A Guide To Changing And Washing Your Sheets by Our Sleep Guide

When was the last time you washed your sheets? If this question takes you a few moments of thinking back, then your sheets could definitely use a wash. We spend so much time in our beds and yet we rarely thinking about how important it is to change the bedding regularly. It is often one of those things that gets put on the back burner.

We are going to share some of our top tips on how often you should be washing/changing your bedding. Along with ways to make the entire process a bit easier. Stick around to learn more!

You May Also Enjoy: Quick Tips for Keeping Your Bedroom Clean

Clean Bedding – What You Need To Know:

How Often Should You Change or Wash Your Sheets?

Every 1-2 weeks. At first this may seem very frequent if you do not wash your sheets all that often. However, once you begin to consider how much time we spend in our beds each and every night. It truly becomes clear that we really do need to be washing our sheets at least every other week.

With families, sometimes the washing machine gets backed up with all the washing that needs to get done. Which is why it is a good idea to have extra sheets for each bed in the house. That way you can simply change out your sheets instead of washing the same set weekly. Not only is this easier to manage with washing, it will also prolong the life of your sheets as they are being used and washed less frequently.

Your pillows need to stay clean as well, learn more in our post: How To Clean Your Pillows & Keep Them Fresh

Follow the Care Instructions

You may be surprised at how different the care instructions can be for different sheets and materials. Which is why we always recommend reading the care instructions carefully. Linens and pure cotton often suggest against using fabric softeners as they can clog the pores of the fibers and make the sheets less breathable. While polyesters advice against using bleach as it can damage the material. All bedding is a bit different.

Some bedding products are no longer returnable after they have been washed. So be sure to try your sheets on the bed first before giving them a wash and insure you follow instructions for drying as well.

Laundry Stripping – What You Need to Know:

Social media has blown up with videos of people stripping their supposedly “clean laundry”. Only to reveal a bathtub filled with murky water after the clothes soak for some time.

This is going to work best on materials like cotton. It is great for towels and linens alike. If you are unsure on whether or not it is okay for your bedding, you can always contact the manufacturer for advice.

Having a clean bed truly can help you sleep. Learn more in our post: How A Clean Bedroom Means Better Sleep

Eco Friendly Washing & Drying

When it comes to washing your bedding in an eco friendly manner, there are many different ways to go about doing this. The first is to generally wash and dry less often. Stretch it out to every two to three weeks. Be sure to get into bed after bathing yourself to keep your sheets as clean as possible.

Be mindful of your detergent, fabric softeners, and other products you use. We suggest hang drying when possible. If you are going to use the dryer, use a low setting and use wool dryer balls instead of single use dryer sheets.

If you have any clothing or linens with polyester or anything else that puts out micro-plastics. We suggest using a linen bag made to hold onto micro plastic. This way they are not getting pumped back into the water system and instead can be disposed of properly.

Need a dry cleaner? There are now eco friendly dry cleaners that avoid using chemicals that are bad for the environment. This could be an entire post all on its own. However, we hope these tips get you started.

Looking to create an eco-friendly bedroom? Then you will love our guide: How To Create a 100% Sustainable Bedroom

Should You Wash New Sheets?

Washing your sheets before use is typically a good rule of thumb. New sheets can have treatments on top of them that need to be cleaned off before slept on. However, if you are unsure whether or not you are wanting to keep your sheets, we do suggest checking return policies before washing, as many brands will no longer accept returns after sheets and been washed and dried.

We also suggest doing a fit check before washing and drying to ensure the sheets fit your mattress properly before following washing and drying instructions. After you are sure these are the sheets for you and they fit your bed, then we suggest washing and drying according to directions before your first use.

Mattress Care: How To Clean A Mattress & Keep It Clean

Time Saving Tips & Tricks:

Rolling Up Duvet Method:

When we first saw this method of putting a duvet cover on an insert, it was honestly difficult to believe it really worked. It looks like some kind of trick of the eye magic trick. After trying it out ourselves, it is not the only way we put on a duvet cover. It is so simple, takes less time than flipping the cover inside out or attempting to shake the duvet in like a massive pillow. It’s so simple it is easily accomplished by one person.

In order to do the roll up duvet method. First lay your duvet cover flat on the bed inside out. Place the duvet on top of the cover. Then roll up the duvet starting at the closed end of the duvet and working your way toward the open end of the cover. Rolls past the opening. Next, open the end of the duvet cover and slip the entire rolled package into itself, revealing the right side of the cover.

Then simply unroll the duvet and lay out flat! It sounds complicated at first, but we promise after you do it once you will never go back to the old method.

Not sure if you need a duvet or a comforter? Learn the difference in our post: Duvet vs Comforter: What’s the Difference?

Folding Fitted Sheet Hack:

Fitted sheets are notoriously difficult to fold. Their bunched elastic corners make most normal folds turn into awkward balls of sheets. The trick to getting a great folded fitted sheet is to square off the corners before folding the entire sheet.

Lay your fitted sheet out flat with the elastic side facing up. Then fold in the sides toward the center until you have a rectangular shape. Then fold into itself, carefully ensuring you maintain a rectangular shape. This will help ensure a good fold that stacks well.

Multiple Sets of Sheets:

One way to significantly cut down on the stress of washing your bedding, we highly recommend having at least two sets of sheets for each bed. This way if a spill happens on your bed right before heading off to sleep, you can still change into clean dry sheets without waiting on the washing machine and dryer to finish.

This gives you a lot more time to get to washing the sheets whenever you have a chance instead of needing to do it right away in order to be able to get your sheets back on your bed before going off to sleep.

Get Deep Pocket Sheets:

The reason your fitted sheet keeps popping off the sides of your mattress is because your fitted sheet is not large enough for your lofty mattress. This is not only obnoxious to deal with, it also is unsightly to look at and constantly requires tugging on the end of the sheets to keep them secure to the bed.

Instead, invest in extra deep pocket sheets. Do some research to see whether or not the measurements of the sheets will fit your mattress. We highly recommend Quick Zip sheets for this. The top of the fitted sheet zips off for easy cleaning. We have never had such all-encasing sheets. Seriously, these sheets will cover just about any thick mattress.

Click HERE to view our full review of the Quick Zip sheets.

Reasons to Wash Your Sheets More Frequently:

Depending on how you use your bed, you may or may not need to wash your sheets on a weekly basis. If you are a very clean person, who does not eat in bed, and showers before getting into bed, then you may only need to wash your sheets every other week or so. The following are some of the activities in which we would recommend washing your sheets more frequently.

Pets Sleeping in Your Bed
Sleeping in The Nude
Eating/Drinking in Bed
Excessive Sweating
Sleeping Without Washing Skin/Hair
Suffer from Allergies & Asthma
Intimate Encounters in Bed

Learn more about the potential pros & cons to sleeping in the nude in our post: Get Buck Naked! Pros & Cons to Sleeping Nude

Best Sheets for Your Needs:

Best Sheets for Staying Cool

Best Sheets for Staying Warm

Top Pick Organic Sheets

Best Budget Friendly Sheets

Changing & Washing Your Sheets – The Takeaway:

It can be far too easy to let washing your sheets sit on the back burner. It can be a simple task to forget about. However, having clean bedding is not only more comfortable and enjoyable to sleep in, it can also improve your health and hygiene. Our general rule of thumb is to either wash or change out your bedding for clean sheets every 1-2 weeks. Using this rule will help to ensure you never wake up in sheets that have not been washed for months on end.

We hope all of our extra tips and tricks keep your bed extra fresh and clean. While making it a bit easier to manage on a regular basis.

Have a question for us? Send us a message through our Contact Us page. We would love to help in anyway we can.

A Guide To Changing and Washing Your Sheets