We spend over a third of our lives in bed. And when you think about it like that, that’s a whole lot of bacteria that builds up, hence the need to wash the sheets frequently.

Leaving sheets unlaundered can lead to a whole host of nasties, including health problems. Read our post to find out why and how often you should be cleaning your bed sheets.

Why clean the bed sheets?

Did you know that we share our beds with lots of critters, including microscopic bugs who love nothing more than to hunker down with your dead skins cells and feed on them?

The pesky mites accumulate in any location that isn’t regularly cleaned. In fact, there are over a million of them creeping round in your bed each night. The longer you wait between washes, the more bugs, the harder it is to get rid of them. And they leave their charming mark in the form of small black specks – or dried poo.

Bed Bugs

As well as bugs and the soiling you can’t see, such as sweat, skin, natural oils and hair products, you could be in for a whole host of health problems if you leave your sheets unwashed.

Wounds that are scratched in the night can become infected if they touch fibres from dirty sheets and athlete’s foot can also be transferred through fibres.

Bedding

How often should you change the bed sheets?

As a general rule, sheets should be changed every 1 – 2 weeks. However, if you are unwell you should change the pillowcase every day to avoid contamination of the same bugs.

While duvets and pillows can last up to 10 years if cared for properly, it is recommended that you replace your duvet every five years and your pillow every two years.

Clean bedding

Tips for cleaning your sheets properly

  • Your bedding should be washed separately from everything else – and at a medium to high temperature –in order to destroy any bacteria. But be sure to check the care labels first.
  • Don’t jam too many sheets in each load as they need lots of room to move around. Use laundry conditioner to keep sheets fresh and soft.
  • Wrap sheets up into balls before you put them in the washer. This will prevent them from stretching and losing shape.
  • Where possible, air dry sheets on a washing line to retain softness and save energy.
  • Pillows can be machine-washed on a cool setting and hung on a clothes line to dry.

How often should you replace your mattress?

It is not just your sheets you need to worry about, your mattress also absorbs your bodily fluid over time as well as dead skin cells, which acts as a breeding ground for dust mites.

Whilst some people state you should change your mattress every ten years, we believe it should be changed at least every 8 years to keep you protected from any nasty bacteria’s that could be lurking inside it.

You can help prolong the life of your mattress by purchasing a mattress protector, which should also be washed regularly.

So now you know how often you should be changing your sheets and bedding, you have no excuses not to do it! By keeping on top of your cleaning regime you can enjoy a more comfortable and healthy sleep.