrolled. Makes.
Studies say that in just two weeks, a pillowcase can contain about 40 times more bacteria than a pet’s bowl – while sheets contain 5.4 times more bacteria than a toothbrush holder.
Serious side effects of unwashed sheets and pillowcases
Not washing or cleaning your bedding regularly exposes the sheets to a host of unwanted guests – including dust mites, fungus, bacteria, mold and even bed bugs. These well-known pollutants cause serious health problems, some of which include:
skin eruption
When your skin comes in contact with dirty bedding, the dangers hidden in the fabric fibers immediately affect it. Bacteria, mites and bedbugs can cause acne, whiteheads and itching. They can also cause skin problems like acne or eczema and make these problems worse.
Bed bug infestations can be stressful. Bites can be painful and cause scars.
Fungal and Bacterial Infections
Sleeping on dirty sheets poses another risk to the skin of fungal and bacterial infections. A study by Amerisleep found that sheets that haven’t been washed for a week contain 24,631 more bacteria than bathroom door handles. Sleeping on unwashed sheets spreads infections such as:
- Shingles
- skin lesions
- broken toenails
- pneumonia
These infections can cause rashes and bad itching and may also leave scars.
Allergies and respiratory problems
According to doctors, the germs cause various types of allergies, including breathlessness and many other respiratory problems. Respiratory problems caused by an unhygienic sleeping area can impact life and make living difficult. Sleeping on unwashed sheets for long periods of time can trigger asthma and make allergy problems worse.
In such places, children may also have to face new allergies and respiratory problems.
sleeplessness and insomnia
When suffering from a bacterial or fungal infection, you may often wake up at night due to pain or itching – causing sleeplessness and feeling restless. Doctors say it disrupts sleep cycles — causing long-term problems for both the mind and body.
Studies say insomnia and other sleep problems can come from the mold, bacteria and bedbugs that can reside in dirty sheets.
How often should you wash sheets?
Doctors say wash your sheets once a week, as well as:
- don’t eat in bed
- Don’t cuddle with pets on your bed
- Don’t sleep with makeup or heavy skin care
- Keep the room temperature comfortable to avoid sweating
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