When was the last time you changed your bed sheets? A week ago? A month ago? Or was it even longer?
A laundry expert has revealed how often you should really wash your bedding – and it’s probably more regularly than you think.
How often to clean bed sheets
We spoke to Hyacinth Tucker, who owns mobile laundry and dry cleaning delivery service The Laundry Basket, which is based in the Greater DC, Maryland and Northern Virginia area.
She told The Focus the “general rule of thumb” is to wash your bed sheets once a week to keep your sleeping environment clean and hygienic and “remove sweat, dead skin cells, and other bodily fluids that can accumulate over time”.
One survey by Sleep Advisor found that the average American only changes their sheets every 24 days, which is more than three weeks!
It’s a great idea to set a specific day to wash your sheets each week to ensure you don’t forget. Many like to do a Sunday Reset, which involves changing your bed and cleaning your home in preparation for the week ahead.
However, Tucker explained that everyone’s situation is different, and the frequency you need to clean your sheets will vary depending on a number of factors.
“Your personal hygiene habits, allergies, and skin conditions can all play a role in how often you should wash your sheets” she said.
If you sweat a lot in the night or have oily skin, you might need to wash your sheets more often to prevent odors and allergens from building up. Similarly, if you have allergies or respiratory issues, washing your sheets more can help remove dust mites and potential triggers.
If you have pets in your bed, it might also be a good idea to wash your sheets more often. However, if you live in a cooler climate or sleep alone and don’t sweat much, you might be able to stretch the time between washings to every two weeks.
“The key here is finding a balance between staying clean and conserving water and energy. Regular washing and proper care not only ensure a good night’s sleep but also help your linens last longer.”
Best temperature to wash bedding
A study by Amerisleep found that after one weeks without washing, pillowcases and sheets contain between three million and five million CFUs (colony-forming units) of bacteria per square inch, which is 17,000 times more bacteria than a toilet seat.
By the fourth week, this increases to almost 12 million CFUs. The most common kind of bacteria they found was gram-negative rods, which commonly cause pneumonia and other infections, and bacilli, which causes food poisoning.
You can get rid of this bacteria by cleaning your sheets on a hot temperature. Laundry brand Lenor says a good general temperature to wash bed sheets is 40 degrees, but 60 degrees will be better at killing germs and should be used if someone in the house has been ill.
Make sure you don’t overload the washing machine as bedding needs to circulate to get clean. Once washed, make sure you fold and store your sheets somewhere dry until you’re ready to put them on your bed.
