How often to wash sheets, duvets and pillows

01Why bedding needs regular washing

We spend around a third of our lives in bed, and every night leaves something behind. Even on a cool night, the body releases moisture through the skin. Skin cells shed constantly. Natural oils from skin and hair rub onto pillowcases and sheets. Add the traces of moisturiser, hair products, make-up and the occasional cup of tea or late-night snack, and a week-old sheet carries a surprising amount.

That build-up matters for three reasons. It affects how the bed feels and smells: sheets that have gone a week or two too long feel slightly greasy, look dull and smell stale. It affects skin: pillowcases with a build-up of oils and products can contribute to breakouts for some people. And it affects allergies: dust mites thrive on skin flakes in bedding, and their droppings are a common trigger for sneezing, wheezing and itchy eyes.

The good news is that a simple routine keeps all of this under control. Not everything on the bed needs washing every week. Sheets and pillowcases do; protectors, pillows and duvets need less frequent attention. This guide sets out a practical schedule, explains when to wash sooner and covers how to wash and dry each item so it stays fresh.

02The bedding schedule

03When to wash sooner

Some situations call for more frequent washing.

• Hot weather, when everyone sweats more at night.
• Illness, especially colds, flu and stomach bugs.
• Night sweats, including during menopause or with some medications.
• Pets sleeping on the bed.
• Going to bed without showering after exercise or a sweaty day.
• Eating or drinking in bed.
• Skin conditions or allergies.
• Children who climb into bed after playing outside.

04Washing temperatures for bedding

Bedding is one of the places where a warmer wash makes a real difference, because it helps remove body oils and reduce dust mites.

Always follow the care label. Washing above it can shrink, fade or damage bedding.

05Building a bedding load

How you load the machine affects how clean bedding comes out.

Wash one full set at a time, or two sets if the machine is large, rather than packing in everything at once. Bedding needs room to move; an overstuffed drum leaves the middle of the load poorly washed and rinsed. Do up duvet cover fastenings and turn covers inside out to protect the outer surface and stop small items getting trapped inside. Wash white bedding separately from coloured bedding, and keep towels out of bedding loads, since towels shed lint onto smooth sheets. Add pillowcases from the week even if you changed them midweek, so they all get the same wash.

06Drying bedding

Bedding is bulky and holds a lot of water, especially duvet covers and sheets in a full load.

• Use a fast spin to remove as much water as possible.
• Shake each item out before drying.
• Tumble dry on medium heat if the label allows, and remove promptly to reduce creasing.
• On a line, peg sheets along one edge and let them billow; they dry quickly in a breeze.
• Indoors, dry sheets over two airer bars or a door, spread as much as possible.
• Check seams and corners are fully dry before folding.

07How many sets to own

Two to three sets per bed lets you change bedding on the same day you wash it, with a spare for guests or emergencies.

08A simple changing routine

Changing the bed is easier with a routine.

• Choose a regular day, such as Sunday morning.
• Strip the bed completely: sheets, pillowcases and duvet cover.
• Open the window and leave the mattress uncovered for an hour to air.
• Put the bedding straight into the machine, or into the laundry bag if it is being collected.
• While the mattress airs, check the protector and wash it if it is due.
• Make the bed with a clean set from the cupboard.
• Wash, dry and fold the used set, ready for next week.

With two or three sets, the bed is never left unmade waiting for laundry to dry.

09Caring for the mattress

Mattresses cannot be washed, which is why protectors matter so much.

• Use a washable mattress protector and wash it every month or two.
• Vacuum the mattress every few months with an upholstery attachment.
• Rotate the mattress as the maker recommends, to spread wear.
• Air it when changing sheets: leave it uncovered for an hour with a window open.
• Treat spills promptly by blotting and drying.

10Protectors: the layer that saves washing

Protectors sit between the bed and the bedding you see and touch, and they make a huge difference to how often the bulkier items need cleaning.

11Pillows

Pillows absorb sweat, saliva and oils night after night, and they can yellow and develop a stale smell. Pillow protectors under pillowcases help a great deal.

12Why pillows and sheets turn yellow

Yellowing on pillows and the top of sheets is mostly sweat, saliva and natural oils that have built up and oxidised over time. It is more noticeable on white bedding and on pillows that have been used for a long time without a protector.

To slow yellowing, use pillow protectors and wash them regularly, wash bedding at a warm enough temperature with enough detergent, and dry it fully. Yellowed pillows can sometimes be improved by washing, but heavily yellowed pillows are usually best replaced. Yellowed white cotton sheets may brighten with a few warmer washes, within the label.

13When bedding smells

Bedding that smells musty even after washing usually was not dried fully or was folded and stored while slightly damp. Rewash and dry it completely.

Bedding that smells of sweat soon after changing may need a warmer wash, more detergent or a pre-treatment of the pillow and shoulder areas.

A mattress or pillow that smells may need airing, vacuuming or, in the case of pillows, washing or replacing.

14Dust mites and allergies

Dust mites are tiny creatures, too small to see, that live in bedding, mattresses, pillows, carpets and soft furnishings. They feed on the skin flakes we shed and thrive in warm, humid conditions, which makes beds ideal for them. It is not the mites themselves but proteins in their droppings that trigger allergies in many people, causing sneezing, a blocked or runny nose, itchy eyes, coughing and, for some, asthma symptoms that are worse at night or first thing in the morning.

Washing bedding regularly is one of the most effective ways to reduce dust mites. A weekly wash of sheets and pillowcases, at 60°C if the labels allow, removes many mites and their droppings. Allergy-friendly protectors with a tight weave on the mattress, pillows and duvet create a barrier. Keeping the bedroom well ventilated and not too humid makes it less comfortable for mites. Vacuuming the mattress, carpets and soft furnishings regularly, ideally with a vacuum that has a good filter, also helps.

If anyone in the household has a dust mite allergy, it is worth being stricter with the schedule: sheets and pillowcases weekly at 60°C where possible, pillow and mattress protectors every few weeks, pillows every few months and duvets several times a year. For items that cannot be washed hot, professional cleaning is an alternative.

15Bedding and skin

Pillowcases carry oils from skin and hair, traces of moisturisers and make-up, and bacteria from the face. For some people, especially those prone to acne or with sensitive skin, a pillowcase that has been used for a week can contribute to breakouts and irritation.

• Change pillowcases twice a week, or turn them over midweek.
• Remove make-up before bed.
• Keep hair products, especially oils, off the pillow where possible.
• Use a gentle, fragrance-free detergent if your skin is sensitive.
• Add an extra rinse to remove detergent residue.

16Night sweats

Night sweats, whether from hot weather, menopause, illness or medication, soak sheets and pillows. Breathable cotton or linen bedding, a lighter duvet, moisture-wicking nightwear and a cooler bedroom all help. Wash bedding more often, change pillowcases more frequently and keep a spare set by the bed for nights when sheets are soaked. Pillows and mattress protectors may also need washing more often.

17If you suspect bed bugs

Bed bugs are different from dust mites: small, flat insects that bite, often leaving itchy marks in lines or clusters. Signs include tiny dark spots on sheets and mattress seams, small blood spots and the insects themselves in seams and crevices.

If you suspect bed bugs, contact a professional pest control service. Washing bedding at a high temperature and tumble drying on high heat, where labels allow, kills bed bugs in fabric, but it will not deal with bugs in the mattress, bed frame or room. Bag bedding before carrying it through the home to avoid spreading them.

18Bedding fabrics and how they wash

19New bedding

New sheets and pillowcases often feel stiff and may have a faint smell from finishing treatments and packaging. Wash new bedding once before using it, at the temperature on the label, to soften it, remove finishes and allow any first shrinkage. Coloured bedding, especially deep shades, can release dye in its first washes, so wash it separately or with similar colours until the rinse water runs clear. New flannel and brushed cotton sheets often shed fluff at first; shaking them well and cleaning the dryer filter after each load helps.

20Blankets, throws and bedspreads

Blankets, throws and bedspreads on top of the bed collect dust, pet hair and, if they are used directly against the skin, sweat and oils.

• Throws used for sitting on the bed or sofa: wash monthly or when marked.
• Blankets used directly against skin: wash as often as duvet covers if possible.
• Decorative bedspreads: wash or clean every few months, or seasonally.
• Wool blankets: air regularly and wash or clean according to the label.
• Electric blankets: follow the manufacturer's instructions carefully; many are not machine washable.

21Mattress toppers

Mattress toppers made of foam, memory foam or fibre add comfort but cannot always be washed. Fibre toppers are often washable in large machines; foam toppers usually are not. Protect them with a mattress protector over the top, air them regularly and spot clean spills promptly.

22Bedding through the seasons

23Children's bedding

Children's beds need washing more often than adults'. Children get hot at night, bring the outdoors into bed, eat snacks they should not and have accidents.

• Wash children's sheets and pillowcases weekly, sooner if needed.
• Keep a spare set ready for night-time accidents.
• Use a waterproof mattress protector.
• Wash soft toys that live in the bed regularly, if they are washable.
• Wash bedding after illness promptly and hot, if labels allow.

24Pets on the bed

Many people share their bed with a cat or dog. Pets bring hair, dander, dirt from outside and sometimes fleas.

• Wash bedding more often, at least weekly.
• Use a washable throw on top of the duvet where the pet sleeps.
• Wash the throw separately and clean the machine filter afterwards.
• Vacuum the mattress and bedroom regularly.
• Keep pets up to date with flea treatment.

25Guest bedding

• Make up the guest bed with fresh bedding before guests arrive.
• Air the spare duvet and pillows a day or two before.
• Wash all bedding after guests leave, even if it looks barely used.
• Store guest bedding clean and dry in a breathable bag.

26Washing bedding in a small flat

Bedding is one of the hardest loads to dry in a small flat. A double sheet and duvet cover hold a lot of water and need plenty of space to dry without creasing or smelling musty.

• Wash bedding on a day when it can dry quickly, ideally with windows open or a dehumidifier running.
• Spin as fast as the label allows.
• Dry duvet covers inside out, spread over an airer.
• Dry sheets over a door or two airer bars, moving them around to expose damp areas.
• If you have a dryer, use it for bedding and air-dry smaller items.
• Consider a laundry service for bedding if drying space is very limited.

27Storing clean bedding

• Make sure bedding is completely dry before folding.
• Store sets together: fold the sheet, duvet cover and one pillowcase and tuck them inside the other pillowcase, so a full set comes out at once.
• Keep bedding in a dry cupboard or drawer, away from damp outside walls.
• Use breathable storage rather than sealed plastic.
• Rotate sets so they wear evenly.