A UK study has shown half a million British people only wash their sheets three times a year, the Telegraph reports.
One in six people also owned up to waiting at least four weeks before washing their bed sheets. Londoners are the worst culprits, with a quarter of those polled leaving it at least a month before washing their bed linen, the survey found.
Under-25s tended to have the dirtiest sheets, with one in 10 admitting to washing theirs only six times a year, and half of all people surveyed admitted to eating in bed.
In contrast, houseproud over-55s aired their dirty laundry on average three times a month.
"It's estimated that 10 per cent of the weight of a two-year-old pillow is comprised of dead skin and dust mites," said expert Dr Lisa Ackerley.
"So it's no surprise that your bed can become a minefield of bacteria, viruses, sweat and hair which can cause or exacerbate asthma.
"You need to wash your bed linen at least once a fortnight, and preferably once a week."
A home insurance company, Sheila Wheels, conducted the study.
Brits own up to dirty sheets
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