The average person spends seven to nine hours in bed every day.
Over the course of a week, this means the average person is spending up to 63 hours a week in bed, allowing for a build up of dead skin cells, sweat, and dirt.
But according to YouGov research from 2022, more than a third of people wash their bed sheets just once a fortnight. That’s a 106 hour build up of dead skin cells.
So how often should you wash your sheets?
Chloe Barrow, interior expert at Laura James, has revealed that in the summer months, particularly during our recent ‘tropical nights’ in the UK, you should be washing your sheets up to twice a week.
She said: “In the warmer months, I recommend washing your bedding every week as a minimum. Hot nights mean more sweat and skin cells accumulate in the sheets, which not only makes for an uncomfortable sleep but can also lead to odour or irritation if left too long.
“If you experience night sweats, are prone to allergies, or have pets sharing your bed, I recommend upping this to twice a week to help maintain freshness and to be hygienic.”
You shouldn’t need to wash your bedding as much in winter, she adds.
“In colder months, our bodies sweat less and we tend to wear more nightwear, creating a cleaner sleep environment. In summer, it's common to sleep with minimal clothing and open windows, which can bring in more pollen and outdoor particles.
“That’s not to mention those who experience night sweats and the body oils your bedding absorbs from that. This combination makes regular washing essential if you want to stay on top of sleep hygiene.”
And when it comes down to washing your bedding, she suggests 40 degrees is ideal for bedding in the summer, while 30 may be more energy efficient, it doesn't always kill off bad bacteria.
For sensitive fabrics Ms Barrow suggests staying away from tumble drying and says the UV rays from hanging your linens in direct sunlight will naturally disinfect and the breeze can help kill any odours.
If you haven’t got an outdoor space, ensure that there is good ventilation in order to prevent damp.
Ms Barrow also highlights that many people forget to wash their pillows. While it doesn’t need to be washed frequently like bedding, she recommends throwing it into the washing machine at least twice a year.
“Synthetic pillows tolerate warmer washes, but feather or down should be washed cool and air-dried flat to avoid clumping or damage. If you’re a night sweater, I’d recommend washing your pillows a couple of times over the summer period.”
There are a few ways to extend the time between washes if washing your linens once a week (or more often) isn't practical, according to Better Homes and Gardens.
To start, cleanse your face and take a bath or shower before bed to lessen the amount of perspiration, oil, and grime you carry into bed. Then, to prevent hair and dander from getting on your linens, think about having your pet sleep somewhere else. Try to avoid eating in bed too.
How often should you clean your towels?
Bath towels should be washed after every three to five uses as a general rule of thumb, according to the experts at Good Housekeeping.
Hand towels just need to be washed once a week, which will be a huge relief to anyone who frequently feels like they are drowning in laundry. Although this will vary for those who have children and dogs, and may need to be washed as often as every two to three days.
If you use a different towel to wash your face, this should be washed after every use.
As a general guideline, how many times you wash your towels also depends on how rapidly they get dirty. For instance, let's say you don’t use your towels often since you travel frequently. You can most likely put off washings for a little while longer in that scenario.
