Silver in the fibers limits the growth of odor-causing bacteria on the fabric. That is the whole claim. It is a laundry-frequency benefit rather than a health one, and most of the confusion around these sheets comes from people expecting it to be the second thing.
Silver ions carry a positive electrical charge. Bacterial cell membranes are negatively charged, so the ions are drawn to them and disrupt how the bacteria function. Less bacteria on the fabric means less of the sour smell that bedding develops after a few nights.
The silver is woven into the fibers at the yarn stage rather than applied as a finish to the surface, which matters for the next question.
Not the way a surface treatment would. A sprayed-on antimicrobial finish degrades with washing because it sits on top of the fiber and gradually comes off. Silver worked into the thread itself maintains its effect through repeated washes and regular use.
What can damage it is bleach and fabric softener, which is why the care guidance rules both out. Softener is the more common mistake, because people assume it is harmless.
It reduces up to 99.7% of odor-causing bacteria. Three parts of that sentence are worth reading carefully.
The fabric carries an OEKO-TEX certification, which means it has been tested for harmful substances. Silver has a long history of use in textiles, and because it sits inside the fiber rather than coating the surface, there is nothing on top to rub onto your skin. If you have a known silver allergy, that is a conversation for your doctor rather than a sheet manufacturer.
No. Silver addresses bacteria. It does nothing about the sweat, skin oils, dead skin cells and dust a bed also collects, and those build up whether or not anything smells. This is why the guidance says every 10 to 14 days rather than "wash when it smells". The silver moves the interval, it does not remove it.
This is not a medical or health product. The treatment does not protect users against bacteria or other disease organisms, and that is the right way to read it. Nothing on a bedsheet substitutes for hygiene or medical care. It also does not cool the room, cure skin conditions, or do anything about dust mites beyond what any tightly woven cotton does.