Getting a good night’s sleep is crucial for your health and wellbeing. An often overlooked part of creating an environment conducive to quality sleep is keeping your bed linens fresh and clean. As many of us don’t wash our sheets and duvets as often as we should, it’s important to learn the best practices for laundering bedding. Follow these pro tips to refresh your bedding and ensure it’s clean and hygienic.
Assess How Frequently You Should Wash Your Sheets and Duvets
How often you should wash your sheets and duvets depends on a few factors:
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How much you sweat at night – The more you sweat, the more frequently you should wash your bedding.
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If you allow pets on the bed – Pet dander and hair can accumulate quickly. Wash weekly or biweekly if pets sleep in your bed.
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How many people share the bed – More people means more sweat, skin cells, and body oils deposited on the sheets. Wash at least weekly for a shared bed.
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If someone is sick – Wash immediately after illness to remove germs and prevent reinfection.
As a general rule, wash sheets weekly and duvets every 2-3 weeks. Wash them more frequently if you sweat a lot or have pets in your bed.
Use the Warmest Water Recommended
Wash your sheets and duvets with the warmest water recommended on the care tags. Hot water helps:
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Sanitize – Kills germs, dust mites, and allergens.
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Remove body oil and sweat – Gets rid of grime that accumulates on bedding.
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Make detergents more effective – Allows them to dissolve and activate better to clean fabrics.
Avoid exceeding the recommended temperature, as very hot water can damage fabrics. But in general, washing in warm or hot water gets linens cleaner.
Use Non- chlorine Bleach When Needed
Non-chlorine bleach is an effective disinfectant for bedding that can be added to every wash cycle. It:
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Kills germs and viruses – Disinfects sheets that may harbor bacteria and viruses from illness.
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Removes stains – Gets rid of discoloration from sweat, body oils, and skin cells.
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Brightens fabrics – Helps maintain the original vibrancy and whiteness of bed linens.
Follow directions on the bottle and don’t overuse it. Non-chlorine bleach is gentler than chlorine but can still damage fabrics if too much is used. It’s a great sanitizing boost for routine washes.
Dry Thoroughly and Avoid Overdrying
Proper drying is key to fully cleaning and sanitizing laundry. Ensure your sheets and duvets are:
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Fully dried on a medium or high heat setting. Remaining moisture allows germs and allergens to continue thriving.
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Not overdried. Too much heat can damage fibers, cause shrinkage, and make fabric scratchy.
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Periodically shaken out while drying. This prevents tangling and ensures even drying.
Take sheets and duvets out of the dryer immediately when finished to prevent overdrying. Proper drying removes lingering dirt and kills remaining germs.
Wash and Dry Duvet Covers Frequently
Although you don’t need to wash duvets as often as sheets, duvet covers should be washed weekly. Here’s why:
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Duvet covers shield duvets from body oils and sweat. Washing them regularly keeps duvets cleaner between washes.
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Soiled duvet covers can irritate skin and allergies even if the duvet inside is clean.
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Duvet covers are smaller and easier to wash frequently than bulky duvets.
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Frequent washing of duvet covers extends the life of duvets by keeping them cleaner.
Be diligent about washing duvet covers to protect duvets and keep bedding fresh.
Inspect Bedding for Damage and Stains
Before putting sheets and duvets back on your bed, inspect them for damage and remaining stains. Look for:
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Holes, tears, and thinned fabric – Which indicate a need to replace bedding.
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Stains that didn’t come out during washing – Which may require extra laundering or spot treatment.
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Broken zippers or torn seams on duvets – Which mean it’s time to replace a duvet.
Catching damage early keeps bedding in good condition longer. And treating stubborn stains immediately prevents them from setting.
Summary
Refreshing your bedding regularly is a key part of quality sleep hygiene. Wash sheets weekly and duvets every 2-3 weeks, using the warmest water safe for fabrics. Add non-chlorine bleach to disinfect when needed. Always dry completely on medium or high heat. Duvet covers should be washed weekly to protect duvets. Inspect for damage and stains before remaking your bed with freshly laundered linens. With these tips, your bedding will stay cleaner and fresher longer.
