How often should the bed be changed? Rules of care

Arcorporation
Jul 5, 2023
4 min read

We sleep about 8 hours a day, and all this time our skin is in contact with the bedding. Even if you always shower before going to bed, fabrics still get dirty quickly. In this article, we will analyze in detail:

How dangerous is sleeping on dirty sheets?
How often should bed linen be changed?

Why do you need to change bed linen often?

The need for frequent bed changes is caused by a number of factors, which we will talk about later.
Sweat, cream, body lotion - all this quickly contaminates the fabric.
Clean fabrics are pleasant to the touch, have a good aroma and promote restful sleep.
If you wash textiles regularly, you can easily get rid of dust mites. Why should it be followed? Common dust allergies are caused by the waste products of these mites.

Heat and moisture from the body create favorable conditions for bacteria, viruses and fungi. The less often you change bed linen, the more unwanted microorganisms live around. This can cause respiratory diseases, infections, etc.

Bed linen should be washed 1-2 times a week. Changing pillowcases and duvet covers takes time, so many prefer to postpone this procedure for another week... Unfortunately, sleeping on a dirty bed threatens with a number of negative consequences. If you rarely cover it, get ready for:

increased risk of developing allergies;
deterioration of the condition of the skin and hair, because in a dream they are constantly in contact with the fabric;
increased risk of respiratory diseases and infections.

Recommendations of specialists

Experts agree: the more often you change bed linen, the better. It is recommended to wash not only textiles, but also pillows, blankets, and mattress toppers, because harmful microorganisms also live in them.

It is recommended to change the bedding several times a week for people suffering from allergies, atopic dermatitis, respiratory diseases, and during SARS.

What factors affect the frequency of changing underwear?

The periodicity of bed changes depends on various factors: season, age, sweating, use of night cosmetics, etc. In some cases, the bed must be remade a few days after the first use. Let's consider the issue in more detail.

Season

In winter, it is allowed to change the bed less often - once every 2 weeks. People do not open windows during this period, so allergens such as pollen or street dust do not get into the house and onto the bed. In addition, it is not hot in winter, so we sweat less.
In the spring, a lot of pollen and other allergens enter the house through open windows. If the exacerbation of allergic reactions occurs at night, wash sheets and other textiles twice a week.
In the summer, it is also better to do it more often, because it is hot even at night, which causes increased sweating
In autumn, the frequency can be reduced to once every 2 weeks.

Other reasons to change the bed more often:

Pets. Many owners of cats and dogs do not forbid their pets to sleep with them. Unfortunately, they don't follow hygiene as carefully as humans, so hair, dirt and bacteria get on the bed. If your pet likes to climb into bed, you need to wash bed linen 2-3 times a week.
If you are sick, it is better to change the bed every 2-3 days. Especially if you need to observe bed rest, because a weakened body should not come into contact with bacteria.
Do you like to eat while lying in bed? If it is impossible to overcome the habit, you need to change the bed immediately after a meal, so as not to turn it into a "buffet" for bacteria.
Do you actively use skin lotions and other night cosmetics? Do laundry at least once a week.
Allergy to house dust is a reason to wash bedding, blankets, pillows and mattress toppers more often.
Children need to change bed linen more often than adults. Newborns need to change their beds every day, children from 2 to 12 years old - 2 times a week, teenagers - once every 4 days.

Tips for every day

Do not rush to cover the bed with a blanket or remove the pillows and blanket immediately after sleep. Give them time to air out and dry. If the weather permits, leave the window open.
Try to iron textiles after washing. High temperature copes much more effectively with microorganisms that can survive washing in a machine.
Do not go to bed with wet hair. This not only damages the hair, but also causes the appearance of bacteria and spoils the filling of the pillow. This especially applies to natural models with down/feather filling.
Buy several sets at once. This will save you from the situation when the old one has already been sent to the basket, and the new one is not in the closet.

Bed linen care rules

There are several main points that you should pay attention to when caring for bed linen.

Sheets

Do not place sheets over a mattress or sofa. We recommend using mattress toppers. Why? This is a kind of protective barrier that will help keep the mattress cover or sofa upholstery clean and reduce the amount of dust on them. Thanks to the fact that mattress toppers are easier to wash, you will be able to maintain the cleanliness of the sleeping place more efficiently.

When washing, use the 60 degree mode (if the fabric allows) and do not use a lot of powder. To completely remove detergent residues, use a double rinse. Powder residues can cause allergies.

Pillowcases and duvet covers

Before washing, you must turn the pillowcases and duvet cover inside out. This will preserve the brightness of the pattern and color. After that, it is recommended to iron the products.

It is better not to use bleaches and to spin textiles at no more than 500-600 revolutions per minute.

Quality bedding = healthy sleep

Timely change of bedding is important for quality rest and healthy sleep. We recommend changing it at least once a week, and in the special situations mentioned above, even up to 2-3 times a week.

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