According to a recent study, wearing socks to bed after a full day of use may harm health.
The Cleveland Sleep Clinic reported that while clean socks can help maintain an optimal sleeping temperature, wearing day-old socks to bed is unhygienic.
A survey conducted by a UK-based mattress company analyzed responses from 1,130 Reddit users. The results showed that only 30% of those who slept with socks changed into a fresh pair before bed.
Researchers tested bacteria levels on eight pairs of socks worn throughout the day and found that they contained 20 times more bacteria than a typical toilet seat. The contamination levels exceeded those on everyday household objects such as TV remotes. The socks were found to carry dust mites, mold, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, a bacterium linked to infections. Additionally, 25% of the tested socks contained fecal-related bacteria, which researchers suggested could result from walking barefoot indoors or exposure to cockroach droppings.
Experts recommend several hygiene practices to reduce health risks, such as wearing clean socks before bed, using indoor slippers to minimize sock contamination, and frequently washing bed sheets.
Sleeping with clean socks may also improve sleep quality. Cold extremities can make it harder to fall asleep, as body temperature drops before sleep. Research has shown that people who wear socks to bed fall asleep 7.5 minutes faster, sleep 32 minutes longer, and wake up 7.5 times less frequently at night.
