When Should I Clean My Sheets?

couple changing sheets on naturepedic halcyon arcadia organic mattress

Sliding into bed between crisp, clean sheets is one of the best feelings in the world. So why don’t we make more of an effort to wash our bedding?

For some people, it’s easy to get away with washing your sheets once every few weeksand if this sounds like your routine, rest assured you’re not alone. A survey of 1,000 Americans found that 44% wash their sheets about once or twice a month. 

While this may seem like enough, most experts on the matter recommend weekly washing, especially if you fall into one of these five categories:

  • You have dust or pollen allergies
  • You share your bed with your pet
  • You like to sleep in little or no clothing
  • You or your partner sweat a lot
  • You or your partner has a contagious illness

All of these conditions contribute to a slightly concerning level of dirt, body oils, sweat, saliva, dead skin cells, and dust mites. Gross! 

What’s perhaps the grossest fact of all is that the average person’s mattress has anywhere from 100,000 to 10 million dust mites crawling around (unseen!) and using your sheets as a toilet. 

To avoid the effects of dust mites (and all the other germs lurking in your bed) on your sleep quality and good health, washing your sheets regularly is of extreme importance. Here’s when you should strip down your bed and head to the laundry room.

How often should I wash my sheets?

As we mentioned, most experts recommend washing your sheets every week. 

The easiest way to integrate this into your weekly cleaning habits is to keep two sets of sheets and pillowcases on hand; this way, you can change them out each week, but only have to launder them once every two weeks. 

However, other sources say that it all depends on your individual circumstances.

According to The Good Housekeeping Institute, the average sleeper only needs to wash their sheets and other bedding once every two weeks. If you have night sweats, are a generally hot sleeper, or you sweat often, the Institute suggests bumping up your washing routine to once per week.

For those that have allergies or asthma (and especially if you are allergic to dust mites themselves), experts from the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America recommend washing your sheets once a week.

To effectively kill those allergen-causing dust mites, it’s key to launder your bedding in hot water that’s at least 130 degrees Fahrenheit. 

The rules change when it comes to battling an illness or infection. If you’re sick with any type of contagious virus or infection, it’s extremely important to wash all bedding as soon as you feel better.

This will help to prevent you from contracting the same illness again. In this case, using water between 140 and 150 degrees Fahrenheit is recommended, as well as using the highest heat setting on your dryer.

Naturepedic’s Organic Sheets

While you’re at it, part of maintaining a sleep environment that’s better for your health and wellness is thinking about the bedding you’re sleeping on. What are your sheets made of? Is your pillow made with organic, or synthetic, materials?

At Naturepedic, all of our bedding products and our mattresses are certified organic to the highest standards in the industry. (You can read more about our certifications here.) 

In particular, our Organic Sheets are made with 100% certified organic cotton. This means the cotton we use in our sheets is grown without synthetic insecticides, herbicides, or genetically-modified organisms (GMOs). Compared to conventionally grown cotton, organic cotton eliminates nasty pesticides and promotes more fertile soil--all while protecting bees, songbirds, and contributing to a healthier world.

To learn more about our Organic Sheets & Pillowcases, visit our website

YOUR CART