Bed bug warning as Britons stop washing their bed sheets

One in eight people sleep in bedding that has not been washed for over a month, according to a new study.

Time and cash-strapped Brits are cutting back on washing their bedding - putting them at a high risk of a bed bug infestation, reveals the annual survey.

And men came out worst with 1.7 million waiting more than a month before washing their bed sheets.

The annual Bed Bug Audit, conducted by Sheilas' Wheels home insurance, found that 29 per cent of Brits have cut back on washing their bedding due to lack of time while 17 per cent delay washing their dirty laundry to cut costs.

More than one in eight Brits (13 per cent) sleep in bedding that has not been washed for over a month, while a quarter (27 per cent) sleep on mattresses that are more than 10-years-old.

With forecasters predicting erratic temperatures this winter which could reach -15C by Christmas, bedrooms could become the perfect breeding ground for bed bugs, which take refuge in the warmth of mattresses, pillows and sheets to feed.

Almost one-in-five people polled said they were more likely now than last year to buy second-hand furniture, which is a leading source of infestation as a pre-owned mattress alone can contain up to 10 million bed bugs.

The Bed Bug Audit also revealed that 26 per cent of Brits polled had no idea how bed bugs spread and a quarter (25 per cent) said they were unaware of any measures to counter them, such as leaving sheets exposed during the day or regularly vacuuming all areas of the room - including the seams of the mattress.

Sheilas' Wheels home insurance spokeswoman Jacky Brown said: 'We spend so much time in our beds that it is astounding so many Brits and particularly bug busting men - do not keep them clean.

'Simple measures like avoiding eating in bed, leaving the sheets exposed during the day and washing them regularly can help avoid an infestation.

'Bed bugs in the home can be an extremely unpleasant experience so it is important that homeowners have a way to deal quickly with an infestation such as our pest cover otherwise the upcoming cold spell could provide a nasty wake-up call