How Often Should You Change Your Bed Sheets?
How often should you change your bed sheets? Some people like fresh sheets every other day, some every week, and some leave it longer in between sprucing up their bed. However, there are some things that we should consider when wondering how often to change the bedding. Do you have a pet? Suffer from allergies? Maybe you prefer to shower in the morning rather than before you slip into your sheets at the end of the day. All of these things can affect how often you should wash your bedding.
First thing’s first. If you’ve got new sheets, wash them straight out of the packet. Make sure to check the care instructions to ensure you’re washing your bedding on the right cycle and at the right temperature. Consult our bedding care guide to find washing instructions for all of our fabrics and bed linen ranges if you’re working with a fabric you’re unsure about.
Now that they’re on, how long before they need to come off again? Dermatologists say you should change your bed once a week, once every two weeks at a push. Sweat, skin cells, food particles, dust, and debris from outside can get onto bedding, resulting in bacteria, mustiness, and even mites. Weekly is a good rule of thumb, and Soak&Sleep would always recommend having spare sets, including mattress and pillow protectors, and rotating them regularly. There are a few things, however, that could cause you to need to change your sheets more frequently:
Season
Although we all love a sunny day during the summer, no one likes to be tangled in sweaty sheets during a heatwave. Sweat can penetrate your bedding, making it musty and clogging the fabric. And, just like on our bodies, when sweat is left unwashed, it can cause bacteria to grow.
This is less of a problem in the cooler winter months, but dead skin cells from our bodies still shed onto our sheets during the night, so it’s important to wash your sheets at least once every two weeks.
Pets
If you like to cuddle with your furry friend at night, you might want to consider washing your sheets more than once a week. Not only do they double the amount of hair and skin in the bed, but they don’t shower very often either… and certainly not before they get in the bed with you!
Allergies
If you suffer from hay fever, eczema, or seasonal allergies, you’re more likely to be sensitive to the detritus that can build up on your sheets. Whether it’s pollen from your open window or build-up in your bedding irritating your skin barrier, dirty sheets can cause flare-ups. It’s best to keep them on a twice-weekly rotation.
How else can I keep my bedding fresh?
Along with washing your sheets regularly, there are plenty of other things you can do to keep your sheets clean:
Air them out
Pull the duvet back and shake in the morning to maximise airflow to your bedding, plump your pillows and open your windows to let in some fresh air.
Shower before bed
Washing off the day’s dirt before slipping between the sheets helps them stay fresh.
Wash your duvet and pillows
It’s not just your sheets that need regular cleaning, the rest of your bedding needs looking after too. We suggest washing your duvets and pillows when the seasons change. If you’re unsure about how to wash a duvet, we have all the info you need in our handy guide.
Are you looking for some new sheets to add to your weekly rotation? Explore our range of high-quality bed linen for the perfect addition to your slumber setup.
