If your bedding hasn’t seen the inside of a washing machine since the last change of season, don’t panic. And if you suffer from allergies, eczema or sensitive skin, it might be high time to have a little rethink.
There are two types of people in this world. Those who strip the bed every Sunday morning with the enthusiasm of someone starring in a laundry detergent advert, and those who look at the duvet and think, It’ll probably be fine for another week or two.
If you’re firmly in the second camp, you’re certainly not alone.
A YouGov survey found that 26% of 18 to 24-year-olds admitted to going more than a month without washing their bedding! Let’s be honest, at 24 you probably have 400 other actually fun things competing for your attention, and stripping a king-size duvet cover can feel surprisingly low on the priority list. But your bed is one place where cleanliness can matter, particularly if you’re prone to allergies or sensitive skin.
We spend around a third of our lives in bed. During those hours, our sheets collect sweat, body oils, shed skin cells, skincare products and, unfortunately, plenty of dust. Bedding can also harbour house dust mites, microscopic creatures that can be a problem for people who are allergic to them.
So, how often should you really be washing everything?
Your sheets need a weekly date with the washing machine
The general advice is to wash your sheets to wash your sheets once a week, although every two weeks may be reasonable for some people.
If you suffer from allergies, however, weekly washing is worth making a habit.
Think about what happens between getting into bed at night and getting out again in the morning. Your body is warm, you’re breathing into the pillow, your skin is shedding cells and you’re probably sweating more than you realise.
All of that ends up in your bedding.
If you apply moisturiser, facial oils, hair products or overnight skincare before bed, some of those products end up there too.
For most people, this isn’t anything to lose sleep over. But if you have sensitive skin or allergies, regularly changing your bedding can help keep the sleeping environment fresher.
And if you have a dust-mite allergy, there’s another reason to keep on top of the laundry.
Your bed could be hosting dust mites
Before you start eyeing your mattress suspiciously, don’t worry. Dust mites are incredibly common.
These microscopic creatures feed mainly on shed skin cells and thrive in warm, humid environments. Mattresses, pillows, carpets and bedding provide plenty of opportunities for them to set up home.
The mites themselves aren’t usually the problem. It’s proteins found in their faeces and body fragments that can trigger an allergic reaction.
For someone with a dust-mite allergy, exposure can contribute to symptoms including sneezing, a runny or blocked nose, itchy or watery eyes and, in some people, skin irritation.
Regularly washing bedding can help reduce the amount of allergen around you. It isn’t the only measure that matters, though. Keeping bedroom humidity down, cleaning regularly and using allergen-proof mattress and pillow covers can also help.
Is 40°C enough?
For your normal weekly wash, 40°C is generally a good everyday temperature for cotton sheets and pillowcases.
However, if you have a dust-mite allergy, washing bedding at 60°C, where the fabric allows it, can be useful because the higher temperature is more effective at killing dust mites and reducing allergens.
That doesn’t mean you need to wash everything in your house at 60°C. Hotter washes can use more energy and may cause fabrics to fade and wear out faster.
And before you throw your favourite linen duvet cover into a hot wash, check the care label. Your bedding may have other ideas.
Don’t underestimate the humble pillowcase
Your pillowcase deserves more attention than it probably gets.
It’s pressed against your face and hair for hours every night, picking up sweat, oils, dead skin cells, skincare and hair products along the way.
Aiming to wash your pillowcases at least once a week is a good habit.
If you sweat heavily at night, have allergies, use lots of hair products or apply skincare before bed, you may prefer to wash them more frequently.
If you have sensitive or eczema-prone skin, it’s also worth considering what you’re washing them with. Fragranced detergents and fabric conditioners can irritate some people’s skin.
Sometimes the problem isn’t that your pillowcase isn’t clean enough. It may be that it’s been washed in something your skin doesn’t particularly like.
Your pillow can have a little more time off
Thankfully, your pillow doesn’t need to follow the same washing schedule as its cover.
If you use a washable pillow protector underneath the pillowcase, you may only need to wash the pillow around three or four times a year, depending on its care instructions.
The protector itself should be washed much more frequently, ideally about once a month.
If you don’t use a protector, a washable pillow may need cleaning every one to two months.
But check the label first. Some pillows are absolutely not interested in going for a spin in your washing machine.
For anyone with a dust-mite allergy, an allergen-proof pillow encasement can provide an additional barrier between you and the pillow.
What about the duvet?
Your duvet gets a relatively easy ride because it has a cover protecting it.
Unless you’ve had a spillage, accident or other mishap, you can generally wash the duvet three or four times a year.
The duvet cover, however, needs considerably more attention. Aim to wash it roughly every two weeks, or more often if it gets sweaty, dirty or covered in pet hair.
If you have allergies, keeping the cover clean is particularly useful because it is the layer you’re actually sleeping underneath.
And your mattress?
Your mattress is a slightly different story.
Nobody wants to wrestle a mattress into the washing machine, and fortunately you don’t need to.
A mattress generally only needs a thorough clean once or twice a year, with spills and stains dealt with promptly.
A mattress protector is your friend here. It creates a washable barrier between you and the mattress, catching sweat, oils and the occasional cup of tea before they disappear into the depths.
Wash your mattress protector about once a month, or immediately if something has been spilled on it.
If you’re allergic to dust mites, an allergen-proof mattress encasement can also be worth considering.
Blankets are easy to forget
Blankets can be surprisingly good at sneaking under the laundry radar.
If yours sits on top of the duvet and rarely touches your skin, it won’t necessarily need washing every couple of weeks. If you sleep directly underneath it every night, however, it deserves more regular attention.
Depending on how you use it, washing anywhere from every couple of weeks to every few months can be reasonable.
Basically, if you’re wondering when you last washed the blanket, that’s probably a useful clue.
Could your laundry detergent be irritating your skin?
There’s little point in washing your bedding religiously if the products you’re using to wash it are irritating your skin.
If you have sensitive or eczema-prone skin, consider choosing a fragrance-free laundry detergent and skipping heavily perfumed fabric conditioners if you find they cause irritation.
An extra rinse can also help remove detergent residue from fabrics.
Of course, everyone’s skin is different. If you already know that certain fragrances or laundry products trigger your symptoms, stick with what you know works for you.
Your cheat sheet for cleaner bedding
If you want to keep things simple, here’s your bedroom laundry rota, by appliance brand AEG:
| Bedding | How often? |
|---|---|
| Sheets | Once a week to every two weeks |
| Pillowcases | Once a week |
| Pillow protector | About once a month |
| Pillow with protector | Around 3 to 4 times a year |
| Pillow without protector | Every 1 to 2 months, if washable |
| Duvet cover | About every two weeks |
| Duvet | Around 3 to 4 times a year |
| Blanket | Every 2 weeks to 3 months, depending on use |
| Mattress protector | About once a month |
| Mattress | Once or twice a year |
The bottom line
Nobody needs another household chore that makes them feel guilty.
You don’t need a perfectly sterile bedroom, and washing your sheets every 24 hours isn’t going to magically cure allergies or eczema.
But if you regularly suffer from allergies or sensitive skin, keeping your bedding clean can be a sensible part of managing your sleeping environment.
Start with the sheets and pillowcases. Wash them regularly, choose laundry products your skin tolerates and, if you’re allergic to dust mites, consider whether allergen-proof covers and regular 60°C washing are appropriate for your bedding.
And if you haven’t changed your sheets for a month?
Well, this is your sign.
Go forth and strip the bed.
