How Often Should You Wash Your Sheets?

Like all other clothing-made personal belongings that you use from time to time, it is important to wash your sheets when they get dirty. They also need to be changed, washed, dried, and aired, like other clothing. Bedsheets absorb sweat when we sleep, gather specks of dust from the surroundings, and are prone to our oil glands and other remnants that may be shed from us. 

As a result of the many vagaries that our sheets are exposed to, it is important to pay attention to when we spread them to know when it’s time to change them.

So, how often should you wash your sheets?

On average, it is advised that bed sheets be changed weekly. A weekly change does not give your bed sheet the time to collect a lot of germs and dirt that might eventually harm you. It also helps you to ensure that you do not have to wash in too many rounds that may damage your sheets. 

Not sure if the weekly washing will work for you? You can consider a bi-weekly washing, but no more than that. Time constraints, your sleeping habit as well as your hygiene can help you increase the time between your sheet washing. However, it is not advised to exceed the bi-weekly washing as any other additional time might expose your body to diseases, dust mites, and critters.

In any case, it is advised to have extra sheets laying in cool dry places, ready to replace the current ones if need be. For emergencies- times you cannot dry the previous one or they are not available for whatever reasons, extra sheets come to your rescue.

Factors that call for a quick change of sheets

Already we mentioned that one or two weeks is the ideal timeframe to change and wash a sheet. However, a lot of factors may necessitate a faster change time. Some of the factors include:

1. Having pets in bed

Unless you’re not allergic to your pets, it’s okay to have them in bed without changing the sheets immediately. Pets unconsciously leave a part of themselves where they go, so you’ll likely find furs or feathers in your bed long after your pet is gone. Allergic people will appreciate a quick change of sheet as soon as possible to avoid a lot of troubles. Also when your pets have been in dirty places before they climb into your bed, you must change the sheets. You definitely don’t want to know how it feels to have garden soil in your bed.

2. Having kids in your bed

With kids in your bed, a lot could happen. They could spill liquids, leave leftover meals or climb into your bed with dirt from the playground. At times like this, you don’t have to wait for the weekly washing before you change your sheet and replace it with a better one. It is healthier to get rid of dirt as soon as possible and replace sheets with clean ones.

3. Episodes

Episodes like a period stain, enuresis (bed-wetting), and others can also quicken the rate at which you change your sheet. It doesn’t matter if you just spread out a clean, dry sheet, with each episode you are expected to change the sheets. This will help you achieve an odor-free bedroom.

4. Allergies

If at any time, you have one of your allergy triggers near the bed, it is important to change the sheet as soon as possible. Dust and other triggers that can affect each occupants’ health should be kept away from the bed as much as possible. Changing your sheets early will help you create a restful sleeping environment, one of the ways to sleep better.

5. Lots of sweat

One of the things that get our sheets dirty easily and quickly is sweat. Sometimes, people sweat so much that they leave the bed wet and soaked. When this happens, it is not necessary to wait till the end of the first week to wash off the sweat and replace the sheet.

A change of season to warm will push you to wash your sheets early. During the warm season, it’s hot and therefore you may tend to sweat more and sail your sheets in sweat more often.

Signs it’s time to change your sheet

  Not sure if you should change your sheet now, or you’ve no idea if it’s time to wash and change it? Here are some of the things to watch out for:

1. When your sheet has gathered dust. The dust could either be so much it is visible or not visible. Wash it to get rid of the dust.

2. When you suspect it’s dirty, you might as well wash it

3. When your bed sheet gives off offensive odor or reeks of sweat and other unwelcome odor, you should wash it.

4. Found nibbles of food on your bed sheet? Then wash it to get them off

5. Marks from leftover liquid spills should be washed off

6. If you haven’t slept in your bed for a long while, you should wash it. Who knows who and what’s been there?

7. When you haven’t used your sheets in a long time. Whether you left your sheets on your bed for months or kept them in store for months, it is ideal to wash them before you use them.

8. Do you have an overcrowded bed because you had friends and family staying over? As much as possible, wash the bedspreads to get rid of all the sweat and odors.

How to wash your bedsheets: What to use and what not to use

Washing and changing bedsheets is important if you are to avoid body allergies, disease contamination, acne, and other skin diseases that come from using your bedspread for a very long period without washing.

And of course, when doing the washing, there are a couple of hacks that can help you keep your bedspread in the best state possible and achieve a good result. Some of them are listed below:

1. Do not use a machine to wash bed sheets not meant for the machine

Ensure you read the label before you throw your bed sheet into the washing machine. Is it to be washed specially, hand washed perhaps? Be clear on this to avoid tattering your bedsheet.

2. Wash under the right temperature

A lot of people are not so attentive to the temperature set for bedsheets. Because they are thick it is often assumed that they need very high temperatures. However, this is not the case as different materials have different temperature requirements. Also, on your bed sheet label, you’ll find the advised temperature. Stick to this to lengthen your bedsheets’ life span

3. Do not overload your machine

In trying to wash as many clothes as possible, do not overload your machine with different bedsheets and several other clothes. Leave enough space for turning to get a good clean. Do won’t wash your bed sheet with towels, or bleeding clothes

4. Avoid harsh detergent

Chemicals like bleach have no place when washing bed sheets unless the bedsheet material and color supports it ( You can bleach white bedsheets to remove stain). Other than the fact that they are dangerous to your health, they may also damage your bedsheet.

5. Focus on the stain

When you have a stain of any type on your bed sheet, remember to give them special attention when washing. It is necessary to give the stain attention if you are to get a bedsheet as good as new. You may use a couple of stain removing techniques or simply apply a stain remover.

6. Give it time to dry

One of the importance of having an extra bed sheet is so that you are not in a hurry to use the washed one. Leaving your bedsheet to dry under sunlight is one of the best treatments you can give it. Do not leave it in a dryer for too long as it may cause it to shrink or damage it.

FAQs

Can you wash your bedsheets with clothes?

Yes. If the clothes are not fading or losing their color and if there is enough space in the washer.

Can you wash your sheets in cold water?

Yes. You can wash your sheets in cold water if the sheet label accommodates such a low temperature.

What happens if you never wash your bed sheets

If you have never washed your bedsheet, chances are it is covered in a lot of dirt that has accumulated over the years. You’ll have microorganisms living in your bedsheets and various other disease-causing organisms.

How many times are you supposed to wash your bedsheets?

You are expected to wash as much as possible until it is clean and free from all types of dirt.

Is it bad to wash your sheets every week?

No, it’s not. As long as you sleep in your bed and make use of your sheet, washing them every week is okay.

When should you wash your sheets after being sick?

Wash your sheets immediately you can. While sick, also change your beddings as many times as possible to give yourself a neat and healthy surrounding.

Conclusion

  When washing your sheets, include every other bedding and clothing found in your sleeping area. Your comforter, pillowcase, blankets, and every other bedding should be given adequate attention and washed as needed.