HEALTH

There is nothin' better than slipping into your fave well-worn PJs at the end of the night. But as cozy as those jammies are, could they also be a threat to your health? It may sound totally crazy, but a new study by the U.K.’s The Daily Mail suggests that a lot of people don’t wash their PJs enough (gross), which can lead to a buildup of bacteria and nasty skin infections that can lead to probs "down there". To keep things fresh, follow these easy steps: 

Wash your PJs on the reg.

You might be tempted to wait a while to throw your flannel jammies in the wash–after all, you’re just sleeping in them. Unfortunately, though, PJs can get pretty grody while you’re catching some zzz's. According to the scientists behind the study, close contact with your body rubs everything from dead skin to bacteria onto your clothing, which can get into cuts and bruises and cause infections. This isn’t that common (so don't start to freak out), but when it does happen, it can be totally serious. 

Buy a couple of new pairs to alternate in between.

To be extra safe, consider switching up your slumber style. People surveyed said they would often wait TWO WEEKS before washing their pajamas because they would go back and forth between pairs. This may sorta make sense (even if it’s a little gross), but scientists say it doesn’t really make a difference. The longer you let microbes build up, the harder it can be for your jammies to truly get clean. If you wait two weeks, even washing the clothes might not get rid of all the nasty stuff, and it can transfer right back onto your skin and underwear. And if that’s not incentive enough, think of all the adorable PJs you can buy – for your health!

And remember...

While it helps to shower before bed, that doesn’t really make a difference when it comes to those yucky microbes. We know it’s a bit of a pain to do an extra load of laundry, but there are no excuses! It's better to spend a little more time doing a wash load now than to deal with nasty health problems later, right? Right.

So, are you sufficiently grossed out? What’s your new PJ plan? Let us know in the comments. 

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