This Is How Often You Should Wash Your Sheets, According to MDs

Experts also share the ideal washing frequency for all your other bedding.

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Updated on February 14, 2024

Maintaining clean sheets is no easy feat. Even with the most comfortable sheets, no matter how frequently (or, let's be honest—infrequently) you wash them, that fresh-out-of-the-dryer feeling tends to fade after the first few nights of sleep.

General laundry rules exist for just about every other piece of fabric in your home—sports bras and jeans included—but confusion reigns when it comes to cleaning bedding. Just how often should you wash your sheets? We turned to the experts for answers.

Tricia Rose is the founder of the textile company Rough Linen.
Shelby Harris, MD, is the Director of Sleep Health at Sleepopolis.
Purvi Parikh, MD, is an allergist and immunologist of the Allergy & Asthma Network.
Rachel Nazarian, MD, FAAD, is a dermatologist at Schweiger Dermatology Group in New York City.

When to Change Your Sheets

As a general rule, Tricia Rose, founder of textile company Rough Linen, advises washing sheets weekly to keep them looking and smelling as fresh as possible—regardless of whether they're silk or sateen sheets.

"Once a week is standard," says Rose. "A lot of it is left to personal preference, but as soon as your sheets stop feeling fresh is the best time for you to wash them."

Shelby Harris, MD, is slightly more conservative. "Regular washing, or about once every one to two weeks, is recommended to maintain cleanliness and a healthy sleep environment," says Harris.

Ideal Washing Frequency for All Bedding
Fitted and top sheet	Once a week or bi-weekly
Pillowcases	Once a week
Duvet covers	Once a week if you don't use a top sheet. Once a month if you do.
Comforters	Once a week if you don't use a top sheet. Once a month if you do.
Duvet inserts	Every 3 months
Weighted Blanket	Every 3 months (If over 20 pounds, bring to a laundromat.)
Mattress pad	Every 3 to 4 months
Pillow inserts	Every 3 to 4 months

Why You Need to Wash Pillowcases More Often

According to dermatologist Rachael Nazarian, MD, pillowcases should be cleaned at the same time as sheets—and at least once a week. If you wash your sheets bi-weekly, remove your pillowcases ahead of time and wash them separately.

Rachael Nazarian, MD

"It’s important to regularly clean bedsheets, but most especially our pillowcases, as they are constantly coming in contact with various components of our body and can transfer to delicate areas such as our eyelids, occluding and blocking glands, and leads to irritation and inflammation."

— Rachael Nazarian, MD

"When we sleep, oil from our hair moves from our pillowcase to our face, along with other oils, bacteria, sweat, and even saliva from our mouths. The accumulation of all these things can lead to irritation of our skin, acne development, and even infection," says Nazarian.

For people who do not wash their hair daily, Nazarian says that "environmental pollutants, free radicals, dirt, oils, and hair products remain on your hair and contribute to the vast number of items that transfer around our face and body," which can lead to premature aging of our skin.

For more delicate silk pillowcases, using a mesh laundry bag on a gentle cycle in cold water is recommended.

Factors to Consider for Less Frequent Washing

The weekly or bi-weekly suggestion is very much a guideline, and it can be amended to suit to your lifestyle. See below for other factors you should keep in mind to help you dial in the right laundry schedule for your household.

Hygiene Habits

The frequency of washing your sheets is impacted by the season and your nightly habits. Whether you shower in the morning or evening matters—if you do the latter, then your sheets are likely a little cleaner than someone who washes up immediately upon waking.

Perspiration matters as well. "Your sweat levels and what you wear to bed will affect how quickly your bedding gets sullied," Rose says. If you're a hot sleeper and you haven't invested in a set of cooling sheets, you're probably going to sweat more. In this case, washing weekly instead of bi-weekly is ideal.

Number of People and Pets in the Bed

How many people are sleeping in said bed? "If you share a bed, it gets twice the wear," says Rose. In addition to people, if your lovable dog or cat is a frequent sleeping companion, their hair, fur, dander, smell, and any dirt from the outside can contribute to unsanitary conditions for sheets. If you share a bed, wash your sheets more frequently than once every other week.

As tempting as it is to cozy up with a snack in bed, avoid eating where you sleep. Crumbs can contribute to dirty sheets and invite unwanted critters into your bedroom.

Bedding Material

Consider the fabric you're sleeping on. For example, cotton and bamboo sheets vary in care compared to linen. Linen requires less frequent washing than cotton does because the durable fabric repels dirt and can be cleaned easily with a shake-out or a simple brush. If you have linen sheets, don't sweat much, and don't sleep with pets or children, you can get away with bi-weekly sheet changing.

What Happens If You Don't Wash Your Sheets Regularly?

Pushing back laundry day every once in a while isn't a huge deal, but you shouldn't make this a regular occurrence. Sheets that go too long without washing can actually lead to a variety of health issues.

According to allergist and immunologist Purvi Parikh, MD, "If you don't wash your sheets regularly, they can accumulate dirt, skin cells (which dust mites feed off), dust mites, and mold. This can cause allergies, asthma as well as skin infections and acne." Eek. Harris adds it can even lead to sleep disturbances, fungal growth, and even bed bug issues.

While dangerous consequences aren't common, it's better to be safe and stick to a frequent cadence that works for you. "Regular washing helps eliminate allergens, germs, and irritants, contributing to a healthier sleep environment and overall well-being," says Harris.

How Often to Wash the Rest of Your Bedding

Your sheets aren't the only bedding component that needs regular TLC. Duvets, mattress pads, and comforters also need to be cleaned so you can get the most use out of them.

Duvet Covers

As for duvet covers, Rose suggests easing up on habitual washes since a duvet floats over your body and gets far less wear than sheets do (and can be a real hassle to put back on). "Duvets take some effort to change, so less frequent washing saves yourself from that nuisance," she says. If you use a top sheet, wash once a month.

Mattress Pads

Since mattress pads sit under a fitted sheet, you only need to clean them every so often, around once every quarter. Also, bear in mind that frequent runs through the washer and dryer may cause heated mattress pads to break down more quickly.

Comforters

Your comforter is the one item of bedding that can be cleaned the least frequently. When cleaning your comforter you have two options: using your washing machine or taking it to the dry cleaner.

If your comforter is down, it can be washed whenever you wash your sheets if you don't use a top sheet. If you do use a top sheet, wash only once a month. Just make sure your washer and dryer are big enough to accommodate it. If the comforter is made of another material, such as wool, cashmere, or silk, it should be dry cleaned a few times a year.

If you are sick, wash all of your bedding—no matter how recently it was washed—to prevent the spread of disease in your home.

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