We spend roughly 33% of our time sleeping in our beds. That’s a lot of time to re-energize ourselves and lead a happy life, but it’s also enough time to build up dust, dirt, sweat, and oil on our sheets.
Hygiene is an integral part of a healthy life and perhaps more significant when it comes to your bedding. Unhygienic sheets can lead to health issues such as allergies, dead skin, asthma, and much more. But the question is, how often should you wash your sheets? Let’s find out in our detailed article below.
How Often Should You Wash Your Sheets?
You should wash your sheets once per week. If you don’t sleep on your mattress regularly, you can stretch this duration to once every two weeks.
Some people need to wash their sheets even more than once a week. If you sleep with your pets or children, we recommend washing your sheets every 3-4 days. If you experience health disorders such as asthma, dead skin, or allergies, you can try washing your bed more frequently and check if there is any improvement in your health condition.
Some sleepers may have seasonal allergies, and washing sheets more often may help in reducing the symptoms. We recommend increasing the frequency of washing the sheets during summers as you may sweat a lot which may accumulate on your bed.
Why Do You Need to Wash Your Sheets?
Overlooking your sheet for a few days may result in large amounts of:
- Dust mites
- Dirt
- Dead skin cells
- Body oils
- Sweat
- Fecal matter of dust mites
Dust mites are tiny microscopic creatures and are common in most households. Their contact with your skin may lead to skin irritation and allergy symptoms for many people.
Dust mites multiply at a rapid rate. Even at this moment, your mattress may have tens of thousands of dust mites enjoying your bedding. Nobody wants to share their bed with thousands of dust mites accompanying them. It is where washing the sheets comes in handy.
What Happens if You Don’t Wash Your Sheets?
Not washing your sheets exposes you to dust mites such as fungi, bacteria, pollen, and their fecal matter on bedding. Other things found on sheets include body oils, sweat, and skin cells. It may lead to severe health conditions such as dermatitis and eczema.
Sleeping on dirty sheets may trigger the symptoms in people suffering from asthma and allergies. Even if you are not facing any allergies, sleeping on dirty sheets may lead to a stuffy nose and sneezing issues.
According to a study in 2017, you can contract and transmit infections through soiled beddings.
How to Wash Sheets
By now, you might have understood the significance of washing your sheets regularly. Let’s now understand how to wash bed sheets.
- First of all, read the manufacturer’s guide to check if specific instructions are related to your bed.
- Choose the warmness of the water according to your manufacturer’s instructions.
- Pick a gentle detergent and wash your sheet in a washing machine
- People with sensitive skin may consider increasing the rinse cycles to remove the dry chemical residue, if any.
- Dry using a washing machine or hang dry
The process of washing and drying the sheets may take a few hours. Hence you may even consider keeping a few extra sets of sheets. In this way, you can use your fresh sheet to make up your bed while the other sheet is being washed.
| Covers | Once a week |
|---|---|
| Duvet covers | Once every two weeks to a month |
| Comforters | Once every 2-3 months |
| Blankets | Once every 2-3 months |
| Pillows | Once every 4-6 months (if washable) |
How Often Should You Wash Your Bedding?
By now, you might have understood how often you should wash your sheets, but what about the other bedding essentials?
Well! Before anything else, we recommend checking the manufacturer’s instructions. Your bedding might have unique material and design that requires specific care and washing.
Experts recommend cleaning your mattress once every six months. Cleaning not only increases the lifespan of your mattress but also improves your sleep quality. It is also essential to replace your mattress timely, most probably every 6-8 years, to get the best quality sleep.
What Is the Best Way to Wash Sheets?
The best way to wash sheets is by using warm water and mild detergent in a washing machine. Hot water fades colors and can be harsh on fine threads, while washing in cold water may not clean your sheets properly. However, we recommend checking the manufacturer’s guidelines before proceeding.
Let’s understand do you need to wash new sheets in the next section.
Should You Wash New Sheets?
Your new bedsheet might seem crisp, clean, and ready for sleep. However, the fact is that new sheets are manufactured in a factory, and it would be a bad idea to use them directly without washing.
Sheets come up with starch called “sizing” to keep them smooth and crisp during the packaging. It helps in keeping them attractive until their purchase. However, sleeping on brand new sheets without washing may lead to an itchy, irritating sensation, giving the sleeper a scratchy or stiff feeling, even if you bought a soft, comfortable sheet. Using a small amount of detergent, water, and a dryer sheet will have them much softer with a pleasant smell.
Let’s understand how often should you change your bedding.
How Often Should You Change Your Sheets?
Under normal circumstances, you should change sheets after every 2-3 years. It is a good idea to replace them when you see wear and tear in your sheets, such as stains, faded patterns, or fraying hems. Other signs of damaged sheets include Yellowing and thinning of the sheets. These uncomfortable sheets may also harm your sleep quality.
The Final Word
Well! Now you have the answer to how often you should wash your sheets with the proof to back it up. You might be thinking washing the sheets once every week is a bit too much but keeping your sheets clean is nothing less than an investment in getting good sleep and healthy life.
Are you looking for a luxurious, sophisticated, and durable bed sheet? Check Nectar’s Luxury Cotton Bed Sheet made of extra-long staple cotton and designed to get softer with every wash.
