A couple of nights back when the temperatures were sub-zero and so were the wind chill readings, my wife Amy crawled into bed with me at the end of the day. As she pulled back the covers to get in, I noticed she was wearing some fuzzy pink socks.

Me: Really? I can't believe you're wearing socks to bed.

Amy: And I can't believe that you're not.

Me: Does wearing socks even do anything? Do you feel warmer? More comfortable? It seems kind of unnecessary, don't you think?

Amy: This coming from a guy who has his own electric blanket that he gave a stupid name to and keeps turned up to medium-high. Is that necessary?

Me: You and your socks need to leave Mr. Heaty out of this! And yes, he's necessary and essential.

Amy: (nothing further because she and her fuzzy pink socks left the room with Amy shaking her head)

Woman's crossed legs with colorful winter socks. isolated on white.
Not the same socks, but very close. (Getty Images)
loading...
Getty Images
These are for when it's super-cold. (Getty Images)
loading...

A Recent Survey On The Topic Of Wearing Socks To Bed Showed That 63 Percent Of Respondents Do Not Sleep With Socks On, While 18 Percent Do...And 19 Percent Apparently Have No Idea Whether They Do Or Not

So put us down as a 50-50 couple. She'll wear socks to bed sometimes, and I never do. She does it to keep warm and sleep better, while I don't because...well...I don't really have a reason other than it feels weird to have socks on under the covers.

So, who is doing things right?

It turns out that we both may be, because there are a couple of schools of thought when it comes to wearing socks to bed.

Woman wearing woolen socks and resting in bed.
Getty Images
loading...
Feet of a boy in white socks lying on a bed with a white linen
Getty Images
loading...

Let's Take A Look At Some Reasons Wearing Socks To Bed Is A Good Thing

According to a recent piece at MentalFloss.com, one argument is that wearing those socks under the covers could actually have a surprisingly positive effect on the overall quality of your sleep.

The other argument is that even if socks do make for better beauty rest, they might not be so hygienic in other ways.

First, the pros:

  • A better night's sleep because warm feet help lower core body temperature, which helps you fall asleep faster and sleep longer without interruptions.
  • Reduction of hot-flashes and heat-spikes because of the reduction in core body temperature.
  • Feet warmed by socks also lead to better blood circulation while you sleep.

Now, let's move on to no socks in bed.

Man's Feet Underneath a Duvet in Bed.(focus on feet)
Getty Images
loading...
Yellow Labrador Retriever
The best of both worlds! (Getty Images)
loading...

It Appears That The Biggest Argument Against Wearing Socks To Bed Has To Do With Hygiene (Or The Lack Of It)

It can all be broken down to a single word: Bacteria. That's especially true if you wear the same socks to bed at night that you've worn all day long, according to researchers who tested socks that people had worn from 7am to 11pm.

MentalFloss.com:

Researchers found traces of Pseudomonas aeruginosa on the socks, a type of bacteria often found in contaminated water but also in cockroach feces. This rather nasty form of bacteria can be resistant to antibiotics, and can lead to a host of unpleasant symptoms, including dermatitis and infections in the blood and lungs.

The socks you’ve spent the whole day in could be even dirtier than the remote control you use at home, which is worrying given that other recent lab testing from Good Housekeeping revealed that remote controls are often up to 20 times dirtier than a toilet seat.

KEEP READING: 15 Natural Ways to Improve Your Sleep

More From WROK 1440 AM / 96.1 FM