While you sleep, your bed collects all kinds of dirt, oil, and sweat. Learn how to wash bedsheets so you can sleep soundly on clean sheets.
You spend up to eight hours a day in bed, which causes dirt, body oils, dead skin cells, sweat, and other grime to accumulate on your sheets and bedding. All of this residue isn’t just unpleasant to think about; it may also feed dust mites, put extra pressure on fabric fibers, and cause health issues such as allergies, skin irritation, and acne—not ideal for a restful night’s sleep.
According to a recent Mattress Advisor poll, the average person replaces their sheets every 24 days. However, that is not the optimum schedule for maintaining good hygiene and freshness. The frequency with which you should wash your sheets is determined by a number of circumstances, but there are some broad guidelines that work for the majority of individuals. Continue reading to find out how often you should wash your bedding and how to keep them fresh if you decide to break the rules a little.
How Frequently Should Sheets Be Laundered?
Washing your bed sheets once a week keeps them fresh on a regular basis. To assist encourage the habit, add this task to your weekly cleaning schedule. Remember that you don’t have to wash your linens the same day you strip your bed. Having a few alternative sheet sets on hand allows for simple swapping.
While once a week is a decent rule of thumb, the frequency with which you should wash your linens is determined by how rapidly they become dirty. For example, if you travel frequently and do not sleep in your own bed every night, you can probably go a little longer between washes. If you or your sleeping partner sweat a lot when sleeping, or if you share a bed with your pet, your linens will become dirtier much faster. Individuals with allergies or sensitive skin may also wish to replace their bedsheets more frequently, such as every three to four days.
If washing your linens weekly (or more regularly) isn’t an option, there are a few things you can do to extend the duration between washes. To begin, wash your face and bathe or shower before going to bed to limit the amount of filth, oil, and sweat you carry into your bed. Consider having your pet sleep somewhere else to prevent hair and dander from getting on your bedding, and avoid munching in bed. Having numerous sets of sheets also makes this task easier because you can just switch out your bedding and leave the laundry for another day.
Now, here are some tips to help you sleep every night on a clean, safe, and bug-free bed:
– 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
– Apart from the use of hypoallergenic detergent, Joshua Zeichner, MD, the director of cosmetic and clinical research in dermatology at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City, suggests the use of fragrance-free detergent, but only in the recommended amount, as overdosing “ means that the detergent molecules themselves can become lodged between fibers of the fabrics” and lead to irritation reactions.
