A Quick Guide to Washing your Bedding

Laundry is a weekly occurrence for many of us (some of us push it for two or three weeks, but no judgment here). We wash our sweaty socks, our stinky boxers, our dirty gym clothes because it’s all smelly. Let's be honest; we also want to make a good (first, second, and third) impression as well. No one wants to be Bad Hygiene Guy. However, many of us neglect the things that we come in contact with every day; the materials that our partners are definitely going to notice right away. I’m talking about our bedding.

Yes, I’m guilty, too. I’ve gone from letting my bedding sit for months to cleaning my sheets just about every week, and the difference is astounding. Are you are wondering: How often should I wash my bedding? Keep reading for a quick guide to help you keep track of when to clean what linens.

Sheets and Pillowcases

Ideally, it would be best if you washed these every week because these are the things that touch your skin. All your sweat, dead skin, and invisible layers of dirt end up on your bedding. If you’re the type of guy who gets overheated under the covers, you’re going to want to wash your sheets and pillowcases as close to weekly as possible.

If you’re someone who doesn’t sweat under the covers, you can push the limits a little, but you still want to wash your linens once a month. A solid rule of thumb is to have three sets of sheets with pillowcases: one on the bed, one in the hamper, and one folded up in the dresser.

The Heavy Stuff

Comforters, duvets, pillows, heavy blankets, and things like that don’t need to be washed often at all. Since these items don’t touch your skin, you can get away with cleaning them only twice a year. The things to keep in mind, though, is that these heavy items take much longer to dry.

It’s going to take about two or three cycles (or more, depending on the thickness) to make sure they aren't wet anymore. You should always double check that they dry entirely because moisture that lingers inside these items can mold or mildew, ruining them or even making you sick. You might have to visit a local laundromat to use an industrial style dryer for a quicker turnaround.

Other Considerations

Do you have pets? What about kids? Are you a breakfast-in-bed kind of guy (or maybe a late-night snacker)? These extra variables mean you may need to wash your bedding more often than you would if it was just you, only sleeping in your bed. Fur, dander, crumbs, spills, and, other assorted “oopsies” will mean that you will be washing your sheets and pillowcases once a week, with the heavy stuff going through the wash maybe every three months... or as needed.

If that’s a daunting wash cycle for your schedule, you can always check with local cleaners to see if they will handle bedding, pillows, comforters, and more for you. Some places will even do pick-up and drop-off services.

At the end of the day (see what we did there), your bed is where you spend most of your time, and the most consecutive hours. Of course, it should be the cleanest, most comfortable experience you can get. Just set a regular wash schedule and stick with it. Happy sleeping!