How often should I wash my bedding? Researchers reveal surprising rule

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Most of us definitely use our bedding for much longer than is good for it. After all, we sleep in it every night. However, sheets, pillows, and other bedding accumulate a lot of dirt, skin flakes, and bodily fluids over time. This is especially true in temperatures like those we are currently experiencing. The answer to the question of how often you should change your bedding is therefore particularly important-

According to a GfK survey commissioned by online retailer Galaxus (via Deutsche Presse-Agentur dpa), four out of ten German citizens only change and wash their bedding irregularly or rarely. Around 33 percent do so about once a month. A full six percent of those surveyed even wait two to three months before changing their bedding. For one percent, it takes even longer.

On the positive side, 41 percent change their sheets and covers every two weeks. Around 18 percent do so weekly. Just over one percent even change their bedding daily. A total of 1,500 people between the ages of 16 and 74 were surveyed. The sample was stated to be representative of the population in Germany.

Researchers recommend a very specific routine
But what is the official recommendation? A kind of golden rule is to change the textiles every two weeks. However, according to science, this is not enough. Doctors recommend changing and washing bed linen once a week.

Dermatologist and germ expert Dr. Annie Gonzalez, for example, believes it makes perfect sense to remove sheets, duvet covers, and pillowcases every seven days and put them in the washing machine to remove as much dirt as possible. Dr. Philip Tierno, a microbiologist at NYU Grossman School of Medicine, goes one step further and makes this routine dependent on whether a mattress cover is available.

If there is no additional barrier between the sheets and the mattress, he believes that a weekly routine is essential. In such cases, the mattress accumulates more fluids, fats, and dandruff due to unhindered seepage. A cover prevents this and allows bedding to be changed and cleaned only every two weeks.

The German Textile Cleaning Association (Deutscher Textilreinigungs-Verband e.V.) also recommends thoroughly wet cleaning bedding such as blankets and pillows, ideally once or twice a year if possible. Of course, the situation is quite different for sheets and covers. But here, too, the recommendations vary.

Grease, sweat, and mites: all of this accumulates in your bedding
It quickly becomes clear that you should clean covers, sheets, and the like regularly when you consider everything that accumulates in your sleeping area over time. Within a year, humans lose around 180 liters of fluid, which is deposited in the bed and thus also in the bedding.

Added to this are grease and skin flakes, which in turn provide an excellent food source for mites. Not only do these live in your bedroom, they also leave behind their own dirt. Up to 10,000 of these arachnids can be found in a dirty bed.

Duvets and pillows are perfect for fungi and bacteria
In addition to dust mites, other parasites can also be found in your bed. Moisture and warmth create the perfect environment for bacteria and fungi. According to a study, researchers at the University Hospital of South Manchester found that feather pillows and synthetic pillows in particular promote rapid spread.

After 1.5 years, an average of four species of fungi were found in bedding, and after 20 years, around 17 species.

How often should you change your bedding? These people should do it more often
This is particularly dangerous for the health of small children, sick people, and the elderly, as explained by the German Textile Cleaning Association (Deutscher Textilreinigungs-Verband e.V.). It can lead to a dust mite allergy, which manifests itself in sneezing and skin rashes. However, immunocompromised individuals and people with respiratory diseases such as asthma can also experience health problems with prolonged exposure.

Regular cleaning is also recommended for other specific groups of people because they leave more residue than others. These include people:

with skin problems such as rashes or acne

with excessive salivation while sleeping

who take their pets to bed with them

who don’t shower before going to bed

who sleep naked

who eat in bed

who sweat heavily

who have asthma or allergies

who smoke a lot

Watch out: 3 mistakes you can make when washing bed linen

Apart from washing your bedding more often, there are also some general things you can pay attention to. For example, the following mistakes you might make.

Washing bedding at too high a temperature: It is a misconception that you have to wash bedding at a minimum of 60 degrees to kill all germs. Modern washing machines can do this at lower temperatures.

Using the wrong detergent: Not all bed linen needs the same detergent. For white fabrics, for example, a heavy-duty detergent is recommended to prevent a gray haze. However, this would cause colorful or patterned fabrics to fade, which is why a color detergent is the better choice.

Do not use fabric softener: It is important to avoid fabric softener, especially for the absorbency of your bed linen. Fabric softener sticks to delicate fibers and is also not recommended for cotton.

Washing bed linen correctly – instructions

Before you start the actual washing process, you can prepare your textiles in advance. This ensures good but gentle results.

Manufacturers recommend, for example, always turning bed linen inside out when washing. This means that the inside is facing outwards. You should also close any zippers on the covers. In addition, bed linen and sheets should only be washed with similar colors.

All these precautions are designed to prevent damage to the fabric or abrasion of the printed motif, while preserving the brightness of the colors.

To thoroughly clean your bedding, temperatures of up to 60 degrees Celsius are sufficient. These are particularly recommended for allergy sufferers, as they kill dust mites most effectively. However, this requires more than 30 minutes at 60 degrees.

Optimal temperatures depending on the degree of soiling

Washing bed linen at 30 degrees: Not recommended for hygienic reasons. Bacteria and germs can even multiply at this temperature. However, if the bed linen is made of microfiber or printed, 30 degrees is often necessary to prevent color loss.

Washing bed linen at 40 degrees: If the soiling is light to normal, 40 degrees is optimal and sufficient.

Washing bed linen at 60 degrees: To really give germs and bacteria no chance, 60 degrees is good. However, when purchasing, it is best to make sure that these temperatures do not cause damage.

Washing bed linen at 90 degrees: If the fabrics are not dyed or made of linen, they can also be washed at 90 degrees without any problems. However, this is not necessary, as 60 degrees is already sufficient for hygienic cleanliness.

Different fabrics also have different care requirements. For example, there are the following basic rules for washing cotton and other fabrics.

Temperatures and detergents depending on the type of fabric

Cotton: 60 degrees Celsius and color detergent; white cotton bed linen can also be washed at 95 degrees Celsius.

Microfiber: 60 degrees Celsius and special detergent for microfiber or mild detergent.

Linen: 40 degrees Celsius with mild detergent; on a gentle cycle or at low spin speed.

Satin: 40 degrees Celsius with mild or heavy-duty detergent.

Silk: maximum 30 degrees Celsius with mild detergent or silk detergent.

Tip: Always check the care instructions for sheets and other items before washing. For germ-free washing, you can also add a suitable disinfectant detergent.

Wash bed linen frequently, but in an environmentally friendly way

If you want to wash your bed linen in a particularly environmentally friendly way, spin at 1400 rpm. But there are a few more things you can do to save energy, especially if you wash frequently.

Do not pre-wash. This is only necessary if the duvet cover, sheets, etc. are really stubbornly dirty.

Only wash the bed linen when you have enough laundry to fill the drum.

Air dry the bed linen instead of using the dryer. This consumes additional and also a lot of electricity.

Washing pillows and duvets (instructions)

If you wash your bed linen frequently, you must not neglect the bedding itself. Putting dirty blankets and pillows in freshly cleaned covers won’t help you in the end.

Experts therefore generally recommend washing pillows and duvets regularly, ideally once or twice a year. First, check the label to see whether both items are machine washable. If so, very large duvets can still be problematic because they may not fit in the drum. For example, widths of 1.55 meters or more can be critical.

Alternatively, you can take oversized duvets to the dry cleaner, visit a laundromat (the drums there usually have more volume), or use your own bathtub.

Tip: Down comforters should not be squeezed excessively and should therefore always be taken to the dry cleaner. Bedding made of silk or animal hair, on the other hand, has a self-cleaning effect due to its natural fibers and requires less care. If the outer cover is dirty, it is also advisable to take it to the dry cleaner.

Can I wash my mattress?

In addition to bedding and bedding, there is also the mattress. This is probably the least likely to be cleaned, even though you lie on it every day. Washing a mattress sounds a bit more complicated at first. Ideally, however, you should use a removable cover that can be easily washed in the washing machine to remove stains and sweat. If you don’t have one yet, it may be worth purchasing one for the future.

How often should you wash your mattress cover?

Experts generally recommend washing your mattress cover once a year. Allergy sufferers should increase this routine to once every three to four months to be on the safe side.

It is best to follow the manufacturer’s label for temperatures. Most mattress covers can be washed at 60 degrees. However, some microfiber covers are particularly resistant and can also be washed at 95 degrees. Others, on the other hand, for example those with a textile finish, can only withstand 40 degrees Celsius. In general, a liquid mild detergent is recommended for washing.

Tips for healthy sleep

Regardless of how often you wash your mattress cover, bedding, and sheets from now on, there are several other factors that are important for healthy sleep. Six tips for better sleep will help you improve your routine. In some cases, this includes the best sleeping position to combat breathing disorders.