How Often Should You Change Bed Sheets?

It probably seems obvious that bed sheets ought to be changed, but it’s one of those boring weekend chores that’s too easy to put off. Then, it could be weeks until either the smell or discolouration signals the job can no longer wait. And whilst you’ve been sleeping in less than fresh sheets, you might not have a clue about the potential nastiness lurking within. 

Just remember that on average most of us spend somewhere between 48-64 hours in bed a week. That’s an awful lot of time for sweating, coughing, and sneezing over the bedding, not to mention all of the other dirt, oil, dead skin cells, dust mites, make-up and debris that can build up. Of course, we shouldn’t forget pets either because if you’ve got one of those that likes to sleep on your bed, chances are that there’s a whole lotta extra fur and germs being harboured!

What Happens When You Don't Change Your Sheets

If you don’t change your sheets on a regular basis, your bed isn’t going to be the most sanitary or hygienic place to hang out and aesthetically, it won’t look the best either. But that’s not the half of it. On the surface, your bedding may look okay or at least, not that dirty but whilst you sleep, all sorts of unspeakable things seep out of your body. Aside from the less offensive matter like skin oils, there’s also saliva, urine, genital fluid, and wait for it….. even faecal matter that can make its way onto bedding. And the longer it’s left on there, the more likely it is to make its way through to the mattress as well.

So it’s no wonder that bedding can, excuse the pun, be a hotbed of germs, which is why unchanged bedding can cause all manner of health problems. One of the most common issues is that unhygienic bedding can exacerbate allergies. If you suffer rhinitis, hay fever or asthma, then the cleanliness of your bedding can really have an impact on your symptoms. 

Anyone with a dust-mite allergy will also testify that they can always tell how hygienic bedding is by how much they sneeze. That’s because dust-mites simply love to live off dead skin cells and the more food for them, the more they multiply. But as well as allergies, dirty bedding can even be the cause of infected wounds, acne, or fungal infections. 

How Often Should You Wash Your Sheets?

The Sleep Foundation advises that most people should wash their sheets once a week. However, for anyone with pets that sleep on the bed, their advice is to do this every 3-4 days and if you experience allergies or asthma, you could try changing them more often to see if that improves the symptoms!

How Often Should You Replace Bed Sheets?

Bed sheets can be a big outlay, but that said, there’s nothing better than lying on a fresh, soft to the touch sheet to make you feel in sleep heaven, so you can’t really put a cost on that!

How often you choose to replace your bed sheets mainly depends on their durability. As a general guide, most people tend to change them every couple of years. In reality though, you only need to buy new sheets if they become damaged, stained, uncomfortable or the colour has faded. 

For pure class, you can’t get better than the white Classic Cotton Fitted Sheet. Fine Bedding’s version is made with premium quality, sustainably sourced cotton, ensuring a highly breathable, extremely smooth, luxurious 200 thread count sheet. 

The intricate percale weave is the secret behind this bed linen’s exceptional durability to regular laundering, meaning you can frequently wash your sheet for the ultimate in sleep hygiene without having to worry that it’s life will be shortened.

Alternatively, if you’re after something more cutting-edge, try the incredibly soft 200 thread count Smart Temperature Fitted Sheet. This is the bedding of the future, and one, that’s already used in many 5* star hotels around the world no less.  

Shop The Smart Temperature Fitted Sheet

Using a cleverly designed thermoregulation system, the sheet activates an innovative cooling effect when your body temperature increases. It’s perfect for anyone that often gets too hot at night, has night sweats or hormonal flushes.

Like Fine Bedding’s other sheets, this one is amazingly durable and can be easily washed at 40°on a regular basis, with it’s unique technology remaining fully effective with repeated laundering. To dry, pop it in the tumble dryer until it's completely dry. Now there really is no barrier to having the cleanest, most hygienic bed linen!