How Often Should You Wash Your Sheets? Probably More Than You Think (2024)

How often should you wash your sheets? It may be more frequently than you think. You typically spend upwards of eight hours in bed each day, which leads to the buildup of dirt, body oils, dead skin cells, sweat, and other grime on your sheets and bedding. All this residue isn't just gross to think about; it can also provide fodder for dust mites, put extra strain on the fabric's fibers, and trigger issues including allergies, skin irritation, and acne—not exactly ideal for a peaceful night's sleep.

According to a recent survey by Mattress Advisor, the average person changes their sheets about every 24 days. But that's not the best schedule for optimal hygiene and freshness. How often should you wash your sheets? It depends on a few factors, but some general rules work for most people. Read on to learn exactly how often to wash your sheets and how to preserve their freshness if you decide to bend the rules a bit.

Here's How Much Laundry Detergent to Use for the Best Results

How Often Should You Wash Your Sheets? Probably More Than You Think (1)

How Often Should You Wash Your Sheets?

Washing your bed sheets about once a week ensures they always stay fresh. Add this task to your weekly cleaning schedule to help reinforce the habit. Keep in mind that you don't necessarily need to wash sheets the same day as you strip your bed. Having a few sheet sets on hand makes it easy to quickly swap.

While once a week is a good rule of thumb, it also depends on how quickly they get dirty. For example, suppose you travel often and don't sleep in your bed every night. In that case, you can probably wait a bit longer between washes. On the other hand, if you or your sleeping partner sweat a lot while sleeping, or if you share a bed with your pet, your sheets will become dirtier much faster. Allergy sufferers and individuals with sensitive skin might also want to change their bedsheets every three to four days.

If washing your sheets weekly (or more frequently) isn't feasible, you can take a few steps to stretch the time between washes. First, wash your face and bathe or shower before bedtime to reduce the dirt, oil, and sweat you bring into bed. Next, consider having your pet sleep elsewhere to avoid hair and dander on your sheets. Also, avoid snacking in bed.

Should You Wash New Sheets Before You Use Them?

How Often Should You Wash Your Sheets? Probably More Than You Think (2)

How to Wash Sheets

To start learning how to wash bedsheets, begin by checking the care tag for specific laundry instructions. Certain fabric types, such as bamboo, cotton, linen, and silk sheets, might require special care.

Always wash sheets separately from clothing or towels to ensure the best clean and prevent damage and additional wear. Pre-treat stains before laundering, then wash sheets on a gentle cycle using cool water. You don't necessarily need to wash sheets in hot water unless someone in your household has been sick or your goal is to kill dust mites to ward off allergies. Dry the sheets on a low heat setting and remove them from the dryer immediately after the cycle is finished to prevent wrinkles.

How Often You Should Wash Your Comforter and Other Bedding

Now that you know how often to wash sheets, you might wonder about other bedding. Generally, you should wash pillowcases about once a week. However, it's different if you frequently go to bed without washing your face or removing your makeup. You should change them more often, especially if you have acne or other skin concerns.

Duvet covers, comforters, and throw blankets don't need to be washed as often because they typically have less direct contact with your skin. Once every month or two should be enough. Plan to clean or replace your pillows every three to five months to keep them fresh and fluffy.

Our Complete Guide to Bed Sheets

There are so many kinds of sheets to choose from, but once you decide what type you want, our guides to finding the best ones of every type will help make shopping so much easier!

  • The 9 Best Cotton Sheets, According to Testing
  • The 8 Best Flannel Sheets, According to Testing
  • The 13 Best Bamboo Sheets, According to Testing
  • The 10 Best Linen Sheets, According to Testing
  • The 10 Best Percale Sheets, According to Testing
  • The 6 Best Silk Sheets, According to Testing
  • The 9 Best Organic Sheets, According to Testing

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Should you clean your mattress topper when you wash your sheets?

    You don't need to wash your mattress topper as frequently as you wash your sheets. Wash your mattress topper every three months or so (unless it gets stained or soiled in some way). Check the manufacturer's instructions for how to wash your mattress topper. Some, like foam toppers, shouldn't be put in the washing machine.

  • How often should you clean your mattress?

    Clean your mattress every six months or so. Vacuum and flip the mattress after checking for any stains that need attention. Use a mattress pad to protect your mattress from spills or stains.

How Often Should You Wash Your Sheets? Probably More Than You Think (2024)

FAQs

How Often Should You Wash Your Sheets? Probably More Than You Think? ›

Washing your bed sheets about once a week ensures they always stay fresh. Add this task to your weekly cleaning schedule to help reinforce the habit. Keep in mind that you don't necessarily need to wash sheets the same day as you strip your bed.

How often should you realistically wash your sheets? ›

"Regular washing, or about once every one to two weeks, is recommended to maintain cleanliness and a healthy sleep environment," says Harris. Once a week if you don't use a top sheet. Once a month if you do.

What happens if you don't wash your sheets often enough? ›

Unhealthy Skin and Breakouts

Bacteria on your linen can cause breakouts, whiteheads, skin inflammation, and intense itching. They can also cause skin problems like acne or eczema or exacerbate existing conditions.

How often do married couples change their sheets? ›

Men are more likely to wait longer between sheet changes than women (29.6 days vs. 19.4 days). On average, single people go 37 days before changing their sheets, while those in relationships go 21.8 days, and married couples go 19.9 days.

How long should bed sheets last? ›

Regardless of the type of bed sheets you have, they usually last about two to three years. After this time frame, you might notice them start to fade, pill, thin, or even tear in certain spots, which is completely normal for bedding that comes in direct contact with your skin on the regular.

How often should towels be washed? ›

How often to wash towels. The best way to prevent germs from growing on your bath towel is to let it dry completely between each use, and wash it frequently. The Cleaning Institute recommends washing bath towels after three uses. If you shower every day, that means laundry almost twice a week.

Is once a month enough to wash sheets? ›

Dermatologist Alok Vij, MD, says you should wash your sheets at least every two weeks — maybe more, depending on factors like whether you live in a warm climate and whether your pet sleeps in your bed. Dr. Vij talks dead skin, dust mites, bed bacteria and how to keep your skin safe when you lie down to sleep.

Can you get bed bugs from not washing sheets? ›

It is easy to avoid bed bugs in your home by following a few essential home care tips. The most important of these is that you keep the house clean. You cannot get bed bugs by simply not washing your bed sheets. Dirty or unwashed bed sheets are usually not why bed bugs invade your bedroom.

What's the longest you should go without washing your sheets? ›

Most people should wash their sheets once per week. If you don't sleep on your mattress every day, you may be able to stretch this to once every two weeks or so.

How often should I wash bedding to prevent dust mites? ›

Wash bedding in hot water (at least 120 degrees F) once a week. Reduce clutter, stuffed animals, and other places where dust mites live. If that's not possible, wash stuffed animals weekly in hot water (at least 120 degrees) to kill and wash away dust mites.

Why does my boyfriend turn the sheets yellow? ›

When we sleep on them, naturally occurring body oils, sweat, and dead skin (the primary cause of yellow staining) become embedded in the fibers.

How often should you wash your pillowcase? ›

Once a week

How often should seniors change their sheets? ›

Bed sheets also absorb sweat, dead skin cells, and bodily secretions, which can be unhygienic, especially for the elderly who stays in bed most of the time. How frequently one should wash their beddings depends on the circ*mstance, but in general, changing it once every two weeks is ideal.

When to throw away sheets? ›

Sheet lifespan depends on the material and whether it's used daily, bi-weekly or seasonally. If you use a sheet set every day of the year, you'll need to replace it after about two years. However, luxury cotton sheets, like percale and sateen, can offer another year or so of use.

How often is too often to wash your sheets? ›

How Often You Should Wash Your Sheets (And How to Get Them Really Clean) Experts recommend washing or changing sheets once a week. In this post we cover how best to do it, tips, and why it's good advice to follow.

Do expensive sheets last longer? ›

Luxury bed linens can last 10 to 12 years if properly cared for. High-quality bed sheets, if properly cared for, can last for many years. However, several factors can detract from their life. Lower-quality sheets typically wear out sooner.

Why do my sheets get dirty so fast? ›

The average sleeper spends 7 to 8 hours in bed each night, leaving ample time for sweat, body oil, dirt, dead skin cells, and dust mites to build up.

What percent of people wash their sheets weekly? ›

After reading the results of a new survey, it appears that I am indeed a clean freak. A survey of 1,000 Americans about their linen-cleaning habits finds that men clean their linens less often than women. Forty-one percent of women wash their sheets once a week, while 33 percent of men do the same.

Is it okay to change sheets once a month? ›

To cut to the chase, Dr Browning says we should be changing our sheets once a week, or every two weeks at the most. Hygiene is a big factor, and one of the reasons is sweat. If you've ever tried sleeping in a heatwave, you'll know how difficult it can be.

How often should I be doing laundry? ›

Here are some basic guidelines on how often to wash clothes: Shirts and blouses: after 1-2 wearings. Dress pants or slacks: after 2-3 wearings. Jeans: after 4-5 wearings.

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