How Often You Should Wash Your Sheets and Bedding

Your bed accumulates dirt, oil, and sweat while you sleep, making regular sheet washing essential for a clean and healthy sleep environment. On average, people change their sheets every 24 days, but for optimal hygiene, washing your sheets weekly is recommended.

Factors Influencing Wash Frequency

  • Travel: If you’re not home often, you can extend the time between washes.
  • Sweating: If you sweat heavily or share your bed with pets, wash more frequently.
  • Health Conditions: Allergy sufferers and those with sensitive skin should wash sheets every 3-4 days.

Tips to Extend Freshness

  • Personal Hygiene: Shower before bed to reduce dirt and oil.
  • Pet-Free Bed: Avoid letting pets sleep in your bed.
  • No Snacks: Refrain from eating in bed.
  • Multiple Sets: Keep extra sheets to make swapping easier.

Additional Cleaning Tips

  • Air Out Your Bed: Turn back covers to let moisture dry before making the bed.
  • Disinfect: Wash sheets in hot water weekly.
  • Mattress Care: Vacuum your mattress a few times a year.
  • Increased Washing: Wash more often if sick, sleeping nude, or after a workout.
  • Pillow Care: Wash pillows twice a year along with duvets and other coverings.

Detergent Tips

  • Use hypoallergenic, fragrance-free detergent to avoid irritation, and ensure not to overdose, as excess detergent can remain in fabric fibers and cause skin reactions.

By following these guidelines, you can maintain a clean, fresh, and healthy sleeping environment.