Some might consider it a topic that doesn’t need to be discussed publicly, but it affects all of us: how often should you change and wash your bed linen?
A survey of 2,250 UK adults found almost half of single men said they don’t wash their bed linen at least every four months. And 12% of respondents admitted washing when they remember what could mean going even longer without sanitizing.
“It’s really not a good plan,” Lindsay Browning, a psychologist, neuroscientist and sleep expert, told BBC Radio 1 Newsbeat.
Single women change their sheets more frequently, with 62% changing them every two weeks. According to one bedding manufacturer, couples rotate every three weeks.
Why do we need to change our sheets?
To put it bluntly, Browning says we should change our sheets once a week, or every 15 days at most.
Hygiene is an important factor. And one of the reasons is sweat especially on hot days.
“That’s because sweat soaks into the sheets, which not only makes them smell bad, but also causes them to become quite clogged,” Browning says.
She says that to feel fresh while we sleep, we need airflow because that’s when we get the best sleep quality.
2 of 3 We’re also concerned about our own dead skin cells that we shed while we sleep. — Photo: Getty Images via BBC
We’re also concerned about our own dead skin cells that we get rid of while we sleep. — Photo: Getty Images via BBC
But it’s not just sweat that we have to worry about. We’re also concerned about our own dead skin cells that we get rid of while we sleep.
“If you don’t wash your linens properly, dead skin cells will build up on the sheets.”
Does it look awful? It gets worse. This buildup means tiny creatures known as mites can feed on these cells, causing discomfort and even a rash.
“Not only will you sleep in the dirt from sweat and dead skin cells, but also from dust mites.”
“We can be a bit more tolerant in the winter months,” Browning says, stressing that changing at least once a week “would be ideal.”
If it takes you longer than two weeks, “you’re not treading on good ground.”
Even though we sweat less in the winter, we still get rid of dead skin cells, she says.
“And you still go to bed with your hands a little dirty, with the same breath coming out of your mouth.”
In the survey, 18% said they showered at night to avoid soiling the sheets and cited this practice as a reason for not changing sheets more regularly.
According to Browning, summer still brings with it the added respiratory problems of allergic rhinitis and pollen.
“It’s really important to wash the sheets regularly because otherwise you’ve got these allergens in the bed and it’s going to cause this constipation.”
3 out of 3 “We sleep well in hotels because the rooms are usually well designed, the bed linen is of good quality and changed regularly” — Photo: Getty Images via BBC
“We sleep well in hotels because the rooms are usually well thought out, the bed linen is of good quality and changed regularly” — Photo: Getty Images via BBC
Forgetting (67%) to have privacy (35%) and no further cleaning (22%) are some of the top reasons people say they don’t change their bedding more often, with 38% saying they don’t need to believe the bedding washed “more often” according to a study by Pizuna Linens.
Browning says your bedroom should be a “sanctuary” in which to sleep and “a wonderful, comfortable place where you feel happy.”
She has clients with insomnia and says, “If your sheets aren’t washed, look dirty, and smell bad, it reinforces the feeling that your bed isn’t where you want it to be.”
“When we lie down and feel relaxed, comfortable, and happy, the smell of new linens helps us feel calm and happy.”