How Often Should You Wash Your Bedding?

We can all agree that washing your bedding is a hassle. It’s cumbersome, inconvenient—the kind of chore that’s easy to simply put off for another day. For many people, though, that day comes far later than it should. Think about it: we spend so much of our life in bed, whether at nighttime or during afternoon naps. All the dirt and germs from the places you’ve gone before you slip into the sheets latch onto your skin and follow you to bed. Even if you bathe right before going to sleep, there are plenty of ways to introduce bacteria. For example, did you know that the average human exudes 26 gallons of sweat into their bed every year? That sweat and other bacteria linger in your bedding, compounding night after night, causing your bed to stink. Keeping your bedroom smelling fresh isn’t the only case for washing your bedding frequently. Not doing so could also lead to a buildup of dust mites, dried sweat, fungus, and other allergens—all of which ruin your chances of getting a good night of sleep. So, if you don’t want to share your bed with a bunch of nasty germs and particles, how often should you wash your bedding? We’ve got it all covered below.

Guidelines for Cleaning Different Types of Bedding

Keeping the sleep environment clean and fresh is an essential part of good sleep hygiene and, therefore, a key to getting quality sleep. Unfortunately, the majority of people in the U.S. just aren’t keeping up the right pace. A survey of 1,000 Americans found that the average person only changed their sheets every 24 days. That’s nearly four times longer than experts recommend leaving your sheets on your bed! For optimal sleep hygiene, your sheets aren’t the only thing you’ve got to think about cleaning. There’s also your pillows, comforter, and mattress topper, to name a few. Each type of bedding requires different types of care. We’ll cover each item individually so you can learn how to wash bed sheets, how to clean pillows, and more!

Bed Sheets and Pillow Cases

Sheets and pillow cases are where most bacteria hide out and propagate, so you should clean them often. If you make your bed first thing in the morning, you should wash your sheets every week. Two week intervals may be okay if you air out your sheets every morning.

• When: Every 7 to 14 days
• How: To kill the bacteria, the American Society for Microbiology recommends using hot water, around 140°, for 10 to 13 minutes. Washing at high heat is especially important if you’ve just been sick. To maintain the integrity of your sheets, wash with a mild detergent, not bleach, and tumble dry low.

Pillows

Wash pillows to prevent a buildup of allergens, which can wreak havoc on your system if your pillow goes unwashed for too long. Here’s how to clean pillows to keep your allergies at bay.

• When: Every 6 months
• How: Down and synthetic pillows are usually machine washable. To wash pillows made of foam, either hand wash or spot clean. No matter what, always make sure your pillow is 100% dry before putting on a pillow case, or else mold and fungus will grow.

Comforters

Bacteria and allergens don’t just lurk in your sheets; they also sneak into your comforters, which is why you must remember to wash them as well.

• When: Every 6 months
• How: Comforters can be a pain to wash, so the easiest way to clean them is to take them to a professional. That doesn’t mean you can’t do it at home, though! Be careful washing comforters in a small washing machine, as the stuffing might get lumpy. Unless you have a large washing machine, we recommend taking it to a laundromat to spin in the industrial-sized washers and dryers. Be sure to wash them in cold water, as hot water is likely to shrink the fabric.

Mattress Protectors & Mattress Pads

These accessories exist for the sheer purpose of keeping your mattress clean, so you know they’re harboring some gnarly stuff. To rid your bed of any yucky particles, make sure to give your mattress protector and mattress pad a little extra care from time to time.

• When: Every 4 months
• How: Both mattress protectors and mattress pads tend to be machine washable. If they are cotton, make sure to wash them in cold water to prevent the fabric from shrinking. Tumble dry for the fluffiest results, unless your pad or protector is vinyl. In that case, air-drying is your best bet.

Mattress Toppers

Mattress toppers are made out of mattress materials, so you can’t just throw them in the wash. That shouldn’t stop you from cleaning them, though!

• When: Whenever necessary
• How: First, vacuum the mattress topper to suck up and eliminate pesky dust mites, crumbs, dirt, and germs. Then, spot-clean with a mild cleanser and allow to thoroughly air dry. Avoid making your bed until your mattress topper is completely dry to keep mold and mildew from forming.

Bed Skirts

Since you don’t sleep on them, many people don’t think about washing their bed skirts. Not to mention, you usually have to lift your mattress to remove it, which is just a plain hassle. The work is worth it, though, because bed skirts are a hotspot for dust! Wash them seasonally to keep your sleep environment free of allergens.

• When: Every 4 months
• How: Most bed skirts are machine washable. Wash them in cool water on the delicate cycle, then tumble dry low. Since this accessory exists for aesthetic purposes, make sure to iron out any wrinkles before putting it back on the bed.

How to Clean a Mattress

Yes, your mattress needs to be cleaned too. The yucky stuff that gets trapped in your sheets also finds its way into your mattress, compounding every year. If a mattress is not properly cared for, mold and mildew will grow and become nearly impossible to eliminate, shortening the lifespan of your mattress! Here are some good ways to clean a mattress:

• Eliminate Particles with a Vacuum – Using the upholstery attachment, suck up all the nasty bits from both sides of your mattress's surface.
• Clear Odors with Baking Soda – Sprinkle it on the mattress, then use a soft brush to scrub it into the top layer. Leave it for 10 minutes to half an hour before vacuuming it up.
• Erase Stains with an Enzyme Cleaner – Clear up discolored patches with an enzyme-based cleaner. A mixture of warm water and dish soap may work as well.
• Spot Clean with Hydrogen Peroxide – For stubborn stains, combine equal parts hydrogen peroxide and water, and then apply it to stains with a spray bottle.
• Deep Clean with Essential Oils – Put 10 to 20 drops of your favorite essential oils into a box of baking soda. Lavender oil is a good choice because it is naturally relaxing. Shake to combine thoroughly, then sprinkle it onto your bed. Leave for an hour before vacuuming up.

Tips for Keeping Your Bed Fresh Between Cleanings:

• If you sweat a lot, don’t make your bed right away. Instead, give your sheets a few hours to dry before making the bed.
• Make sure your bedding is made of breathable materials, like organic cotton, wool, and Tencel fabric.
• Purchase a mattress that is naturally hypoallergenic and antibacterial. Latex mattresses, like those from Awara, Avocado, or Latex for Less are good options.
• Purchase a cooling mattress that will help reduce the amount you sweat each night.
• Avoid washing your bedding with bleach, which could damage the integrity of the material and make it more susceptible to germs and bacteria.
• Keep a cleaning schedule to remind you when and how often to clean your bedding.

Conclusion

Different kinds of bedding require different kinds of care, but what they have in common is that they all need to be cleaned regularly. Use the guidelines in this article to build a cleaning schedule that will help ensure your bed stays feeling and sm