How Often Should You Wash Your Sheets?
Keep your bedding as clean as possible.
A comfortable bed is a vital component to a good sleep, which is why people are typically mindful of the type of bedding they select. Washing and changing that bedding however, is not something that is usually given as much thought. Whether you see it or not, your linens collect dirt, body oil, and sweat as you sleep – potentially leading to bacteria, dust mites, bed bugs, and skin irritation. This begs the question – how often should you wash your sheets? Keep reading to ensure your bed sheets are as hygienic as possible.
How Often Should You Wash Your Sheets?
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In general, most people wash their sheets about every 24 days or so – but in reality, you should aim for once every two weeks at a minimum. The optimal number once per week is a good rule of thumb unless you spend less time in bed (like if you are away from home). This number can increase if you sweat at night, live in a hot climate, sleep with a partner, and/or have pets. If you have sensitive skin or allergy symptoms, you might want to clean your sheets even more frequently, such as every three or four days.
If you are unable to wash your sheets every week, try for every two weeks. There are also a few ways you can help stretch that time between changes.
- Shower or bathe before you get into bed to reduce tracking dirt between your sheets
- At the very least, towel yourself off before going to sleep, especially if you are particularly active or exercise in the evening
- Try to clean your face of any makeup and other products
- Don't eat in bed – stray crumbs or spills can dirty your sheets even faster
- Give your pet their own bed to sleep in
- Keep the room temperature low at night to help reduce your sweating
That being said, if you are sick or suffer from severe allergies, you should aim to change the linens more frequently than every two weeks.
Tip!
If you try to include stripping the bed in your weekly chores, you will be able to maintain optimal comfort and cleanliness. To make things easier for yourself, keep an extra sheet set or two on hand so you can change them out instead of relying on running a full washing cycle before you can remake the bed. Read Bedding Storage Options to Save You Space for some linen storage ideas.
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The average person sheds around 500 million skin cells a day (equivalent to half a teaspoon) – with about 160 million of these falling off in the bed as the sheets cause friction against your body. It's no wonder dirty sheets are a breeding ground for bacteria. Your linens can also accumulate other types of dirt:
- Dust mites which feed on dead skin cells
- Bodily fluids (sweat, oil, saliva, and other waste)
- Crumbs and other food particles (spills if you eat in bed)
- Beauty products (lotions, makeup, hair products)
- Pet dander and other dirt your pets paws my pick up from outside
What Happens If You Don't Wash Your Bedding Regularly?
Not only will infrequent washing of your sheets cause a buildup of grime, but the longer you wait between washes, the more your body fluids and dirt will seep into the mattress and bed pillows. While you can use mattress protectors and pillow protectors to help prevent this, they will also eventually need an occasional wash.
Additionally dust mites might encourage itching, seasonal allergies, and asthma flare ups or result in irritations like dry skin, eczema, rashes, and even acne.
Extra Cleaning Tips
- Use hot water in the washing machine to help to kill dust mites.
- Try washing your sheets separately from clothes for a more thorough clean.
- Always make sure to check washing instructions – some bedding cannot tolerate high heat (bamboo, linen, and cotton may have require cold water or have other specific requirements).
- Pre-treat stains before laundering your bedding.
- Remove your sheets from the tumble dryer immediately after the cycle ends to prevent wrinkles.
How Often You Should Clean Your Bedding
While your sheets should be cleaned the most frequently, your other bedding also needs to be washed. Since there are no hard and fast rules, here are some general guidelines to help you out:
Weekly or Biweekly: Fitted and top sheet
Monthly: Pillow protectors (more if you don't remove your makeup before bed)
Three Months: Spot treat your mattress topper or pad (unless it gets soiled before), duvet covers, throws, comforters, and inserts
Six Months: Spot treat your mattress and flip or rotate it, depending on the make. To remove odors you can also sprinkle a layer of baking soda and let it sit for a couple of hours and vacuum it up to refresh
Seasonal: Bed pillows can be cleaned once per season (but check washing instructions or labels for specific details)
Since it is not necessarily intuitive, hopefully we have answered the question “How often should you wash your bed sheets?” so you can keep your skin safe and your bed fresh and comfortable.
