The RTI reply from the railways says that blankets are laundered once a month, or sometimes twice, depending on their condition
In a highly concerning revelation, the Indian Railways has disclosed the washing schedule for the bedding provided in the air-conditioned coaches – raising serious questions about the cleanliness and hygiene of blankets, pillows, and bedsheets that passengers use during the journey.
Passengers in AC coaches are typically provided with bedding neatly packaged in brown envelopes placed on their seats. While the bed sheets and pillowcases are usually stark white in colour – giving the impression of cleanliness, the darker hues of the blankets – often black or dark brown -leave much to be desired in terms of visible hygiene.
The RTI reply from the railways says that blankets are laundered once a month, or sometimes twice, depending on their condition – meaning they go weeks without being washed despite being used daily.
What happens when bedding goes unwashed for a long time?
According to experts, your body produces 25+ gallons of sweat in bed every year and sheds nearly 30-40,000 dead skin cells daily. And so, the combination of sweat, saliva, dandruff, dead skin cells, and even food particles makes it the optimal environment for a whole host of deadly pathogens like bacteria, fungi, viruses, and even tiny bugs to grow uncontrollably.
Studies say in just two weeks, a pillowcase can have nearly 40 times as much bacteria as a pet bowl - whilst sheets have 5.4 times more bacteria than a toothbrush holder.
Serious side effects of unwashed bedsheets, pillowcases
Not washing or cleaning your bedding regularly brings in many unwanted guests into the sheets – which include dust mites, fungi, bacteria, mold, and even bed bugs. These well-known contaminants cause serious health issues, a few of which include:
Skin breakouts
When your skin comes in contact with dirty bedding, the hidden dangers in cloth fibers affect it right away. Bacteria, mites, and bed bugs can lead to breakouts, whiteheads, and itching. They can also cause skin issues like acne or eczema and can make these problems worse.
Bedbug infestations can be stressful. The bites can cause pain and may leave scars.
Fungal and bacterial infection
Another danger to the skin from sleeping on dirty sheets is getting fungal and bacterial infections. A study by Amerisleep found that sheets that have not been washed for a week have 24,631 more bacteria than bathroom doorknobs. Sleeping on unwashed sheets spreads infections like :
- Ringworms
- Skin lesions
- Crumbling toenails
- Pneumonia
These infections can cause rashes and bad itching and may even leave scars.
Allergies and breathing issues
According to doctors, germs cause various kinds of allergies, including breathlessness and various other respiratory issues. Breathing trouble caused by dirty sleeping areas can impact life and make things hard to live with. Sleeping on sheets that have not been washed for a long time even triggers asthma and makes allergies feel worse.
Children in such places can also face new allergies and breathing problems.
Sleeplessness and insomnia
When suffering from bacterial or fungal infections, you may often wake up at night due to pain or itching – leading to sleeplessness and feeling uneasy. Doctors say it disturbs the sleep cycle – leading to long-term issues for both the mind and body.
Studies say that insomnia and other sleep problems can come from mold, bacteria, and bedbugs that dirty sheets may have.
How often should you wash the sheets?
Doctors say wash your sheets once a week, along with:
- Do not eat your meals in bed
- Do not snuggle with pets on your bed
- Do not sleep with makeup or heavy skincare on
- Have a comfortable room temperature to avoid sweating
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