There's a disgusting reason you should shower at night

I’ve always showered at night. I got into this habit early in life—I had evening swim practices and preferred to wash the chlorine away before bed.

Plus, I’m a night owl and require about five alarms to get out of bed on time. Showering in the morning just takes up way too much precious sleep time.

But some nights, when I go to bed with a sopping wet mop of hair, I wonder if I'd be better off with a morning shower. So is there a correct answer to should you shower at night or in the morning?

Chandler Coleman, a consumer insights investigator for ConsumerSafety.org, says, “Scientists have made a case for both a.m. and p.m. showers, as there are advantages and disadvantages to each. While showering in the morning is a good pick-me-up and helps eradicate sleep inertia, night showers are relaxing and calm the body as a pre-bedtime ritual.”

While the decision might seem rooted in personal preference, it’s not that simple. Turns out, there’s more that should go into the decision-making than just relaxing or waking up. You must consider all of the germs, bacteria, and sweat between the sheets.

The answer is hiding in your bed

Our beds are actually hotbeds for bacteria—yikes! According to one study, we lose up to 26 gallons of sweat in bed per year, or one liter of sweat per day.

What’s more? The same study found 47 different species of fungi on 10 regularly used pillows. Turns out, pillows are full of dead skin, dust mites, and droppings, too. Wash your pillows regularly, people!

While you can clean your mattress and use pillow protectors, the best way to keep your bed clean is with a nighttime shower.

One of the benefits to showering at the end of the day is that you rinse toxins, sweat, and bacteria off your body before ever touching your sheets, says Coleman. However, you risk crawling into bed with soaking wet hair, which poses its own risks.

“Going to bed with a head of wet hair allows moisture to seep directly into your pillow, creating the perfect environment for unwanted fungi, bacteria, and more,” says Coleman.

Don’t worry: this isn’t a catch-22. As long as you dry your hair before bed, it is more hygienic to shower before bed.

Showering in the morning puts a pep in your step, say some

Some people just can't bear the thought of forgoing a morning shower—some even say it wakes them up more than coffee.

Ellen Wermter, a board certified family nurse practitioner at Charlottesville Neurology and Sleep Medicine, says, “It can alleviate sleep inertia that makes us feel groggy in the morning.” If that's the case for you, don't fret.

Showering in the morning is the best option for folks who don’t have time to dry their hair before bed. Going to bed with dry hair prevents damp pillows, and again, wet pillows lead to bacterial growth.

So, pick a side—Is it better to shower in the morning or at night?

While showering at night prevents bringing sweat and grime into your bed, your shower schedule is still a personal choice.

There’s tons of bacteria living in our beds according to AmeriSleep, but only some of them can actually make you sick.

If you’re showering in the morning, just be more diligent about regularly cleaning comforters and bedding, washing pillows when necessary, and using a top sheet to keep your duvet clean.

Showering at night on top of regular cleaning, will make a big difference if keeping your bed clean is a priority for you.

If all this talk of bacteria in your bed has you tempted to add a night shower on top of a morning shower—don’t.

Dr. Jessica Krant, a board-certified dermatologist with the American Academy of Dermatology, says, “On occasion, there may be a reason to shower twice a day, but those should be extremely short showers.”

Too much water exposure, particularly hot water, can lead to dry skin and hair, especially in people with atopic dermatitis or very dry skin. You're better off upping your laundry game and sticking to one shower a day. Whether that’s in the morning or at night is ultimately up to you.