Hello!

Do cold germs hang around on sheets and pillows? Whenever someone in my family has a cold or the sniffles, I feel like I should be washing all the sheets. Is this just me being paranoid?

Posted by Tina, 11/06/13

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  • It wouldn’t hurt to change the bedding when family members are sick. Disinfectant isn’t necessary. Colds are common and easy to pick up, you won’t avoid them


  • Thank you for all the great answers.


  • Disinfectant is overused and often not properly used. It works only after washing the item with soap and water. Proper hand washing is the best way to reduce contamination. If the sheets are snotty, wash. Otherwise, try not to touch until the cold is over.


  • You definitely should be washing. If not, spray with disinfectant.


  • spray them with the Dettol glen 20 this will help with cold germs


  • If it makes u feel better n feel as though it’s preventing the whole family from getting the colds u should do it


  • I don’t know if its a necessity but I wash bedding more often when people are sick, I figure it can’t hurt and it makes me feel better!


  • Wash bed linen more often when they are sick


  • certainly wash the person who has the cold sheets. but not every day unless they are snotty!


  • I wash all our sheets regularly anyway, just do it to be sure


  • I thought the germs were airborne.not on sheets


  • They generally are present upto a few hours until pillow/ surface is moist


  • This will help http://www.cdc.gov/flu/pdf/freeresources/updated/influenza_flu_homecare_guide.pdf & YES sheets should be changed as this link will explain good luck hope it’s what your looking for ;)


  • I was always taught that the biggest risk is from contact with an infected person, but that germs can stay active anywhere from minutes to days, depending on the surface, and that they stay longer on hard surfaces than soft (God knows why!). Probably more important to ensure everyone washes their hands or sanitises more frequently than usual when a household member is ill, because it’s that contact that is most risky.


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