How Often Should You Wash Your Sheets? (And Everything Else on Your Bed)

Fresh sheets are one of life’s small luxuries. That cool, crisp feeling when you slide into a just-made bed is hard to beat. But in a busy week, laundry day for your bedding is often the first thing to slip, and before you know it, it’s been a month.

So how often should you actually wash your sheets? The short answer is about once a week for most people. Below, you’ll find the full schedule for everything on your bed, from pillowcases to comforters, who should wash more often, how to wash sheets so they come out truly clean, and easy habits that keep your bed fresher between laundry days.

How Often Should You Wash Your Sheets?

Most people should wash their sheets once a week, according to the Sleep Foundation. If you don’t sleep in your bed every night, you may be able to stretch that to every two weeks or so.

Cleveland Clinic gives similar advice: a dermatologist there says medical experts recommend washing sheets at least once a week, and that even washing every other week offers real benefits compared with letting them go longer.

Think of weekly as your default. Then adjust up or down based on your household, which we’ll get to in a minute.

Why Weekly Washing Matters

Your sheets might look clean, but even after a few days they collect a surprising amount of stuff. The Sleep Foundation lists dirt, dead skin cells, body oils, sweat, and dust mites, including their droppings, among the things that build up in bedding.

That dead skin adds up fast. According to Cleveland Clinic, the average person sheds about a gram and a half of skin cells every day, which is almost half a teaspoon. Much of that ends up in your bed, where it becomes food for dust mites.

Dust mites are microscopic and don’t bite, but their droppings are a common allergy trigger. For people with dust mite allergies or asthma, a dirty bed can mean a stuffy nose, sneezing, or itchy skin at night, which doesn’t exactly help you sleep. Cleveland Clinic also notes that the invisible organisms in sheets can contribute to skin problems like rashes and eczema.

There’s also a comfort factor. Cleveland Clinic lists better sleep quality, fewer allergy symptoms, less discomfort, and a greater sense of comfort among the benefits of clean sheets. Simply put, a fresh bed is a more inviting place to rest. If you’re working on a calmer bedroom overall, our guide to creating the perfect sleep environment covers the rest of the room.

Who Should Wash Sheets More Often?

Weekly works for many people, but some households need a faster cycle. Consider washing more often if:

• Your pets sleep in your bed. The Sleep Foundation recommends washing every 3 to 4 days if pets share your bed. Fur, dander, and outdoor dirt travel straight onto your sheets. Here’s more on the pros and cons of sleeping with your pet.
• You have allergies or asthma. Washing bedding more often may help you see whether your symptoms improve.
• You sweat a lot at night or live somewhere hot and humid. More sweat means sheets get stale faster. If you’re a hot sleeper, try our fixes for overheating at night.
• You’re recovering from an illness or infection. Cleveland Clinic recommends taking that opportunity to wash your bedding again. Our tips on how to sleep when you’re sick can help you rest in the meantime.
• You sleep naked, go to bed without showering, or eat in bed.

On the other hand, if you shower before bed, sleep alone, and keep pets off the bed, every week to two weeks is a reasonable range.

How Often to Wash Everything Else on Your Bed

Sheets get the most attention, but your bed has several other layers. Items that touch your skin need washing most often. The ones farther away can wait longer. Here’s a simple schedule based on guidance from the Sleep Foundation’s mattress care guide and its sheet-washing guide.

Bedding item	How often to wash
Sheets	About once a week
Pillowcases	About once a week
Duvet cover	Once or twice a month
Comforter or blanket	Every 2 to 3 months
Pillows (if washable)	Every 4 to 6 months
Mattress	Clean about every 6 months

A quick tip: if you skip a top sheet and sleep directly under a duvet, that duvet cover is touching your skin every night. Treat it like a sheet and wash it weekly.

Always check the manufacturer’s care label, especially for pillows, weighted blankets, and specialty bedding. Some pillow fills can’t go in the washer at all. If your pillow is flat, lumpy, or no longer washable, it may be time for a new one. Our guide on how to choose the best pillow can help.

How to Wash Sheets the Right Way

Getting sheets truly clean doesn’t take special products. It mostly comes down to water temperature and drying them all the way.

1. Read the care label first. Cotton can usually handle hot water, while polyester and some other materials do better on warm.
2. Use the hottest water the label allows. Cleveland Clinic says hot water is best because the heat kills dust mites and helps get everything thoroughly clean.
3. Choose a gentle detergent. If you have sensitive skin, consider a fragrance-free option or an extra rinse to remove leftover detergent.
4. Don’t overload the washer. Sheets need room to move so water and detergent can reach every part.
5. Dry completely. The Sleep Foundation suggests tumble drying on low or hanging sheets to dry. Make sure they’re fully dry before putting them away or back on the bed.

If you have dust mite allergies

Allergy experts take bedding a bit more seriously. Mayo Clinic recommends washing all sheets, blankets, pillowcases, and bedcovers weekly in hot water that’s at least 130 F to kill dust mites and remove allergens. If bedding can’t be washed that hot, Mayo suggests putting it in the dryer for at least 15 minutes at a temperature above 130 F, then washing and drying it. The American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology also recommends dust-proof covers for pillows, mattresses, and box springs.

One safety note: many home water heaters aren’t set that high, and for good reason. A 2013 allergy practice parameter from allergy specialists advises keeping home hot water below 120 F to avoid scalding, and notes that weekly washing removes mite allergens and kills most mites even without very high heat. So don’t crank up your water heater. A hot dryer cycle and a consistent weekly wash are a safer combination.

Mayo Clinic also suggests keeping indoor humidity below 50%, since dust mites thrive in humid air. A dehumidifier or air conditioner can help.

Simple Habits to Keep Your Bed Fresher

You can’t skip laundry day, but these habits make your sheets stay cleaner longer:

• Own two sets of sheets. The Sleep Foundation points out that having a backup set lets you remake the bed right away and wash the dirty set when it’s convenient.
• Pick a regular laundry day. “Sheets on Sunday” is easier to remember than “when they feel like they need it.”
• Shower before bed. Washing off sweat, sunscreen, and the day’s grime means less of it ends up on your pillowcase.
• Let the bed air out. Cleveland Clinic suggests not making your bed first thing in the morning. Give sweaty sheets a little time to dry, since moisture helps dust mites and bacteria thrive.
• Use a mattress protector. A washable protector helps keep sweat and spills from soaking into your mattress. A mattress topper can add comfort, but it also needs a cover you can wash.
• Keep food and pets off the bed when you can.

Signs It’s Time to Wash Your Sheets Now

Even if laundry day isn’t here yet, Cleveland Clinic says these are clear signs your sheets need a wash:

• Visible stains or sweat marks
• A sticky, grimy, or slimy feel
• Odors or a stale smell
• Crumbs, dirt, or bugs in the bed
• Fading or discoloration

Choosing Sheets That Are Easy to Care For

If washing your sheets every week feels like a chore, the fabric might be part of the problem. Some materials hold up to frequent hot washes better than others, and some wrinkle or pill quickly. Our guide to the best sheets and bedding for sleep compares materials, weaves, and what really matters when you shop. And if you love the feel of silk, check out our honest look at silk pillowcase benefits, including how to care for them.

The Bottom Line

For most people, washing your sheets and pillowcases once a week is the sweet spot. Go more often if pets share your bed, you have allergies or asthma, you sweat a lot, or you’ve been sick. Wash duvet covers every few weeks, comforters every few months, and pillows a couple of times a year. Use the hottest water your sheets can handle, dry them completely, and keep a second set ready so fresh sheets never have to wait.

FAQ: Washing Your Sheets

Is it OK to wash sheets every two weeks?

For many people, yes. The Sleep Foundation says every two weeks may work if you don’t sleep in your bed every night, and Cleveland Clinic notes that washing every other week still has benefits. Weekly is better if you have allergies, pets, or sweat a lot.

What happens if you don’t wash your sheets?

Dead skin, sweat, oils, dirt, and dust mites build up over time. That can worsen allergy symptoms and skin irritation, and it makes your bed less comfortable.

Should I wash new sheets before using them?

It’s a good idea. Washing new sheets removes any finishes and dust from manufacturing and packaging, and often makes them softer. Follow the care label.

What temperature should I wash sheets at?

Use the hottest setting your sheets’ care label allows. For dust mite allergies, Mayo Clinic recommends at least 130 F, or a hot dryer cycle if your bedding can’t be washed that hot.

How often should I change my pillowcase?

About once a week, along with your sheets. Some people with oily or acne-prone skin like to swap pillowcases more often.