How often should you wash your bedding? - Which? News https://www.which.co.uk/news/article/how-often-should-you-wash...

1. Laundry & floorcare (https://www.which.co.uk/news/home-and-garden/laundry-floorcare)

2. How often should you wash your bedding? (https://www.which.co.uk/news/article/how-often-should-you-wash-your-bedding-a7Zkz5M8vcUl)
When you click on a retailer link, we may earn affiliate commission (https://www.which.co.uk/help/which-affiliate-activity-aPA408A93lxh), which helps fund our not-for-profit mission. This tracks your
activity using third party cookies (https://www.which.co.uk/help/our-cookies-policy-your-cookies-preferences-aAuoo0H8Zif6). By clicking a link you are consenting to this.

How often should you wash your bedding?

Sleeping in clean sheets can greatly improve your sleep and overall health, and knowing how to clean and take care of your
bedding can actually make it last longer.
Updated: 13 Jun 2023

NT Natalie Turner

(https://www.facebook.com/dialog/share?app_id=320949621749168&href=https://www.which.co.uk/news/article/how-often-should-you-wash-your-bedding-
a7Zkz5M8vcUl)

(https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?url=https://www.which.co.uk/news/article/how-often-should-you-wash-your-bedding-a7Zkz5M8vcUl&
text=How%20often%20should%20you%20wash%20your%20bedding%3F)

(mailto:?subject=How%20often%20should%20you%20wash%20your%20bedding%3F&
body=Sleeping%20in%20clean%20sheets%20can%20greatly%20improve%20your%20sleep%20and%20overall%20health
%2C%20and%0Aknowing%20how%20to%20clean%20and%20take%20care%20of%20your%20bedding%20can%20actually%20make%20it%20last%0Alonger.
%0A%0Ahttps://www.which.co.uk/news/article/how-often-should-you-wash-your-bedding-a7Zkz5M8vcUl%0A%0A)

(https://api.whatsapp.com/send?text=How%20often%20should%20you%20wash%20your%20bedding%3F%0Ahttps://www.which.co.uk/news/article/how-
often-should-you-wash-your-bedding-a7Zkz5M8vcUl)

1 of 8 07/07/2023, 12:25
How often should you wash your bedding? - Which? News https://www.which.co.uk/news/article/how-often-should-you-wash...

The Sleep Foundation estimates the average person will spend 49 – 60+ hours per week in bed. Unfortunately, your comfy sleep
setup could become a hub for dirt, dust mites, dead skin cells and sweat without regular cleaning.

The feeling of sliding into freshly washed sheets is nice enough as it is, and its made even better knowing that it's good for your health
too. Research from The Sleep Foundation suggests sleeping in clean sheets can help reduce allergy symptoms and skin breakouts.

Annoyingly, washing instructions for bedding aren't always straightforward. And not many people know that duvets, pillows, mattress
and toppers can often be cleaned at home, and don't always require a trip to the dry cleaners.

Read on to find out how to clean each part of your bedding to keep you sleeping soundly.

Still having problems sleeping? Your mattress may be the reason. Head to our round up of the best mattresses
(https://www.which.co.uk/reviews/mattresses/article/how-to-buy-the-best-mattress-atlAf8V9fiZN) to see our top picks.

How often should you wash your bed sheets, pillow cases and duvet covers?

As a general rule, most people should be washing their bedding covers once per week – that's bed sheets, pillow cases and duvet
covers – at 60 degrees for most fabrics.

If you have silk sheets, wash them 30 degrees and use a mild detergent.

However, you may need to clean your sheets more frequently depending on how you use your bed.

For those who are sensitive to allergens or have asthma, washing your bedding more than once per week at 60 degrees or hotter may
help alleviate your symptoms.

Alternatively, Allergy UK suggests that, if you have a dust mite allergy, you can invest in allergen barrier covers for your bedding to
minimise your contact with dust mites.

The London Fire Brigade also warns that a build-up of residue from emollients or skin creams on bedding can increase flammability
(https://www.london-fire.gov.uk/safety/carers-and-support-workers/emollient-and-skin-creams/), especially if you spend extended
periods in bed due to impaired mobility.

Watch our video on the best way to put on a duvet cover

(https://www.which.co.uk/news/article/whats-the-fastest-way-to-put-on-a-duvet-cover-aebkH9N6Iobu)

How to keep your bedding clean between washes

While it's important to clean your bedding regularly, laundering it too much can wear it out much sooner, and leave you having to buy
new sheets more frequently than you need to.

A study by North London Waste Authority (NLWA) found that a quarter of people have pets sleep in their bed, while a fifth eat in bed
on a regular basis – 8% of these doing so every day. 13% also admitted to smoking in bed, and 1 in 10 people reported actually
brushing their teeth in bed.

Of course, all of these activities risk staining or dirtying your sheets. So it's worth making the effort to haul yourself out of bed if you
don't want to sleep in sheets that are coated in crumbs and flecked with toothpaste. Limit the time pets spend in or on your bed – or

2 of 8 07/07/2023, 12:25