'While we often focus on how many hours we're getting, the quality of our sleep environment matters too,' said Professor Freestone. 'Regular laundering removes the biological soup of sweat, skin, dust and microbes, which helps to reduce allergic reactions, prevent infections and keep odours at bay.'
Coates explained that some gowns were tested over a year after arrival and had been stored in unknown conditions - including open-air container parks - which could have exposed them to contamination after the fact.