How often bedding should be changed

Short answer: Every second week for most people, every week in summer or if you sleep without sleepwear. The pillowcase is worth changing more often than the rest, because your face rests directly on it all night.

What decides it

What decides it is how much skin and sweat ends up in the fabric. With sleepwear in between, more time passes, because the sleepwear takes most of it. Without it, everything goes straight into the bedding, and you need to change more often. See bamboo bedding if you want a soft fabric against the skin.

The pillowcase

Change the pillowcase every week, because your face lies directly on it all night. Skin, hair and cream collect in the fabric, and it is the part of the bedding that gets dirty first. If you own several pillowcases, it is easy to change more often without washing every time. See bamboo pillowcases.

The season

In summer you should change more often, because you sweat more at night. In winter every second week can be plenty, especially if you wear sleepwear. Follow your own body and nose rather than the calendar, for warm nights call for a quicker change, whatever time of year they come.

The sheet

The sheet lies under you all night and takes most of the sweat. Change it together with the rest of the bedding, and look for damp patches or odour. A sheet that feels clammy when you lie down is a sign that it needs changing. See bamboo sheets for the mattress.

How many sets

Two sets at least, and with three you never have to wash in a hurry. With three sets, one can be on the bed, one in the wash and one ready in the cupboard. That brings calm, and each set wears more slowly because it rests between uses. Store the sets dry and airy so they do not smell of the cupboard.

Should bedding be washed hot

Forty degrees is enough for an ordinary wash. Follow the care label and choose a temperature that suits the fabric. A hot wash is not necessary unless someone has been ill in the bed. If you are unsure what is right after illness, talk to your doctor.

What if you sleep without sleepwear

Then the bedding should be changed every week. Without sleepwear the skin lies directly against the fabric, and sweat and skin residue collect faster. Sleepwear is therefore a cheap way to stretch the time between changes, because a set of sleepwear is easier to wash than the whole bed.

Drying and airing

Hang the bedding to dry until it is completely dry before it goes back on the bed. Moisture in the fabric causes odour. Let the duvet and pillow air now and then by pulling the duvet back in the morning, so the night moisture can evaporate before the bed is made.

A simple rule of thumb

Change the bedding every second week, every week in summer or without sleepwear, and the pillowcase every week. Keep at least two sets, preferably three. With that rhythm you sleep in fresh bedding without thinking about it, and the fabric lasts longer because too many rushed washes do not wear it.