Your bed gathers all sorts of dirt, oil, and sweat while you sleep. Learn how often to wash bedsheets so you can sleep soundly on fresh bedding.
Your sheets and bedding accumulate dirt, body oils, dead skin cells, sweat, and other grime because you usually spend up to eight hours in bed every day. Not only is all of this residue disgusting to consider, but it may also give dust mites food, stretch the fabric’s fibers further, and cause health problems like allergies, skin irritation, and acne—all of which are not exactly conducive to a restful night’s sleep.
According to a recent Mattress Advisor poll, the average consumer replaces their sheets roughly every 24 days. However, for the optimum freshness and hygiene, that schedule is not ideal. Although there are several variables that affect how frequently you should wash your linens, most individuals may follow a few simple guidelines. If you choose to defy the rules, read on to find out how often to wash your bedding and how to keep them fresh.
How Often to Wash Sheets
Washing your bed sheets about once a week ensures they stay fresh on a regular basis. Plan to add this task to your weekly cleaning schedule to help reinforce the habit. Keep in mind that you don’t necessarily need to wash sheets the same day as you strip your bed. Having a few different sheet sets on hand makes it easy to quickly swap.
Although washing your linens once a week is generally a good idea, how frequently you should do it will depend on how rapidly they get dirty. For instance, you may probably get away with going a little longer between washes if you travel frequently and do not sleep in your own bed every night. However, your sheets will get dirty much more quickly if you or your sleeping partner perspire a lot while you sleep or if you share a bed with your pet. People with sensitive skin and those who suffer from allergies may also wish to change their bed linens more frequently—every three to four days, for example.
There are a few ways to extend the interval between washes if washing your sheets once a week (or more regularly) is not practical. To start, wash your face and take a bath or shower before bed to minimize the quantity of perspiration, oil, and grime you carry into bed. To prevent hair and dander on your sheets, think about having your pet sleep somewhere else. You should also refrain from letting them eat in bed. Having several sets of sheets will help simplify this task because you can just change your bedding and put the laundry off for another day.
Now, here are some tips to help you sleep on a clean, safe, and bug-free bed every night:
– Turn back the covers to let the moisture dry for a few minutes before you make the bed
– Wash the sheets once a week with hot water to disinfect them
– Vacuum the mattress a few times a year
– You should wash the bedding more frequently if you are sick, sleep nude, or go to bed without showering after a workout or being outside for a long time
– Wash the pillows at least twice a year, as well as the duvets and other coverings
– Change the sheets often if you sweat a lot during the night, you eat in bed, or if you sleep with your kids or pets
The director of cosmetic and clinical research in dermatology at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City, Joshua Zeichner, MD, advises using fragrance-free detergent in addition to hypoallergenic detergent, but only in the recommended dosage because overdosing “means that the detergent molecules themselves can become lodged between fibers of the fabrics” and cause irritation reactions.