How often do you really need to wash your sheets?

ANDEvery morning when Libbey Castle wakes up, she strips the bed and throws the sheets in the washing machine. It doesn’t matter if it’s a weekday or a weekend, if she has a light or busy day ahead, if she slept well or tossed and turned all night. The sheets will be washed.

“I let them do what they want and I go and happily brew coffee,” says Castle, 30, who lives in Washington, D.C. “Then I throw them in the dryer before I go work out. I come back, take a shower and the sheets are done. I throw them on the bed and start the day.”

Castle finds the reactions to his daily washing routine amusing. When she hosts a book club event or dinner, the group always asks the youngest participant if he knows she washes her sheets every day, and during Zoom meetings, her colleagues are eager to catch a glimpse of her famous clean bed. Castle tells them that knowing that clean sheets await her lifts her spirits throughout the day.

Health experts agree that Castle is on the right track: Most of us could benefit from washing our bedding more often. Sheets, pillowcases, and comforters can contain dirt, germs, and allergens that affect our skin and overall health, says Dr. Hannah Kopelman, a New York dermatologist. “It’s a buildup of all these contaminants and can eventually cause skin irritation and acne breakouts,” she says. “You may notice that your skin appears to have clogged pores or folliculitis,” which happens when hair follicles become inflamed. Or maybe your allergies, asthma or eczema are on the rise because the dead skin cells we shed during sleep are attracting legions of dust mites. These are all good reasons to head to the washing machine.

But what is the ideal point for washing frequency? We asked experts to share their favorite breaks—plus tips on how to do it well.

Sheets

At a minimum, you should wash your sheets once a week. But a variety of factors require more frequent washing. One of them is the summer heat. “We obviously sweat more in the summer, and that can lead to bacteria and odors in our sheets,” says Tonya Harris, an environmental toxics expert who wrote The slightly more ecological method, which offers tips on how to live a more sustainable and environmentally friendly life. Additionally, allergens like pollen can travel within you, so washing more frequently can help reduce symptoms you may be experiencing. It’s also a good idea to wash your sheets more often when you’re sick or sleeping with pets, says Harris. In these cases, every three or four days should be sufficient.

Check the label on your sheets for care instructions before washing. Although cotton can (and should) be washed in hot water, some materials, such as silk and satin, can only withstand lower temperatures. Use a mild detergent and then dry on low heat. Keeping an extra set of sheets on hand can help reduce wear and tear from extra washing in the summer, Harris points out, and showering before bed is another good idea. This helps reduce body oils, bacteria, odors and allergens, potentially increasing the time needed between washes.

See more information: Why do you sweat so much at night – and what to do about it

Duvets and other blankets

If you use a blanket as a top sheet, it will need to be washed at least once a week. But otherwise, if they don’t directly touch your skin, plan to wash blankets and comforters every two to three months, says Kathleen Razmus, director of operations, training and development at ZIPS Cleaners, a dry cleaning franchise. “Dust and dirt will accumulate, so it’s good to freshen up,” she says. “If the comforter is touching your skin, that’s different, and you might want to make it more frequent.”

As with all bedding, be sure to check care labels closely. Wool blankets often can’t be washed, which means you need to clean them. And sometimes comforters are too big to fit in home washing machines. If you suspect yours is over the size limit, Razmus advises taking it to a laundromat or laundromat where you can access large-capacity washers. Or invest in a duvet cover that protects the comforter – it should be much easier to throw in the washing machine regularly.

Pillows and pillowcases

When bedding company Amerisleep samples collected From volunteers’ sheets and pillowcases, they found that pillowcases contained more bacteria: up to 5 million colony-forming units per square inch after just a week of use. It makes sense. “Pillowcases are the landing pad for your skin, hair, and all the oil and dirt they carry with them,” says Jason James, who runs Shovel and brush, an organic house cleaning service in Melbourne, Australia. He recommends washing them at least once a week. People with sensitive skin or allergies often benefit from a more frequent routine, like every three to four days.

If that seems like a lot, there are a few things you can do to reduce potential mess, says James: Shower before bed and practice good hair hygiene, especially if you use a lot of products or have long hair. “Wrap your hair in a scarf or use a hair towel to avoid transferring oils and products to your pillowcase,” he suggests.

People often forget about pillows, but they also need to be washed. In general, once a season is ideal, although you can do this monthly if you prefer, says James. Most can be put in the washing machine, but it depends on the exact material and filling. Soaking buckwheat hulls, for example, will ruin them. Check the label to find out what’s best; If the pillow can be washed, use the gentlest washer and dryer settings possible. Otherwise, you will need to do this manually. James likes this method: Mix 1 teaspoon of vinegar and an oil-free soap (like organic castile) in a bowl of water. If you like essential oils, you can add a small drop to enhance the aroma. Then place the pillow in the water and squeeze gently; When finished, refill the basin with clean water and rinse the pillow until there are no traces of soap left. Then, place it on a clean towel and let it air dry for a few hours.

Mattress pads

People tend to overlook their mattress, but it’s a good idea to wash it every two to three months, says Razmus. Since it helps protect your mattress from sweat, spills, bladder leaks, dust mites, and dead skin, it can get really dirty. Check the care label carefully; Different materials require different washing techniques. Cotton mattress toppers, for example, can typically be machine washed on a gentle cycle, while wool requires dry cleaning or hand cleaning. Memory foam mattress toppers are typically not designed to be machine washed, but you can spot clean stains with a damp, soapy cloth.

See more information: What is the least amount of sleep you need?

Your mattress

You read that right: your mattress requires regular maintenance. For starters, every time you strip the bed, let the mattress breathe a little rather than immediately putting on a new set of sheets. “Leave it for a few hours with some windows open,” advises James. Stagnant air and covered mattresses encourage the development of dust mites, allergens, and mold spores, so this small step can go a long way.

As for actually cleaning that big, clunky thing? If you want to do the job yourself, Harris advises vacuuming two to three times a year. If you find it smells bad, sprinkle a thin layer of baking soda on it, let it sit for a few hours, then vacuum it up. The ideal is to turn the mattress over and vacuum the other side as well. (She’s not very good at this part, she acknowledges—flipping a king-size mattress isn’t exactly fun.)

If you prefer to outsource your mattress cleaning, most cleaners will bring a high-quality steam disinfectant to your home, says James. The process “kills all the nasties and leaves your bed ready for use in less than an hour or two.” He suggests cleaning every two years. That way, you can sleep peacefully at night knowing there’s nothing but sweet dreams hiding in your bed.