The average person spends 9,125 days of their life sleeping! When you consider how much time you spend in your bed, it makes sense that you would want to wash your sheets, pillowcases, and comforter regularly.
How often should you wash your bedding and comforter? For most people, the short answer is, “More often than you might think.” Find the ideal washing frequency below for every item on your bed — from pillowcases to bed skirts.
Sheets and Pillowcases
Sheets and pillowcases — i.e., the bedding with the most direct contact with your skin — require the most frequent washing. Ideally, you’ll wash these items at least once per week.
Remember that your skin and hair directly touch your sheets and pillowcases for seven or eight hours (on average) per night That’s many opportunities for oil, dirt, and dead skin to build up on them.
It’s essential to wash your sheets and pillowcases often if you’re allergic to dust. Dust mites feed on dead skin particles, and their feces can worsen allergy symptoms (yikes!).
Tips for Washing Sheets and Pillowcases
Always pre-treat stains on your sheets and pillowcases before washing them. Wash these items in cold water, too, to avoid shrinkage.
Pillows and Pillow Covers
It’s not enough to wash your pillowcases. It would be best if you also washed your pillows regularly. The oils and dirt from your hair and face can soak through your pillowcase and into your pillow.
They can even soak through to the pillow stuffing. If you have pillow protectors between the pillow and pillowcase, you can get away with washing them about three times per year. However, it would be best to wash your pillow protector once per month since it regularly gets exposed to oils and dirt.
If you don’t use pillow protectors, you should wash the entire pillow monthly or at least every other month.
Tips for Washing Pillows
Don’t be intimidated by their size and shape. You can easily toss pillows in the washing machine with mild detergent.
To avoid overfilling your machine, don’t add more than two pillows at one time. Don’t wash just one pillow, as this can throw your machine off balance.
Blankets
Do you have any extra blankets on your bed (besides a comforter)? To determine how often you should wash these blankets, consider how often you use them.
If the blankets sit at the bottom of the bed and are decorative, you can get away with only washing them every few months. If you use the blanket every night, you will likely need to wash it weekly or biweekly to keep it clean.
Tips for Washing Blankets
Follow the specific care instructions listed on each blanket’s tag.
If you have concerns about a colored blanket bleeding the color into other items, wash it alone. If the blanket is made of delicate material, take it to a dry cleaner and let a professional wash it.
Comforter
If you have a duvet cover on your comforter, you can wash it once or twice yearly. If you don’t use a duvet cover, you should wash your comforter once per month — or whenever you notice spills or stains on it.
Can’t fit your comforter in the washing machine? Don’t try to cram it in!
Reach out to dry cleaning services in your area or search for a local laundromat, then utilize their equipment instead. These businesses offer oversized machines specifically for bedding, so you won’t have to worry about accidentally damaging your comforter.
Always be careful when washing these! Read: Risks of DIY Dry Cleaning
Duvet Cover
Wash your duvet cover weekly if you lay directly under the comforter at night. If you use a top sheet, you can get away with washing the duvet cover every 2-4 weeks instead.
Mattress Cover
A mattress cover or protector does a great job of extending your mattress’s lifespan. Don’t forget to protect the mattress protector, though, by washing it regularly.
Ideally, you’ll wash your mattress cover once per month to avoid dirt or dust buildup and allergies. If you notice any stains or spills on the mattress cover, take it off and wash it immediately. Follow the instructions listed on the tag to avoid shrinkage or other types of damage.
Decorative Bedding
Decorative bedding items like bed skirts, canopies, and curtains don’t need to be washed often because they typically don’t come in direct contact with your skin.
Washing decorative bedding once or twice yearly is usually sufficient for most people. However, if you experience allergies, you can increase the washing frequency and launder them every two or three months instead to avoid buildup from dust or pet dander.
Always check the washing instructions on these items before cleaning them. Reading directions helps you avoid fabric damage, shrinkage, fading colors, etc.
8 Factors That Affect Washing Frequency
The guidelines discussed above are just that — guidelines. You might need to wash your bedding and comforter often based on several factors, including the following:
1 Bedding Material
The material from which your bedding is made influences the frequency with which you should wash it. Sheets, pillowcases, and comforters made from cotton, linen, or a blend are relatively durable.
They can usually be washed more frequently than delicate items made from silk or other luxury materials.
Consider taking delicate items to a dry cleaner instead of washing them at home to avoid accidentally damaging them and increase their lifespan.
2 Hygiene Habits
Those who habitually shower before bed may not need to wash their bedding and comforter as often as those who prefer showering in the morning.
Since your skin and hair are clean when you get in bed, you won’t be spreading as much dirt or as many oils on the bedding.
Of course, showering before bed isn’t a substitute for regularly washing your bedding and comforter. However, doing so means stretching the time between washes a little longer.
3 Number of Sleepers
The more people in the bed, the more opportunities there are for dirt, oils, and dead skin to get on the sheets and comforter.
If you sleep alone, you may be able to wash your bedding and comforter less often than if you sleep with a partner — or if your children tend to sneak into your bedroom in the middle of the night.
4 Pets
There’s nothing wrong with having your dog or cat sleep in bed with you. However, if you like snuggling with your pets at night, you might need to wash your bedding more often.
Pets shed, after all. They can also spread dirt or germs on your sheets and pillowcases — mainly if they spend time outside during the day.
5 Allergies
For those prone to allergies, washing sheets, pillowcases, comforters, and other items more frequently is a simple way to avoid exposure to dust and other allergens.
Washing bedding more often may minimize the time you spend sneezing and sniffling. It can combat skin irritations as well.
If you struggle with allergies, switch to a different laundry detergent and fabric softener. Using products designed for those with allergies or sensitive skin can help you manage your symptoms while keeping your bedding as hygienic as possible.
6 Sweat Level
Some people naturally sweat more than others. Furthermore, some nighttime sweating is inevitable in a hot place like San Antonio — especially during the summer.
If you regularly sweat at night, consider washing your bedding and comforter more often. Profuse sweating can lead to stains and discoloration. You might also notice that your sheets don’t smell as fresh and clean as you’d like.
7 Spills
Do you have a habit of eating or drinking in bed? If so, you might notice crumbs or spills showing up more often.
Whenever something gets spilled in your bed, take the sheets or comforter off and wash them right away. Pretreat the stain first, too, so you don’t have to worry about it setting in and permanently damaging your bedding.
8 Personal Health
Always wash your bedding and comforter after you’ve been sick — even if you barely washed them before your symptoms showed up.
Washing your bedding and comforter will help you avoid reintroducing germs into your system. You’ll also be less likely to expose your partner or children to the same illness.
Comforter Dry Cleaning Services in San Antonio
Now that you know how often you should wash your bedding and comforter, do you need to change your laundry routine?
If you struggle to keep up with the laundry and maintain your bedding and comforter, consider working with a professional dry cleaner and laundry service. Outsource these time-consuming tasks to laundry experts who ensure your belongings are fresh, hygienic, and look as good as new.
Don’t have time to search for “dry cleaners near me” or “dry cleaners in San Antonio”?
Dutch Boy Cleaners has got you covered. We even offer free pickup and delivery for your convenience!
Click here to Watch Video to Learn More: Dutch Boy Cleaners