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Do you have any idea what you're sleeping with? Did you know that your duvet and pillows could be giving you allergies, bites and many other conditions?

So what are the problems and what can you do about them? Look no further, because we've come up with 6 reasons why your duvet and pillows could be making you ill...

1. We don't wash them enough

This means house dust mites, pet allergens, skin scales, eggs, fungal spores, pollen and stains (including bodily fluids) build up. A study carried out at the University of Worcester's National Pollen and Aerobiology Research Unit revealed that 70% of duvet owners admit not washing their duvet for a staggering 10 years.

2. Clean bed linen

We put clean duvet covers and pillow cases over them, stopping things getting out. 'Washing the bedlinen at 60 degrees is not enough,' says Professor Emberlin who headed the research. 'Before you put duvet covers and pillow cases back on, you should pump up your pillow and shake out your duvet. This will release all their contaminants into the air. Only then should you slip them into your nice clean linen.'

3. Stains and bacteria

'New stains, such as sweat, provide an excellent base for bacteria to grow on,' says Professor Emberlin. 'Some bacteria can infect eczema lesions making them much worse. They can also cause conjunctivitis.'

• Next: Reasons your duvet could be making you ill

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