How Often Should I Wash My Sheets?

Even those who hate doing laundry are motivated by the prospect of wearing clean clothes, but fewer think twice about going to sleep on dirty sheets. The question is, how often do they need to be laundered, and why? The team of experts at Mr. Appliance® has the answers you need to maintain your health and comfort, and help you sleep easier at night.

Why You Need to Wash Your Sheets

One of the greatest simple pleasures in life is crawling into a freshly made bed complete with clean sheets and pillowcases. Regardless of the type of detergent you use or how high the thread count, clean sheets feel and smell great for a reason. It doesn't take long for your sheets to become covered in a mixture of dead skin cells, sweat, oils, saliva, and other bodily fluids and substances. While you may find this list repulsive, it is extremely attractive to dust mites who eagerly feast on dead skin cells and other matter, and can be found in high concentrations in the hundreds of thousands on pillowcases, mattresses, and bedding.

While dust mites are invisible to the naked eye and don't bite, they are not entirely harmless and can trigger allergy symptoms in those who are susceptible. People are allergic to dust mite droppings, not the dust mites themselves, which may cause symptoms that include:

• Runny or itchy nose
• Congestion
• Itchy skin
• Sinus pain
• Red, itchy, or watery eyes
• Cough
• Scratchy throat
• And more

The presence of dust mites can also trigger asthma symptoms, including:

• Wheezing
• Coughing
• Shortness of breath
• Chest pain
• Severe asthma attack

How Often Should I Wash My Sheets?

Those who sleep in the nude, are ill, have allergies or asthma, or don't shower before going to bed should take the advice of experts and adhere to the recommended frequency of washing sheets and pillowcases once a week—although those who sleep in pajamas and don't tend to sweat much may opt to stretch that number to once every two weeks.

In a survey conducted by the home textile company Coyuchi showed that out of the 1,000 people who were asked about their laundry habits, only 44 percent stated that they wash their sheets one or two times per month. In a similar survey conducted by Mattress Advisor, it was found that the average person changes their bedding every 24 days; far longer than experts recommend.

Laundry Tips for Bedding

Keep these tips in mind when washing your bedding:

• Start with a clean, organized laundry room.
• Use the hottest temperature setting listed on the care label to fight germs and other pathogens.
• In order to kill dust mites, sheets must be washed in water that is at least 54.4444 degrees Celcius.
• Change out your bedding immediately following a virus to avoid a rebound illness.
• Iron your sheets or hang them in the sun to dry as an alternative to hot water.

Now that you know how often to wash sheets and how important it is, ensure your equipment is in good working order with professional appliance repair and maintenance from the experts at Mr. Appliance. Contact us today to schedule an appointment with your local Mr. Appliance or call and let us know how we can help.