How often and at what temperature should you wash bedding?

Washing your bedding every now and then is nice and fresh. But how often do you put them in the washing machine? At what degrees should you wash sheets? Is it enough to air them out every now and then? And what about your pillow and duvet themselves? We explain!

If you consider that we lose about a quarter to 2 liters of moisture per night, as well as the necessary hair and dander, then you understand that regularly washing your bedding is not a bad idea. Between your sheets and in your pillows there are also ”cosy” dust mites and sometimes even lice and bed bugs. You can read in this article how often it is best to wash your sheets, pillowcases, pillows, blankets and duvets and at what degrees you can best do this. If you follow these tips and explanations, you will step between fresh sheets every day and keep your bed wonderfully clean.

What is bedding?

What falls under the heading of bed linen? There are so many products and so many names that it’s useful to get this straight before we start talking about everything you need to know about washing your bed.

• Pillows

A pillow can be filled with feathers, down or synthetic materials.

• Pillowcase

This is a cover that protects the cushion against dirt.

• Duvet

A blanket filled with insulating material such as down or synthetic materials.

• Duvet cover

A cover that protects your duvet against dirt and also looks very nice.

• Sheet or fitted sheet

This is a fabric that you place over your mattress. A sheet does not have elastic, so you have to fold it under the mattress, a fitted sheet does have elastic all around and can therefore easily be stretched over the mattress.

• Molton blankets and covers

These protect your mattress and pillow against moisture, but also against salts and fats.

You really don’t have to change your bed every week

How often you should wash sheets, duvet covers and the rest of the bedding is a question that many people have already asked. Isn’t airing it and hanging it out of your window just as good and can you therefore wash less often? And how often do people wash their sheets on average?

The average Dutch person does not wash their entire bed every week, but it would be ideal if you could wash everything once a week. But let’s be honest, who gets around to that these days? And you certainly won’t get sick by not washing your bedding for a whole month, unless you’re allergic to dust mites. In this article, let’s assume how often you would change clothes if you had all the time and what would be best.

Wash sheets, pillowcases and duvet covers: once a week

It is most hygienic to wash your covers, such as those of your pillows and blankets, at least once a week. Covers and pillowcases contain the most bacteria because they come into contact with your skin first, so it is best to wash them more often and at least once every 2 weeks. It also depends on whether you lie down in bed every evening, neatly washed, with clean hair and your make-up neatly removed.

Moreover, it is also better to wash your cushion cover as often as possible if you suffer from pimples and pimples (acne) and if you suffer from house dust and dust mites. If you are allergic to detergent and fabric softener, washing so often may not be wise at all. In warm periods, such as summer, you sweat a lot more and it is wise to change your bed more often for that reason alone.

In short, wash sheets and covers preferably once a week or at least once every 2 weeks and airing is best done every day. Hang the bedding out of the window and while you do this, your mattress can also air out.