Failing to clean your bedding can lead to respiratory problems, infectious diseases, mood swings and even depression from the build up of bacteria and mould. Experts say Australians are breeding their own ecosystems in their beds without realising it. "People dont know that not cleaning their pillows can cause unnatural levels of fungi (mould)  to grow inside them, which can make them really sick," fungal expert at Mycologia lab Dr Heike Neumeister-Kemp said. 

Independent laboratory tests conducted by Mycologia found inmeasurable levels of mould and bacteria in household pillows tested last month. The tests were conducted on a 15 year old pillow, a four year old pillow and two two year old pillows, with the main difference being that one was encased with a waterproof protector from the day of purchase. The results showed all pillows hads an extremely high amount of mould and bacteria inside them, with the exception of the protected pillow, which only had natural levels of mould and less than half the level of bacteria. 

The 15 year old pillow, the four year pillow and the unprotected two year old pillow had a reading of 211. Mycologia also tested mould levels on the outside of the pillows, with results indicating the protected pillow had 78 per cent less mould than the two year old pillow and four year old pillow. Dr Neumeister- Kemp said fungi could affect behaviour by producing toxic substances known as myca toxins. "In pillows, soft fabric or beds, they are all the time collecting micro organisms which breeds out a secondary substance known as myca toxin, which has a neurological effect on the body you can breathe them, ingest them or take them in through the skin," he said.

Brisbane resident Amy Bridle, 29, a chronic allergy sufferer for 15 years, has been through a range of treatments, from a sinus operation and six months of needles to desensitise her against dust mites to muscle therapy and special diets. "I did not realise that my sleeping environment might be something to look at," she said.

Other than using pillow protectors, you can maintain your pillow or mattress by washing them in 55C water and vacuuming using a high efficiency air filter.

DID YOU KNOW?

The average person perspires up to one litre per night and loses millions of skin cells a day, creating a breeding ground for germs and bacteria.

After just one year the weight of a pillow will increase by 10 percent as a result of the trapped dead skin cells, dust mites and fungi inside it.