Changing the bed seems so obvious, yet it turns out a lot of people really do lie under the same sheets or bedding for too long. Briefly, wash your sheets at least bi-weekly, but once a week is even better! Why? Well let’s literally dive into your sheets together!
What happens when you don’t change your bed?
Strange question perhaps? We’re pretty hygienic we think. And yet a lot of people sometimes leave bedding on the bed for too long. So clearly, bedding needs to be washed often. But why do you need to change your bed weekly? Not washing your bedding often enough can be detrimental to your health. In addition, you will sleep better under a fresh set of sheets.
Avoid dangerous bacteria
We sleep a lot of hours and therefore spend a lot of time in our beds. While we sleep, our body loses dead skin cells and flakes of skin. We sweat, cough, sneeze, snore and make love, just to name a few things. And, of course, our personal hygiene is linked to hygiene under the sheets.
An American study shows that quite a lot of bacteria develop the longer your bedding is left unwashed. Participants in this study were asked to take a weekly “swab” of bedding for 4 weeks. The results are quite striking.
Look, we live thanks to bacteria, so I certainly don’t want to put too much fear in you. But after 1 week, there are already more bacteria in your pillowcase than on an average toilet seat. And after 4 weeks your dog’s food bowl, in terms of bacteria anyway, is equivalent to the amount on the pillow pillowcase.
Most of these bacteria are totally harmless. But it’s not really a fresh thought either. To fight bacteria, adhere to the following rules:
- Wash your bedding at least once every two weeks
- Air the bedding well during the day
- Turn your mattress regularly
- Use a washable mattress pad
The advance of bedbugs
It seems like the title of a second-rate horror film. Yet bedbugs are on the rise, we read in an interview by the Belgian newspaper The Morning with biologist Anne-Catherine Mailleux. According to her, the bites resemble those of mosquitoes, which is why people do not immediately realize that the little critter is in your bed.
The little critters have been around since prehistoric times, and thanks to globalization and frequent travel, they are finding it easier to find their way around the world. As unpleasant as it may seem, it does not normally kill you. Be careful to fight them, though! Because the products can be toxic not only to the critter in question, but also to you. A recent CDC report points out here.
So how can you get them out of your bedroom? Bedding in the freezer and then washing everything thoroughly at 60°C is the first step. And then there are the specialized firms that can do the job by steaming or spraying your bedroom, bed and bedding with chemicals that kill the bedbug.
Or you set a trap for the bedbug. A trap? Yes indeed, the company Domobios, headed by biologist Mailleux, developed and patented them.
How often do you change your bed?
It is best to wash your pillowcase, comforter cover and fitted sheet(s) weekly. Pillowcases in particular are a source of bacteria. And, while you’re at it, provide a mattress and pillow protector as well. An extra layer of protection that is also best rinsed out thoroughly every two washes.
How should you wash your bedding?
When we talk about washing bedding, we are talking about all the covers and sheets. You really don’t need to wash the duvet itself, or your pillow, every week. You wash a mattress pad about once a month. You can wash your duvet or pillow, provided the washing instructions on the label indicate that this is possible. You wash the following items in the washing machine:
- Pillowcase
- Comforter cover
- Mattress sheets
- Mattress protector (1x per month)
The ideal temperature for washing is 60 degrees Celsius. But if you wash regularly, it can also be 40°C. If you use bed textiles that feature probiotics such as Sensity, Purotex or others, then washing at 40°C is also sufficient.
| Wash at 60°C | The ideal washing temperature |
| Wash at 40°C | Sufficient with frequent washing |
| Washing under 40°C | Too cold for bedding |
How often should you change your bedding?
The older your pillow or mattress, the faster and more numerous the growth of bacteria. So replace your pillow and mattress in a timely manner as well. Wash your pillow and mattress cover when you can. If you use a mattress pad or pillow protector, you should not wash the mattress cover or pillow as often. That, in turn, is good for longevity. Don’t know if your pillow is washable? Then read our blog on it again.
Frequent bed washing: handy tip
Do you have a lot of beds to change? Maybe then this tip can help you. I once spoke to a client with a large family. There were 6 beds in that household that could use freshly laundered bedding every week. This client invariably used an extra sheet under the comforter cover. The pillowcases, fitted sheet and extra sheet were washed weekly and the comforter cover she changed week by week.
