How often should you wash your sheets?

How often should you wash your sheets?

Weekly for most people. Every two weeks if you do not sleep in that bed every night. Every three to four days if you have pets in the bed, or if you deal with allergies or asthma. More often in the warm summer months, when you sweat more, and during spring allergy season.

What actually builds up in there

• Dirt carried in from the day
• Dead skin cells
• Body oils
• Sweat
• Dust mites, along with what they leave behind

The dust mite part

Dust mites are microscopic and extremely common in most households. They do not bite, but they can cause skin rashes and irritation and can make allergy symptoms worse. They feed on dead skin cells and reproduce quickly, so a single mattress and its bedding can hold tens of thousands of them at any given time. Washing regularly keeps the population down.

How to wash bed sheets properly

1. Read the care label first.
2. Use the hottest water the label allows. Cotton generally handles hot water. Polyester and some blends should be washed warm.
3. Machine wash with a gentle detergent.
4. If you have sensitive skin, run a second rinse to clear out any leftover detergent.
5. Tumble dry on low, or hang dry.

The part nobody talks about

Knowing all this is easy. Doing it fifty-two times a year is the hard part, and the hardest piece is not the washing. It is stripping the bed and getting the fitted sheet back on. That is the part we do.