Here's How Often You Should Be Washing Your Bed Sheets

There is nothing like crawling into crisp, clean sheets at the end of a long day. But if you do not regularly wash your bed sheets, chances are they are not as clean as you think. After just a couple of nights, your sheets become a haven for dirt, sweat, bacteria, and other things you do not want tucked in with you every night. If that does not make you itch (pun intended) to run your sheets through the washing machine, meet the dust mite, a microscopic bug that snacks on the dead skin cells left in your sheets. 

So how often do you really need to wash your sheets (and the rest of your bedding) to ensure they are squeaky clean? At least once a week is considered the sweet spot, unless you have severe allergies or your pet snuggles up with you at night. The easiest way is to make a ritual of it. Consider popping your sheets in the washing machine every Saturday morning after your first cup of coffee, during your lunch break on Wednesday, or even during your weekly cleaning schedule.

Not washing your sheets regularly can also be detrimental to your health. Dirty sheets have been known to make your skin break out into a rash or irritate eczema. Have allergies or asthma? Dirty sheets could make your symptoms worse, so run your sheets through the wash at least a couple times a week. It may be worth having an additional set of sheets to rotate out while one set is being washed so you always have a clean set on hand.

The rest of your bedding needs regular washing too. Pillowcases require a weekly wash, so add them to the sheets load to make laundry easier. Your comforter, on the other hand, does not need to be washed as often, unless you do not use a top sheet. A monthly cleaning should be enough. If your comforter is too big for your washer, wash it by hand in your bathtub.

Should you use hot or cold water to wash your bedding? It depends. Always check your sheets' care instructions first. If there are no instructions, a good rule of thumb is to wash cotton in hot water and use warm for linen or polyester. Dry sheets and other bedding outside if possible. If not, run the dryer on low. If you want to make sure you have eradicated all the bacteria and gunk from your bedding, iron your sheets and pillowcases once they have dried. Bonus: Ironing your sheets makes it easier to fold your fitted sheet like a pro and store in your linen closet.