interacts with oils or proteins on the outer layer of the epidermis, which can provide a breeding environment for germs.
Skin Cells & Bacteria
“[Those skin cells and bacteria] are going to sit there until you wash your sheets,” adds Vij, who advises washing bed linens every two weeks at the absolute least, and every week for people who perspire heavily while sleeping or have sensitive skin.
He also recommends washing pillows every six months.
Researchers point out that a person’s waking and sleeping habits are also significant factors in determining the optimal time for a shower.
Many proponents of morning showers have remarked that showering earlier in the day wakes them up, and polls appear to back up their assertions. Eighty-one percent of people who took part in a Sleep Foundation poll in 2022 and who took morning showers said that doing so helped them get their day started on the right foot. A second self-reported 2023 poll found that those who bathed in the morning reported feeling more productive and energized at work than people who washed at night.
RELATED: Still Taking Hot Showers? Wrong. 5 Reasons Why Cold Showers Are Better
Regulating Body Temp
Meanwhile, researchers at the University of Texas at Austin evaluated data from more than a dozen sleep studies and found that taking a warm bath or shower at least an hour before bedtime helped the body regulate temperature and fall asleep more quickly.
As Vij puts it, “It’s all about making yourself feel as good as possible when you’re presenting yourself to the world,” adding that a good night’s sleep also helps with one’s outward manner. If that means getting clean before bed or taking a shower first thing in the morning, then by all means!