Question of the Day- How Often Should You Wash Your Bed Sheets?
By DB
@dgobucks226 (37621)
December 9, 2022 7:57pm CST
I routinely wash clothing items and bath towels, but I am not as diligent as I should be with bed sheets and pillowcases. How about you? According to research it seems there are health risks involved with infrequent sheet washing. Sleeping on dirty sheets over time can cause skin irritation, but there are more serious health issues to be more concerned about.
A main concern is dust mites which feed off our dead skin cells that we shed while sleeping every night. You may not realize it, but your skin sheds 200 million dead skin cells per hour, " says Melanie Palm, M.D., a board-certified dermatologist and the founder of Art of Skin MD in San Diego, California. " Neglecting regular washing produces dirty sheets and over time a lot of food for those microscopic mites to feed on.
SPECIFIC REASONS TO WASH BED SHEETS ON A TIMELY SCHEDULE:
- Dust mite poop is a major allergen, and they're known to worsen conditions such as asthma, hay fever, and eczema.
-There will be an increase in the number of dust mites in your home.
-If you sleep with your pets, they may carry fungal organisms (e.g. ringworm) and mites that can be transferred to you and cause skin issues.
Yikes, that's a lot of strange bedfellows sharing my bed! 
Well, those definitely seem like good reasons to me to be more attentive to washing sheets, pillowcases, and blankets more frequently.
So, how often do you wash your bed sheets? Want to know the best answer. Although there is not an exact timetable, I'll let you know what the experts think is best, along with some helpful hints!
Source information- Shape
Photo- Sleepopolis
Well, those definitely seem like good reasons to me to be more attentive to washing sheets, pillowcases, and blankets more frequently.
So, how often do you wash your bed sheets? Want to know the best answer. Although there is not an exact timetable, I'll let you know what the experts think is best, along with some helpful hints!
Source information- Shape
Photo- Sleepopolis9 people like this
10 responses
@LadyDuck (502729)
• Italy
13 Dec 22
@dgobucks226 OH MY!!! Once a year sounds horrible.
Right now we do not risk excessive sweating through the night, it's freezing cold
During summer I often wash the bed sheets every other day. You feel that it's not "fresh" is you sweated during the night.
During summer I often wash the bed sheets every other day. You feel that it's not "fresh" is you sweated during the night.1 person likes this
@dgobucks226 (37621)
•
12 Dec 22
Sounds good! In a survey of 2,000 people in the U.K., almost one-third of respondents admitted to cleaning their bed sheets just once a year. Imagine that! 
Here is an interesting fact I was not aware of: Excessive sweating throughout the night creates a combo of sweat, dirt, oil, and bacteria that may be present on your bedsheets possibly leading to body acne.
Here is an interesting fact I was not aware of: Excessive sweating throughout the night creates a combo of sweat, dirt, oil, and bacteria that may be present on your bedsheets possibly leading to body acne.1 person likes this
@dgobucks226 (37621)
•
14 Dec 22
@LadyDuck Ha, ha! Yes, no sweating during wintertime unless you overload on extra comforters.
1 person likes this
@sathviksouvik (23263)
•
13 Dec 22
@dgobucks226 at least the bed sheet should be cleaned thrice a week
1 person likes this
@dgobucks226 (37621)
•
12 Dec 22
Wow! That's frequent. You will have no dust mite issues doing this.
In a survey of 2,000 people in the U.K., almost one-third of respondents admitted to cleaning their bed sheets just once a year. Imagine that!
In case you're interested here are some helpful hints:
1. You may want to wash your sheets more frequently when you're using an ointment to treat a skin condition.
2. Excessive sweating throughout the night creates a combo of sweat, dirt, oil, and bacteria that may be present on your bedsheets possibly leading to body acne.
@RebeccasFarm (91297)
• United States
10 Dec 22
Yet there are people who sleep on dirt and straw and are not sick a day in their lives.
Me, I wash mine nearly every week. That is as much as I can afford to pay the laundromat.
1 person likes this
Um we are not living in the medeival ages..what do they want the plaque? JC DB
@dgobucks226 (37621)
•
12 Dec 22
In a survey of 2,000 people in the U.K., almost one-third of respondents admitted to cleaning their bed sheets just once a year. Imagine that!
Some experts recommend weekly, twice, or once a month. The frequency depends on whether you suffer from skin conditions, allergies, and tolerance toward dust mites.
In case you're interested here are some helpful hints:
1. Hot water is best for washing bedding as it has been shown to kill mites. If your concerned about using hot water drying the sheets on high heat (130F) over 10 minutes will kill them.
2. Excessive sweating throughout the night creates a combo of sweat, dirt, oil, and bacteria that may be present on your bedsheets possibly leading to body acne.
1 person likes this
@RasmaSandra (98106)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
10 Dec 22
It is only me and I do not wash my stuff too often, However, I change bed sheets and stuff every two weeks, I have never had any problems with my sheets.
1 person likes this
@dgobucks226 (37621)
•
12 Dec 22
Some experts recommend weekly, twice, or once a month. The frequency depends on whether you suffer from skin conditions, allergies, and tolerance toward dust mites. Looks like you're on the right track [em]thumbup[/em ]In a survey of 2,000 people in the U.K., almost one-third of respondents admitted to cleaning their bed sheets just once a year. Imagine that!
In case you're interested here are some helpful hints:
1. You may want to wash your sheets more frequently when you're using an ointment to treat a skin condition.
2. Hot water is best for washing bedding as it has been shown to kill mites. If your concerned about using hot water drying the sheets on high heat (130F) over 10 minutes will kill them.
1 person likes this
@RasmaSandra (98106)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
12 Dec 22
@dgobucks226 thank you for the tips
1 person likes this
@dgobucks226 (37621)
•
12 Dec 22
@RasmaSandra Sure thing Rasma! Have a wonderful evening...
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (382440)
• Rockingham, Australia
13 Dec 22
@dgobucks226 When my mother had to hand-wash everything, she would put the top sheet on the bottom and just wash the bottom sheet. She washed the sheets weekly and boiled them in a copper first before scrubbing and wringing them. They were dried in the sun so probably didn't have too many bugs/mites left in them by then.
1 person likes this
@dgobucks226 (37621)
•
12 Dec 22
Aha, now that's diligence! Some experts recommend weekly, twice, or once a month. The frequency depends on whether you suffer from skin conditions, allergies, and tolerance toward dust mites.
In a survey of 2,000 people in the U.K., almost one-third of respondents admitted to cleaning their bed sheets just once a year. Imagine that!
In case you're interested here are some helpful hints:
1. Hot water is best for washing bedding as it has been shown to kill mites. If your concerned about using hot water drying the sheets on high heat (130F) over 10 minutes will kill them.
2. Excessive sweating throughout the night creates a combo of sweat, dirt, oil, and bacteria that may be present on your bedsheets possibly leading to body acne.
In case you're interested here are some helpful hints:
1. Hot water is best for washing bedding as it has been shown to kill mites. If your concerned about using hot water drying the sheets on high heat (130F) over 10 minutes will kill them.
2. Excessive sweating throughout the night creates a combo of sweat, dirt, oil, and bacteria that may be present on your bedsheets possibly leading to body acne.1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (222726)
• United States
10 Dec 22
I used to wash them every week. Now hubs and I have to sleep in recliners due to spinal and breathing issues. I try not to think about the dust mites. Yuck!
1 person likes this
@dgobucks226 (37621)
•
12 Dec 22
I know! Lots of strange bedfellows, yikes 
In a survey of 2,000 people in the U.K., almost one-third of respondents admitted to cleaning their bed sheets just once a year. Imagine that!
Some experts recommend weekly, twice, or once a month. The frequency depends on whether you suffer from skin conditions, allergies, and tolerance toward dust mites.
Helpful hint:
1. Hot water is best for washing bedding as it has been shown to kill mites. If your concerned about using hot water drying the sheets on high heat (130F) over 10 minutes will kill them.
In a survey of 2,000 people in the U.K., almost one-third of respondents admitted to cleaning their bed sheets just once a year. Imagine that!
Some experts recommend weekly, twice, or once a month. The frequency depends on whether you suffer from skin conditions, allergies, and tolerance toward dust mites.
Helpful hint:
1. Hot water is best for washing bedding as it has been shown to kill mites. If your concerned about using hot water drying the sheets on high heat (130F) over 10 minutes will kill them.1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (222726)
• United States
13 Dec 22
@dgobucks226 Thanks for the hint. I would hate to think about changing my sheets once a year! Yuck!
1 person likes this
@dgobucks226 (37621)
•
15 Dec 22
@rebelann Yep... that will terminate them for sure!
Yep... that will terminate them for sure!1 person likes this
@dgobucks226 (37621)
•
12 Dec 22
Hmm, interesting tradeoff... Being warm or itching???
In a survey of 2,000 people in the U.K., almost one-third of respondents admitted to cleaning their bed sheets just once a year. Imagine that!
Some experts recommend weekly, twice, or once a month. The frequency depends on whether you suffer from skin conditions, allergies, and tolerance toward dust mites.
Hot water is best for washing bedding as it has been shown to kill mites. If your concerned about using hot water drying the sheets on high heat (130F) over 10 minutes will kill them. An alternative to frequent washing and a way to keep those pesky guys off your pillowcases, lol.
1 person likes this
@FourWalls (86855)
• United States
10 Dec 22
It hurts a lot to change mine (back and asthma), so I plan on it about a week before I actually do it…psyching myself up for it.
1 person likes this
@dgobucks226 (37621)
•
12 Dec 22
I agree! Washing sheets is a chore I don't look forward to either.
In a survey of 2,000 people in the U.K., almost one-third of respondents admitted to cleaning their bed sheets just once a year. Imagine that!
Some experts recommend weekly, twice, or once a month. The frequency depends on whether you suffer from skin conditions, allergies, and tolerance toward dust mites.
Helpful hint:
1. Hot water is best for washing bedding as it has been shown to kill mites. If your concerned about using hot water drying the sheets on high heat (130F) over 10 minutes will kill them.
1 person likes this
@JESSY3236 (22244)
• United States
14 Dec 22
My mother washes both hers and mine every couple of weeks.
1 person likes this
@dgobucks226 (37621)
•
16 Dec 22
That's what I do with mine. Some experts recommend weekly, twice, or once a month. The frequency depends on whether you suffer from skin conditions, allergies, and tolerance toward dust mites. So, you're cleaning the sheets as recommended.
In case you're interested here are some helpful hints:
1. You may want to wash your sheets more frequently when you're using an ointment to treat a skin condition.
2. Hot water is best for washing bedding as it has been shown to kill mites. If your concerned about using hot water drying the sheets on high heat (130F) over 10 minutes will kill them.
1 person likes this
@cabuyogty (4487)
• Philippines
10 Dec 22
We wash our clothes and bedsheets every two weeks
1 person likes this
@dgobucks226 (37621)
•
12 Dec 22
That sounds reasonable. In a survey of 2,000 people in the U.K., almost one-third of respondents admitted to cleaning their bed sheets just once a year. Imagine that!
Some experts recommend weekly, twice, or once a month. The frequency depends on whether you suffer from skin conditions, allergies, and tolerance toward dust mites.
In case your interested here are some helpful hints:
1. You may want to wash your sheets more frequently when you're using an ointment to treat a skin condition.
2. Excessive sweating throughout the night creates a combo of sweat, dirt, oil, and bacteria that may be present on your bedsheets possibly leading to body acne.
1 person likes this
@cabuyogty (4487)
• Philippines
14 Dec 22
@dgobucks226 wow , it was so informative . A lot of people will sure read your comment 
1 person likes this
