The Truth About How Often To Wash Your Sheets (Really)

While some people have a slew of tips for keeping the absolute cleanest bed, and give their sheets a change up every few days, others may leave them on for a month or so before they consider a run through the washer. Most of us, however, sit around the three-week mark when it comes to freshening up our bedding. But while this may be the standard, is two weeks really the sweet spot for changing out your sheets? It turns out that those erring on the side of frequency may actually be on the right track as many experts recommend two weeks as the absolute maximum, and suggest that a weekly change out is best when it concerns hygiene. 

Even if you are someone who showers every night before bed, you are still lying in your sheets for hours every night. Assuming you get an average of eight hours of sleep, that's like spending the length of a work day in your sheets every night, and while you may be more active and likely to dirty yourself while out and about, you still wouldn't want to wear the same pair of clothes for a week straight — let alone longer. 

Even if you have discovered the best room temperature for sleeping and staying cool at night, your sheets get dirty fast. Your sheets can collect everything from bacteria to dead skin to dust mites to pet dander — and the list goes on. Not to mention bodily fluids like sweat and saliva. Suffice it to say, it doesn't take long for your sheets to soak up the grime. The issue is that even if they pass the sniff test, your sheets could still be quite dirty, and that can exacerbate other issues like allergies, asthma, and acne, to name a few.

When it comes to washing your sheets, cold to lukewarm is best in order to protect the integrity of the fabric and prevent excessive wear and tear. If you are looking to disinfect your sheets after being sick, though, hot water is a must — just use it in moderation to prevent overworking your sheets. Be sure to read the care label before throwing it in the washer and dryer, as putting it in on the wrong settings can lead not only to your sheets wearing down more quickly, but also shrinking, as there are some materials you may wish to keep out of hot water altogether. If you have stains on your sheets, it is best to pre-treat them before throwing them in the wash. You will also want to use detergent sparingly. Using too much can leave residue on the sheets and prevent them from being as soft as possible.