Having clean sheets is important to your health and your quality of sleep. But did you know that most people don’t change their sheets for about three weeks?
Washing sheets and other bedding should be a regular chore, but how often should you do it? If you’re wanting to sleep better and have cleaner sheets, keep reading to learn how.
What’s in Your Unwashed Sheets?
You shed tons of skin cells each day and several thousand ends up in your bed. So, when you climb into bed each night without changing your sheets, you’re likely sleeping in your own skin cells. Dust mites love skin cells, and so without changing your sheets, it’s an invitation to them for a feast.
It gets worse: if you sleep naked you may be introducing other bodily fluids into your sheets as well. Your sheets also absorb sweat, skin oils, and more. Other people who sleep in your bed, and pets, or other animals also excrete their own filth.
Not washing your sheets can lead to skin problems. You may end up with an allergic reaction, skin inflammations, acne, or more, as the debris upsets your skin’s balance.
When Should You Wash Your Sheets?
Because people are busy, washing and changing their sheets don’t score too high on a list of priorities. But because so much accumulates in your sheets, it’s a good idea to stick to a schedule for washing.
Generally speaking, you need to change and wash your sheets once a week. This is a standard rule that is easy to follow and works well when you have several sets of sheets you can change.
This suggestion fluctuates depending on your lifestyle. If you’re gone for long periods of time without sleeping in your bed, you won’t have to change your sheets weekly. However, if you suffer from skin problems like acne, or sleep with pets or other people, you may want to wash your sheets every few days to keep dust mites at bay.
Those with asthma or allergies are encouraged to change their sheets every few days as well to avoid potential breathing and health problems.
Washing Sheets: A Quick Guide
So what is the best way to wash your sheets to ensure all the filth and debris is gone? Here’s a quick guide to washing your sheets so you can sleep better at night.
- Always wash your sheets in the hottest water possible if you can. For some sheets, however, you’ll want to follow washing directions because hot water may be damaging to the fabric. Hot water kills most bacteria.
- Use a normal detergent. You can use any detergent you like, but make sure it’s a proper use for the sheets you have. Don’t forget to spot treat your sheets if there are any stains. Some machines have a sheet setting on them and some do not. If they do not, simply use a regular cycle.
- When the sheets are clean, run them in the dryer on the hottest setting they can handle. You can line dry your sheets if your local area allows.
- It’s important to wash your sheets by themselves. Some people stuff their washing machine with towels, sheets, and other clothes, but it’s important to wash your sheets alone. Some towels and clothes take more drying time, and you’ll overuse electricity by combining items.
When you’re washing your sheets make sure you have an extra set or two. Sheets take several hours to wash and dry, and if you need to make your bed you’ll have extra sheets to do so.
Other Sheets to Wash
Besides the initial bed sheets you sleep on, you also have pillowcases, duvets, comforters, and other blankets that need to be washed as well. When is the best time to wash those?
Again, this will depend on how much you use them and when. Because these don’t have direct contact with your skin as much as your sheet,
If you struggle with acne, you may want to change your pillowcase every few days to reduce the number of bacteria and dust that accumulate on your skin.
A large duvet cover or comforter should be washed every few months. However, if you have pets you may want to wash them more frequently.
Don’t forget about cleaning your mattress as well. Even though your sheets protect your mattress, as well as a mattress protector, skin cells and oils can still end up on your mattress. Cleaning and flipping your mattress every six months or so will keep it in great shape.
Keeping Clean Sheets
There are ways in which you can keep less skin and body debris out of your bedsheets.
You can wear pajamas to bed. Wearing pajamas to bed means your skin comes in contact with the sheets less.
Even though you may love your pet, they deposit skin, fur, slobber, and other debris from their body onto your bed. If you can, keep pets off your bed.
Showering before bed can remove skin cells and debris of the day. That way you can go to bed cleaner and fewer skin cells end up in your bed.
Washing Your Sheets
Having clean sheets is preferable for your health and your sleep. Once a week, strip your bed, wash your sheets, and sleep better!
Do you find that you don’t have time to clean your sheets? We offer a laundry service that will take care of it for you! Learn more about the services we offer or request a quote.