How Often Should You Clean Your Bed Sheets (According to an Expert)

Fri, Oct 13, 2023 21:23 CET

Maintaining clean sheets can be a real chore, and it's easy to forget when you last changed your bed sheets. Some people claim to wash their bedding every few days, while others will go several weeks or even months between washes. So, how often should you really change your bed sheets?

A white pillow on a bed

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Cleaning and laundry expert Sarah Dempsey at MyJobQuote.co.uk has created this guide to answer just that. Here, Sarah explains just how often you should change your sheets, some factors that may increase the recommended wash times, and some ways in which you can keep your bedding fresh between washes. She also explains what can happen if you don’t change your bedding enough. Read on to find out more.

How Often Should You Clean or Change Your Bed Sheets?

Most of the time, you should aim to wash your bedding once a week. If you get particularly sweaty through the night, you should wash your bedding more often. If you don’t sleep in your bed every night, you can wash your bedding every two weeks or so (depending on how much you use it).

When it comes to your pillows and bedding, you should aim to clean them at least twice a year. Most duvets can be cleaned in a washing machine. Pillows may need to be hand-washed to prevent them from becoming lumpy.

It's best to wash your bedsheets at a high temperature to make them as clean as possible. Keep in mind that you spend a lot of your time in bed, so you want to make sure your bedding is as clean as possible.

Factors That May Affect How Often You Should Clean Your Bed Sheets

There are some factors that may warrant more frequent washing times. You should wash your bed sheets more often if:

You sweat a lot in the night
You have allergies or asthma
You are sensitive to dust
You eat food in bed
You have a lesion or infection which makes contact with the bedding
Your pet sleeps in or on the bed with you
You sleep naked
You go to bed without showering

What Happens If You Don't Clean Your Bed Sheets Enough?

If you don’t wash your bedding regularly, this could leave you exposed to things like bacteria, fungi, animal dander, and pollen. These are all things that commonly build up on bedding. Some other things that may build up in unwashed bedding include sweat, bodily secretions, and skin cells.

While these things may not necessarily make you ill, they potentially could. These things may also irritate existing conditions, such as contact dermatitis or eczema. Those with asthma and problems with allergies may experience worse symptoms.

How to Keep Bed Sheets Clean Between Washes

There are several things you can do to help make sure your bedding remains clean when between washes. Here are some examples:

Take your makeup off before getting into bed
Shower before bedtime
Avoid sleeping in the bed after a sweaty gym session
Avoid putting on creams, oils, or lotions before getting into bed
Remove dirt and debris from your feet before getting into bed
Avoid eating and drinking in bed
Don’t allow your pets on the bed

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