VIRTUALLY every childhood bedroom has at least one of them.
But did you know that your childhood teddy could be harbouring twice as much bacteria as your toilet seat?
Not only that, but it could have as much as 650% more germs than a bin lid.
Meanwhile, new research has also shown that your favourite comfort blanket could be almost twice as dirty as the average toilet seat, and 6.5 times dirtier than the average bin.
The team at MattressNextDay swabbed blankets and teddies for an ATP bioluminescence test, which measures the amount of adenosine triphosphate — a molecule found in and around living cells — on a particular surface.
This level can be used to indicate how clean, or how dirty, an item is.
Two fifths, or 43%, of the blankets swabbed, and almost three in ten, 29%, of the teddies swabbed came up with readings of over 1000 units – an average of 1,629 for blankets and 1,910 for teddy bears.
They also swabbed the inside of a bin lid and a toilet seat to provide a comparison.
Dr. Snieguole Geige, Medical Doctor at the It’s Me And You Clinic, commented on the findings: “I cannot overstate the hidden dangers of neglecting to wash blankets and teddy bears.
“These seemingly innocent items are perfect breeding grounds for bacteria, fungi, and allergens.
“The recent bioluminescence test results showing high RLU (Relative Light Units) levels on swabbed teddy bears and blankets reveal a concerning truth that these items can accumulate a shocking amount of microbial contamination that often goes unnoticed.”
The most common culprits are bacteria such as Staphylococcus aureus and E. coli, and the pathogens “thrive in warm, humid environments exactly the conditions teddy bears and blankets create”.
[bc_video account_id=”5067014667001″ application_id=”” aspect_ratio=”16:9″ autoplay=”” caption=”The hidden part of your lounge that’s collecting a ‘disgusting’ amount of dust – and it’s ‘so easy’ to clean off” embed=”in-page” experience_id=”” height=”100%” language_detection=”” max_height=”360px” max_width=”640px” min_width=”0px” mute=”” padding_top=”56%” picture_in_picture=”” player_id=”default” playlist_id=”” playsinline=”” sizing=”responsive” video_id=”6367234529112″ video_ids=”” width=”640px”]“In children, whose immune systems are still developing, I warn that the risks are even more pronounced,” Dr Geige continued.
“Repeated exposure to these microbes can lead to frequent infections, respiratory issues, or skin conditions, all of which could be easily prevented with regular cleaning.
“We’re not just dealing with dirt.
“We’re dealing with hidden health hazards that pose a real risk especially in homes with young children or individuals with compromised immune systems.
“Cleaning these items should be a priority to safeguard health and wellbeing.”
In order to get rid of this bacteria, and any mites, you should wash stuffed toys and blankets at least once a month at a minimum temperate of 60°C.
However, if you use the blanket in bed every night, it should be washed more frequently.
Always remember to check the care label before washing.