These Places In Your Bedroom Are Secretly Hosting More Germs Than A Public Toilet Seat

“The majority of microbes are harmless and won’t lead to any problems. However, the potential does exist for skin irritation, allergies, and odor,” Tetro said. “So, whether you choose safety or stink, make sure you clean the bedroom at least once a month and change those sheets every few weeks ― or sooner if you sweat heavily during the night.”

Although the various surfaces in bedroom might not need as much attention as those in bathrooms and kitchens, you still need to do regular cleaning and disinfecting.

“It is a good idea to establish routine habits for bedroom hygiene,” Reynolds said. “Wash bed linens weekly in hot water and use the high-heat cycle on your dryer for the most effective germ kill. Keeping extra pillowcases on hand will allow you to change them every few days so that the site were you lay your head ― the area on your body where germs are most likely to enter via the eyes, nose and mouth ― will have minimal levels of contaminants.”

She recommended vacuuming carpets, mattresses and upholstered furniture regularly. There are special vacuums and other products that can be a real game changer, especially for mattresses. Don’t forget to wash your actual pillows and replace them in the recommended time frame as well. 

“Use of hypoallergenic pillow and mattress covers can also keep allergen counts down,” Reynolds said. “And don’t forget to wash pet beds frequently as well.”

If you let your pets onto your bed, make sure to at least wipe down their paws. For high-touch hard surfaces like TV remotes, be sure to frequently use disinfectant. 

“Bedroom cleaning should be thorough and frequent,” said Khubchandani, who also recommended cleaning door handles, knobs, lamp buttons and “creating a partition of some kind between a bedroom and restroom if they are attached with each other.”

Taking the time to remove moisture, dust and food crumbs from surfaces in your bedroom can also go a long way.

“A hygiene routine in your bedroom is even more critical if someone in the home is sick,” Reynolds noted. “Increasing the frequency of the prevention methods above may help to dramatically reduce the spread of infections to other people living in the home.”

This article originally appeared on HuffPost.