Did you know that the cleanliness of your sheets and other bedding materials is more important than you think?
The last thing we all do every day is to fall on our beds, and for the next five to eight hours, our skin is in constant contact with our sheets and bedding. That’s ample time for dirt, microorganisms, sweat, and oil to accumulate on those sheets. All these have harmful effects on our skin and can lead to several skin conditions and allergies if left for too long, so you must ensure all bedding materials are kept clean.
With this in mind, you would surely be asking yourself right now this question: “How often, then, do I really need to wash my sheets and other bedding?”
Well, the thing is this; ideally, all bedding materials should be washed or changed at least once every week, but this might vary depending on how often you sleep on them, if you have pets that sleep on the same bed with you or if you sleep with someone else on that same bed. It can also vary depending on how long you experience allergies after sleeping on the same sheet for several days.
Sometimes, the climate and weather conditions of where you live are important factors to consider when it comes to how frequently you get those sheets cleaned up. If you live in areas where the temperature is quite high or during the summer months, you must wash your bedding more frequently, such as every four to five days. It is so because, under these conditions, you will most likely sweat more and accumulate more oil on your sheet. It is even more important if you develop seasonal allergies or other allergies in general, whereby in this case, you should wash your bedding once every three to four days. Also, if you tend to sweat a lot when you sleep, you should wash and change your bedding more often.
Why it is Important to Keep Your Bedding Clean Always.
A recent study carried out by the Mattress Advisor in the US states that the average individual changes their bedding almost every twenty-four days. Due to how quickly bedding materials can accumulate dirt and other agents harmful to the skin, this isn’t an ideal practice.
The benefits of keeping your sheets and bedding clean always include:
- It prevents the accumulation of microorganisms that cause skin problems and other allergies.
- It promotes better sleep.
- It prevents the buildup of other substances such as sweat, body oils, and dead skin cells.
- It prevents the proliferation of dust mites on your bedding. Dust mites are microscopic organisms that are prevalent in many homes. These little creatures do not bite, making you unaware of their presence. However, they can worsen your allergy symptoms if you already have one. They can also cause skin rashes and irritation.
These organisms feed on your skin’s dead cells, and under normal conditions, they can number tens of thousands and even hundreds of thousands in worse cases.
How to Wash Your Sheets
Now that you know how important it is to keep your sheets clean and fresh regularly and the consequences if you fail to do so, let me guide you on how to wash these materials.
Always remember to read the care tag on your sheets for specific laundry guides before attempting to wash. Varying measures of care should be provided for your sheets depending on the fabric. For example, the way you handle a cotton fabric would be different from the way you would handle a silk fabric.
It is always advisable that you should wash your sheets separately from your other clothing for maximal cleaning and prevention of wear and damage. Contrary to some people’s belief, whereby sheets should be washed in hot water, it is generally not necessary except if you have a sick person in your home, or you plan on warding off allergies or killing those annoying dust mites.
Wash your sheets using warm or cool water and a good detergent. Dry them properly and keep them neatly folded in a clean area if you aren’t ready to use them.
If you think that washing your sheets once a week or more frequently, as we have established, isn’t possible, then you might have to take some steps to prolong the interval between each wash, which include:
- Bathing or washing your face before you go to bed to help reduce the amount of dirt, sweat, and oil on your skin.
- Avoid eating or snacking in bed.
- Have your pets sleep elsewhere to prevent the accumulation of pet hairs and dander on your sheets.
- Consider acquiring more sets of sheets and bedding to make keeping your sheets clean and fresh easier.
Other Important Points to Consider
For other types of bedding, the frequency of washing them might vary. Typically, your pillowcases should be washed as frequently as your sheets or more frequently as it is always touching your face. This can help greatly, especially if you go to bed with makeup or suffer from acne and other skin problems.
Throw blankets and duvet covers do not necessarily need to follow this rule because they generally don’t make as much contact with your skin. Throw blankets can be washed once every two to three months. As you’ve learned earlier, duvet covers should be washed once every two weeks and up to a month, depending on the frequency of use and other factors. Pillows, if washable, must be washed once every four to six months.
It would help if you also considered cleaning your mattress once every six months to help prolong its lifespan and improve the quality of your sleep.
Keeping your sheets and other bedding clean generally improves your sleep quality and overall well-being.
