Exactly how often you should wash your bed sheets and what happens if you don't
A YouGov poll revealed that 28% of Brits change their bedding once a week, while 36% change them every fortnight.
But is that enough?
The experts at Good Housekeeping have revealed you should change your bed sheets at least once every two weeks.
However, there are certain circumstances where you may need to change them more frequently.
If you suffer from night sweats or allergies you will need to change your sheets once every week, according to Good Housekeeping.
If you sleep with a pet on your bed, you may need to change your bed sheets as often as twice a week to keep them clear of "dust mites, hair and bacteria".
If you don't wash your bed sheets enough, it could reportedly lead to acne breakouts and a build-up of dead skin and dust mites.
Sweat and oils accumulate and can clog our pores, leading to acne breakouts across our body and face, WinstonsBeds added.
Mattress expert from WinstonsBeds, Rebecca Swain, said: 'If you're getting the optimum eight hours of sleep a night, that means you're in your bed for a total of 56 hours in just one week.
'Spending all of this time in the bed leads to a build-up of sweat, dead skin cells and other bacteria which is why it's important to wash your bedding once a week if possible.
'It's shocking to hear how little people wash their sheets which is why we've shared five unpleasant things that can happen if you sleep in the same bedding for too long.
'Not only can you ruin your bed but this may also make you more prone to breakouts and acne over your body as well as triggering your allergies.'
If you don't wash your bedding enough, according to WinstonsBeds, this is what can happen:
When you don't wash your bedding often, dead skin cells from your body begin to build up on the sheets.
Dust mites feed off of dead skin cells making this the perfect environment for them to thrive in.
The accumulation of skin, sweat, and oils are a breeding ground for bacteria which can clog the pores on your body and face, leading to more breakouts and acne.
This can also irritate skin conditions like eczema.
Dust mites and other bacteria can trigger those with allergies and asthma.
Particularly sensitive people may find that breathing in these allergens leads to coughing and congestion the next day.
Allowing stains from sweat and saliva to build up on your bed sheets will ruin them over time, leading to tough yellow stains which can be hard to remove.
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Leaving stains to settle on bed sheets can also stain your mattress.
Not allowing the mattress to breathe and air out can trap bad odours and bacteria, not only will this cause your mattress to deteriorate quicker but it's also extremely unhygienic.
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Yahoo
12-08-2025
- Yahoo
6 Best Kids' Lunchboxes, Based on Testing
"Hearst Magazines and Yahoo may earn commission or revenue on some items through these links." Your school kid's lunchbox takes a beating with near-daily use, so you'll want a durable one. But a kiddo's lunchbox should also be easy for them to use, and cute, too. Above all, you want a lunchbox to keep the healthy lunch you made intact, keeping the food either warm or cold, depending on the type of food. Our experts in the Good Housekeeping Institute Kitchen Appliances and Innovation Lab have tested dozens of lunchboxes and bags in the past eight years. The top performers in our tests keep sandwiches, snacks and fruits chilled throughout the morning and often feature extras like Thermoses for soup or built-in ice packs. We evaluate style, weight, size, seal and other additional features to find options suitable for all needs and budgets. Freezable Lunch Box ✔️ BEST FOR: Keeping lunch food cold. In our Lab test, the PackIt was the only lunch bag to keep its contents below 40˚F (a safety benchmark for perishables) for 5.5 hours. ✔️ WHAT TO KNOW: Who needs an ice pack when you have an insulated lunchbox? PackIt's freezable gel liner eliminates the need to jam a separate ice pack alongside all that food: Simply pop the whole bag into the freezer overnight, and it will keep food chilled throughout the school morning. ✔️ TESTING NOTES: While the gel liner makes it heavier than a standard lunchbox with an ice pack — one of our Lab directors felt it added too much weight to her young kid's backpack — it's still lighter than the stainless steel options on our list. The lunchbox folds flat, making it easy to fit in your freezer while it gets cold for the next day. Your kid can also easily pack it back into their backpack to bring home. When unfolded, we found it to be spacious enough for packing a good amount of food, too. We love the rainbow design, but there's also an astronaut, shark, dinosaur and a cupcake design. PackIt's original Freezable Lunch Bag has a more adult design, but it could also be suitable for teens. RELATED: We Tested 24 Food Storage Containers to Find the Best $19.19 at Go With Yogurt Pot ✔️ BEST FOR: Separating foods, bento-box style, on the cheap. ✔️ WHAT TO KNOW: Two removable trays nestle together to form this compact, lightweight bento box. The round container features a screw-on lid to keep up to five ounces of food, such as yogurt, hummus or fruit salad, contained. Every piece can be popped in the freezer or used in the microwave (without a lid). It can also be cleaned in the dishwasher. ✔️ TESTING NOTES: Our Lab pros especially appreciate the Sistema clamp, which forms a tight seal on the outer box to help prevent spills. We think the price, at about $10, is a great deal. On Amazon, you can buy a two-pack, ensuring one is always available while the other is being washed. Note that this box does not come with a drink compartment, so kids will need to store drinks separately. RELATED: The Best Kids' Water Bottles $10.28 at Insulated Lunch Box ✔️ BEST FOR: Anyone looking for a traditional lunchbox that can handle lots of use and washing. ✔️ WHAT TO KNOW: There's a zip pocket on the exterior for stashing cash or a lunch card if your child buys a drink each day or something from the vending machine after school. Inside, there's a mesh pocket that can hold a snack separate from everything else or an ice pack to keep food chilled. ✔️ TESTING NOTES: The lightweight, durable nylon lunchbox is a longtime favorite amongst GH staffers. It can hold up to 4.6 quarts, and we found the smooth plastic interior easy to clean, even when grape juice was left in it overnight. Online reviews praise this lunchbox as a "workhorse." One of our contributors reports that she ran her child's lunchbox through the dishwasher every Friday at the end of the school week. It only needed about a day to dry on a dish rack afterward. The box is large enough to fit both a Hydroflask insulated food jar and a stainless steel water bottle on the inside. But the drink can take up a lot of room, so your kid may want to carry their drink separately. RELATED: The Best Kids' Backpacks, Tried and Tested $19.95 at Cold Pack Lunch Box ✔️ BEST FOR: Kids who want their lunchbox to look cool. The Mackenzie comes in a bunch of kid-bait patterns including Bluey, Glow-in-the-Dark Minecraft, Glow-in-the-Dark Spider-Man and a Disney Princess Adaptive Lunchbox that can snap onto a wheelchair or walker. ✔️ WHAT TO KNOW: Personalize your child's lunchbox with this spacious option from Pottery Barn Kids, which allows you to add a name or monogram to the front for an additional $16. It'll make it easy for your child to spot (or for you to retrieve from lost and found!). A water bottle or drink can fit neatly in the mesh side pouch. There's a wipeable interior and rigid walls that keep delicate foods from getting crushed. ✔️ TESTING NOTES: While the Classic version is slightly less expensive, we also like the Cold Pack option because it features two insulated compartments inside, as well as a larger interior mesh pocket for a matching ice pack. In our Lab tests, we confirmed that the main double zipper won't come open if the bag is shaken or dropped. Pottery Barn Kids also sells matching backpacks. $29.00 at Steel Lunch Box ✔️ BEST FOR: Folks who want a plastic-free option. Stainless steel is easy to clean and extra durable, but it is heavier than nylon or plastic. This is a small bento box, made for preschoolers and kindergartners, kids with small appetites and kids who only pack snacks. ✔️ WHAT TO KNOW: It's got three compartments, with the option to add silicone containers, sold separately, for further separation. It opens and closes with two latches that the brand says are leak-resistant. ✔️ TESTING NOTES: It doesn't hold a lot — it's got the smallest capacity of all the boxes on our list. That said, it's enough for the littlest school kids, and for kids who generally don't eat much at school. For $10 more, you can get this stainless steel bento box in one of four prints. And if you like the bento box idea but aren't as sold on stainless steel, Bentgo still sells their popular, less expensive plastic bento box as well. RELATED: Easy, Healthy Snacks for Kids $49.99 at ✔️ BEST FOR: Packing a hot lunch. This insulated bento box–style comes with a removable, Thermos-like container meant to hold hot (or cold) foods. It's perfect for toting last night's reheated leftovers or some warm mac and cheese for a picky eater. ✔️ WHAT TO KNOW: The screw-on lid for the Omiebox's hot food container is designed for a child to be able to open on their own at lunchtime, thanks to a handle that pops up. If you aren't packing the stainless steel container, its square compartment can be used for a sandwich instead. The rectangular compartment has a movable divider that allows you to adjust the size to fit your foods. ✔️ TESTING NOTES: When packed with the food container, this box becomes one of the heaviest lunchboxes on our list. For cleaning, the brand recommends removing the box's leakproof rubber seal and washing it along with all the other parts. While we found it a bit tricky to reinstall the seal, we appreciate that this feature helps prevent spills. $49.95 at Kids can carry their Bentgo box — or any bento box, like the Omie — inside the Bentgo Lunch Tote, an insulated tote designed to keep food warm or cool for up to four kids' lunchboxes we tested and recommend ✔️ Planetbox Launch's stainless steel bento box (shown) comes with a carrying case and magnets for decorating. The Planetbox brand was one of the first to introduce both stainless steel and bento-style compartments to the lunchbox crowd, with the idea that parents can use the same, durable box year after year. ✔️ Thermos Dual Lunch Box (Pokemon version) is a well-made favorite with separate, zippered top and bottom containers. Thermos also makes rectangular lunchboxes with popular licensed characters like Super Mario Brothers. ✔️ Munchkin Bento Box for Kids is great for toddlers in nursery school or daycare. It comes with a spoon and kid-safe we test lunchboxes We test a wide range of food storage options at the Good Housekeeping Institute Kitchen Appliances and Innovation Lab. The picks in this guide are based on data from testing over 50 lunchboxes and bags over the last eight years. When testing, we consider: ✔️ Ease of use: We ask adults — as well as a 6-year-old and a 5-year-old — to open and close the bags and boxes to ensure they're easy to open and close. (The 5-year-old found zippered, soft-sided bags easier to handle than latched, rigid boxes.) We also experiment with packing various amounts of food in each box. ✔️ Durability: We drop each lunchbox to check if it stays closed. We also test for staining. All of the lunchboxes in this story can be cleaned, but we found that those with a smooth plastic or metal interior are easiest. ✔️ Performance: Our testers add an apple, a juice box, a sandwich and an ice pack to each lunch bag before performing a temperature-evaluation test (pictured) to determine how long each can maintain a safe temperature over a six-hour period. (Our best overall pick performed the best in this test.) We also add two tablespoons of apple juice to each lunchbox to determine if it is leak-resistant. ✔️ Real-world experience: Our Lab pros survey real-life consumers, scour online reviews and evaluate lunchboxes with the kids in their own lives to make sure we aren't missing to consider when buying the best kids' lunchbox ✔️ Type of lunchbox: You have choices! • A bento box is a hard-sided plastic or stainless steel box with small compartments inside. You can tuck a different food into each compartment, and when your child opens up the box, all the food is displayed and ready for grabbing. You can put a bento box directly into a backpack or store it in a bag, so if there are any leaks, you're covered. • A lunchbox with semi-firm sides is more traditional. Nylon and polyester bags are lightweight, open with a zipper and pack flat when empty. They are often the easiest for kids to open. However, you may need to fill them with food containers, which means kids will have some unpacking to do. Many of these have built-in insulation to help keep food warm or cool. • A lunch bag is a reusable version of the old brown bag, often with added insulation. We don't have any on this list, but they do appear when discussing the best lunchboxes for adults. A lunch bag is best carried separately (because it can get squished), and since most kids need to fit their lunch in a book bag, cubby or locker, we've left them off the kids' list. ✔️ Storage needs: The kind of food you intend to send to school helps dictate your lunchbox. If you want to send your kid off with yogurt or warm mac and cheese, you might want a lunchbox with a built-in container, or one that can fit your favorite food storage container. If you know you'll be sending a drink each day, it's nice to have a lunchbox that can carry a water bottle on the side. Inside pockets can hold items such as pocket money or napkins. ✔️ Insulation: An insulated lunch box helps keep food warm or cool. If you know you want to keep food cool, having a mesh pocket and an ice pack is smart. If you're using a bento box, consider placing it in a bag with an ice pack. ✔️ Your child's age: The fewer steps required to open a lunchbox, the quicker a small child can start eating. Have your child practice opening and closing the lunchbox at home before sending it to school with them. ✔️ Weight and size: Consider whether the lunchbox fits in your child's backpack or if you'll need a separate tote. If your child has a short walk or is driven to school, the size and weight of a lunchbox may be less of a concern for you. ✔️ Materials: Stainless steel is durable, plastic-free and easy to clean in the sink or dishwasher, though it is the heaviest lunchbox material. A rigid plastic bento box is lighter and usually dishwasher-safe. Many fabric lunchboxes can be washed in the sink or placed in the top rack of a dishwasher, but they require some time to trust Good Housekeeping? The Good Housekeeping Institute has been testing consumer products for over 100 years, and our experts specialize in everything families need for the back-to-school season. Lead reviewer Nicole Papantoniou directs the Kitchen Appliances Lab, overseeing all testing related to cooking products, including lunchboxes. She has been testing cooking tools, gadgets, gear and appliances since 2019, often involving her family members. Trained in classic culinary arts, Papantoniou is also a professional recipe developer. This guide was written by , a mom of two and a former editor at Parents magazine. A contributing writer for GH, she brings decades of experience evaluating products for babies and children, including back-to-school gear. You Might Also Like 67 Best Gifts for Women That'll Make Her Smile The Best Pillows for Every Type of Sleeper
Yahoo
07-08-2025
- Yahoo
The best (and worst) times to eat dinner, according to an expert
UK restaurants have seen a surge in 6pm bookings. Gone are the days of 9pm restaurant bookings and late-night Mediterranean-style banquets. For now, it's all about the 6pm dinner. According to new data from online reservation service OpenTable, the number of 6pm bookings in the UK have seen a sharp rise of 11% year-on-year, while hospitality tech company Zonal adds that 6.12pm has become the new national average. Interestingly, 5pm slots have also risen by 10% in the past year. Responding to the trend, which The Times has attributed to Gen Z, restaurants across London have begun introducing special menus, specifically catered towards early diners – much like pre-theatre offers. So, what's behind this trend? And is there a "right" time to eat your tea? Why are people eating earlier? There are a number of possible contributing factors – not least the influence of social media and the rise in hybrid working models post-COVID. Hannah Belsham, health and wellbeing physiologist at Nuffield Health's Highgate Hospital, tells Yahoo UK: "With more people working from home or having flexible hours, it's potentially easier to sit down to dinner sooner, with less commuting and more time to get extra commitments done sooner in the day." Even those commuting to the office may wish to dine earlier if they're eating out, especially if they need to catch a train. The rise in "What I Eat In a Day" videos may also be influencing this trend, along with Gen Z's move away from drinking culture. It's less about pints at the pub after work and more about wellbeing and nutrition. Earlier dinner times have long been favoured among Brits, though, with a 2020 YouGov poll revealing most UK adults (34%) sit down to eat between 6-6.59pm. The same poll showed 23% eat between 7pm-7.59pm and 25% between 5pm-5.59pm. Parenthood likely also contributes to this trend, with many adults opting to eat at the same time as their kids for ease. That said, research by Sainsbury's from January 2021 revealed that just 28% of households were sharing the same meal in the evening and 55% stated they struggled to sit down together for family meals. The impact of late-night eating According to Belsham, eating a large meal late at night can interrupt our circadian rhythm – the body's natural internal clock which regulates sleep, hormone production, and metabolism. "Digestion increases metabolic activity, raising body temperature and diverting blood flow to the gut when the body is preparing for rest. This misalignment can impair sleep onset and quality," she explains. Moreover, late-night eating is linked to impaired glucose metabolism. "Studies show that consuming high-calorie meals closer to bedtime can reduce insulin sensitivity, leading to higher blood sugar levels overnight, which over time may increase risk for metabolic conditions such as type 2 diabetes." But then, when we look to our Mediterranean counterparts, who generally eat far later than we do, they are the picture of health – with one study from Harvard suggesting they live longer, have better brain and heart health and have reduced risk of cancers. In fact, the Mediterranean diet and lifestyle is something many of us Brits try to emulate, owing to its many benefits. On this topic, Belsham notes: "Despite later dinner times, Mediterranean populations often exhibit excellent metabolic health and lower rates of chronic disease. This seeming paradox can be explained by meal composition and lifestyle. Mediterranean dinners emphasise nutrient-rich foods like vegetables, legumes, whole grains, lean proteins, and healthy fats, foods that produce a more gradual rise in blood sugar and are easier to digest. "Additionally, portion sizes tend to be moderate, and meals are typically social and relaxed events, which may reduce stress-related digestive issues and improve nutrient absorption. The physical activity common in these cultures also helps regulate metabolism and supports cardiovascular health," she adds. The best (and worst) times to eat your dinner As Belsham says, individual factors such as your lifestyle, digestive health, and sleep patterns will influence the optimal timing of your heaviest meal. "If you experience acid reflux, poor sleep, or discomfort after late dinners, it's worth experimenting with eating earlier (ideally finishing at least two to three hours before bedtime)," she recommends. On the other hand, if you routinely eat later without any negative symptoms and maintain good sleep and energy levels, your current routine may be well suited to your biology, per the expert. Practical recommendations Aim to complete your largest meal two to three hours before you go to bed to allow digestion to progress before sleep. Prioritise balanced meals rich in fibre, healthy fats, and lean proteins to stabilise blood sugar and reduce digestive strain. If you prefer later dinners, keep portions moderate and avoid overly fatty or spicy foods that can interfere with rest. Monitor your body's responses and adjust timing accordingly for optimal wellbeing. Ultimately, Belsham says, while there is no universal "perfect" dinner time, understanding how meal timing interacts with your circadian biology and lifestyle can help you make informed choices that support digestion, sleep, and long-term health. Read more about health and nutrition What you need to know about Japanese walking and how to do it every day (Yahoo Life UK, 4-min read) How to BBQ – and not poison your guests (Yahoo Life UK, 7-min read) Why you shouldn't drink iced coffee on a hot day (Yahoo Life UK, 3-min read)
Fox News
04-08-2025
- Fox News
Boomers loved it, Gen Z won't touch it: Why cereal is no longer a breakfast staple
Once the breakfast of champions for millions of Americans, cereal seems to be losing its crunch — especially among younger generations who are redefining the morning meal. Sales of boxed cereal, once a pantry staple for generations, have been declining in the United States for over 25 years. A temporary pandemic-era bump – when more Americans had time for sit-down breakfasts – wasn't enough to help. Cereal sales in the U.S. dropped over 13% from nearly 2.5 billion boxes in 2021 to 2.1 billion in the same period this year, according to Nielsen IQ. Since the 1990s, grab-and-go options like Nutri-Grain breakfast bars and Clif Bars have posed a challenge to cereal. Now, yogurt cups and protein shakes are also stealing the spotlight. Experts claim this isn't just about convenience, but rather represents a generational shift in how people fuel their mornings. Members of Generation Z, born between 1997 and 2012, especially are rethinking the way millennials, Gen X and baby boomers approach breakfast, according to Kenton Barello, a vice president at market research firm YouGov. Gen Zers are less likely to eat breakfast at all and if they do, they're choosing eggs, fruit, toast and pancakes ahead of cereal, according to YouGov's research. They also eat more vegetables at breakfast than older generations. Thirty-six percent of Gen X, born between 1965 and 1980, still opt for cold cereal – 10% more than their Gen Z counterparts, according to YouGov. While Gen Zers still buy some boxed cereal, data suggests they eat it as a snack or for other meals. "With younger generations, there are differences in their relationship with food and these eating moments," Barello said. Gen Z social media influencers are embracing the "crunchy" trend — meant to evoke not cereal but granola and signaling a health-focused, all-natural lifestyle. Annika Zude of Iowa, known online as @ThatCrunchyGirlAnnika, posts videos on TikTok and Instagram of highly processed foods she'd never eat. "I would never eat sugary cereals if I wanted my day to go well," Zude, a teenager, told Fox News Digital. "You couldn't pay me to eat them." Instead, she said she prefers to "eat something nutritious like steak, eggs or ground beef for breakfast." Concerns about food processing and sugar intake have dimmed enthusiasm for cereal for consumers across generations, too. Just one cup of Lucky Charms contains 24% of the recommended daily sugar intake, for example. The artificial dyes used in many cereals have been under intense scrutiny of late, largely a result of the growing Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) movement. Last year, demonstrators rallied outside WK Kellogg's headquarters in Battle Creek, Michigan, demanding the removal of the dyes. Kellogg and General Mills have since pledged to phase them out. Among Kellogg's pledges: The company said it's "reformulating our cereals served in schools to not include FD&C [food, drug and cosmetic] colors by the 2026-27 school year," according to a statement on its website. It also says it "will remove FD&C colors from the small percentage of our foods in retail that contain them today, by the end of 2027." It added, "We are committed to continue working with HHS and FDA to identify effective solutions to remove FD&C colors from foods." "Americans today want to recognize what's in their breakfast and know that it's doing something good for their bodies," Jennifer Hillis, a registered dietitian and citrus nutrition research liaison at the University of South Florida, told Fox News Digital. "They don't want any hidden ingredients," Hillis added. "That's why I always recommend building breakfast around core foods that will help fill you up and provide you with key nutrients to have a successful day." Italian confectioner Ferrero Group – maker of Ferrero Rocher chocolates – recently said it plans to purchase WK Kellogg, maker of Corn Flakes, Froot Loops, Rice Krispies and other popular brands. "Enhancing our portfolio with these complementary household brands marks an important step towards expanding Ferrero's presence across more consumption occasions and reinforces our commitment to delivering value to consumers in North America," Ferrero Group CEO Lapo Civiletti said. But the sale doesn't mean cereal is at total risk of extinction. Packaged food companies have options for turning around their soggy cereal sales, according to Tom Rees, global insight manager for staple foods at the consulting company Euromonitor. Kellogg's Mashups line, which mixes brands like Frosted Flakes and Froot Loops into one box, appeals to younger consumers, who tend to like interesting flavor combinations, Rees told The Associated Press (AP). The market may also have a fragmented future, according to Rees. Companies may have to accept that younger buyers want a sweet-and-spicy cereal, while older buyers might want a keto-friendly option. "The future might be realizing that the era of 'This brand will serve everybody' isn't going to happen," Rees said. The Associated Press contributed reporting.
