Changing your bed sheets – everything you need to know

05 August 2021 | 2 Minute Read - Words By Sally
Wondering how often to change your sheets? We’ve got you covered with this complete guide.

While we can – just about – get way with letting our clothes pile up before throwing them in the washing machine, the same doesn’t apply to bed sheets.

This doesn’t mean they have to be cleaned every day, but they do require a lot more love and attention – that’s if you want to maintain hygiene as well as comfort.

We’ll take you through the ins and outs of how best to take care of the sheets you spend roughly a third of your life sleeping on….

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How often to change bed sheets

If you catch yourself guiltily thinking ‘how often should bed sheets be changed?’, then chances are you might need to start doing it more than you are. But don’t fret – the general consensus is that it should be done at least once a week, which isn’t too excessive.

Even if it’s only been a couple weeks and you think your bed sheets are still clean, it’s likely they’re not as fresh as you think. Most of the dirt – lovely stuff including dead skin cells, body oils, sweat and dust mites – is invisible. So, don’t be fooled.

Does once a week apply to everyone?

There are instances when you might benefit from changing bed sheets more than just weekly. If you have allergies and are affected by dust, have an infection or wound that comes into contact with your sheets, sleep naked, or go to bed without showering, then you might need to consider upping the ante.

In particular, if you eat in bed (no judgement…), or let your pet sleep on your bed, then you might want to consider washing your sheets every three to four days. Enjoying fresh sheets that often can’t really be a bad thing, can it?

And what about how often to change bedding? The Sleep Foundation recommends washing pillowcases once a week, duvet covers once every 2 weeks, comforters and blankets once every 2-3 months, and pillows once every 4-6 months.

What happens if I don’t wash my bed sheets enough?

Not washing or changing your bed sheets as often as you ought to might not necessarily be the end of the world, but it’s strongly advised against. A build-up of fungi, bacteria, pollen, and animal dander does have the potential to irritate and trigger conditions like eczema, as well as affect your hygiene.

It’s not the most pleasant of thoughts, but always overestimate rather than underestimate how dirty your bed sheets are when deciding how often to wash them…

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How to wash bed sheets the right way

First and foremost, don’t forget to read that care label. It does know what it’s talking about – promise. Generally speaking, wash your sheets in the hottest temperature listed (it’s worth noting cotton materials might be given slightly higher washing temperatures than polyester, for example).

If machine washing, use a gentle detergent, or one suitable for sensitive skin if you need to. Then, depending on how much time you have and what’s required, give them a tumble dry on a low heat, hang on the line, or iron. If you want to really be on top of things, try to have a couple sets of sheets already washed and ready to go. This way, you can transfer new sheets over as soon as you need to, rather than being stuck with drying ones.

Different types of sheets

Whether you have fitted, flat, single, or narrow double bed sheets, remember that the type of material they’re made from might vary, which means the care label instructions might differ too. At Belledorm, we clearly detail our washing instructions so you can confidently make a purchase knowing how best to look after your sheets before they even arrive.

Our Egyptian Cotton 400 Count Flat Sheet, for example, is machine washable at 40C. Make sure you wash colours separately and wash before use. Do not bleach, dry clean, tumble dry, or drip dry, and use a warm iron.

Now you’re an expert at changing bed sheets, why not choose one of our Percale Fitted Sheet Fashion Colours, for bedding you’ll want to take very good care of. 

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