How often should you wash and change out your sheets? Experts explain

There are so many different options online and in stores when it comes to bedding — the variety of pillowcases, flat sheets and comforters available makes it hard to know what to choose. What’s less confusing though is knowing that no matter what, your sheets need to be cleaned regularly to avoid stains, odors and just overall damage. Knowing just how often you should wash your sheets and bedding is a little more obscure, plus, even if your bedding is technically clean, sometimes it may just be time to replace it.

To find out how often you should change out and wash your sheets and when it’s time to replace them with a new set altogether, I spoke with laundry experts for their guidance. Keep reading to learn what they say, including how the rules change for pet owners who share the bed with their fur babies.

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How often should you wash your sheets?

In general, you should change and wash your sheets around once a week, though this can depend on what type of bedding you’re referring to, according to Salvador Villarreal, the owner of laundry services company VIP Cleaners & Laundry. For things like fitted and flat sheets, once a week is standard, but for pillowcases, Villarreal recommends every three to seven days. Additionally, you should wash duvet covers every two to four weeks and comforters or duvet inserts at least every three weeks.

If you have pets that sleep in your bed with you and/or are prone to allergies, you should be washing your bedding more often, according to Villarreal. Consider changing your sheets twice a week and cleaning your duvet covers and inserts every two weeks regularly and never stretching it to four. You can wash mattress protectors every one to two months overall.

How often should you replace your sheets?

While it may depend on the type of bedding and factors such as how often you’ve been washing them, you should replace your sheets every two to five years, according to Villarreal. If your sheets have stains that are hard to get rid of, the fabric is becoming thin, pilling, tears and has less elasticity, then it’s time to replace them, says Villarreal.

“Duvet covers generally last longer since they protect the comforter underneath, while fitted sheets wear out first due to constant friction,” he says. Out of all types of bedding, though, fitted sheets should be replaced most often because of the friction they’re in contact with, according to Kim Romine, a fabric care scientist at Tide.

The best products for washing and replacing sheets

This simple and affordable product is an incredibly popular laundry detergent, mainly because it’s so effective according to the thousands of positive reviews shoppers have left for it. While it may seem just like baking soda in a box, it’s actually made with sodium carbonate and water (whereas baking soda you use for cooking and baking is technically sodium bicarbonate).

Sodium carbonate, which some people use to make their own homemade laundry detergent (the brand even gives directions for this on the box), is more chemically basic than regular baking soda. The label actually lists several uses for washing soda, in addition to laundry, including cleaning pots and pans, surfaces and upholstery. Plus, many shoppers say they love using this product because it helps them save money on detergent. Just be mindful that you’ll want to refrain from using it on silk, leather or wool, according to the instructions on the box.

Since I never use traditional bleach when I do laundry, I started using this powder oxygen bleach (which is different from highly corrosive liquid chlorine bleach) as an alternative. After using it a few times and soaking my clothing and sheets in it, I truly noticed a difference in the whiteness of my sheets.

This powder, which is also available in tablet form, works well for cleaning and whitening clothing and bedding without the strong odors that come from traditional chlorine. Soaking definitely makes a huge difference and it has a “clean linen” smell to it that I enjoy. In addition to sheets, it works on canvas-based shoes, sports uniforms, shirts and socks, according to the brand.

The Breeze Sheets are made from ultra-soft eucalyptus lyocell material that has a breathable feel, according to several reviewers.The lyocell fabric helps absorb and release moisture so that you don’t trap humidity under the sheets, according to the brand, so they’re less likely to make you sweat — which means less washing to get sweat stains out of the sheets. The set is available in several sizes and multiple stripe, plaid and floral designs.

This popular mattress protector is available in twin sizes all the way up to California king, plus you can get it in multipacks. You can get it in five colorways, including brown, beige and white. It’s also available in a version for cribs and it’s entirely waterproof, according to the brand. It fits mattresses up to 17 inches tall, with shoppers confirming that it fits well and that it does a great job of keeping water out. It’s also machine washable in cold water.

How do you wash sheets and bedding?

Outside of washing your sheets regularly, it’s also important that you actually use the best techniques to keep them clean and in proper shape. It’s best to use warm water that is between 90 and 105 degrees Fahrenheit, to allow them to be cleaned thoroughly while also preventing them from becoming damaged, according to Villarreal.

Another tip is to avoid overloading the washing machine to make sure clothes have room to move around. “Skip excessive detergent, since residue leaves fabric feeling stiff,” he says. “Tumble dry on medium heat and remove [them from the dryer] promptly to cut down on wrinkles and extend fabric life.”

Below are some additional pieces of advice from laundry experts for changing, washing and maintaining sheets to help them last before having to replace them.

It’s best to wash your sheets and bedding separately from other items, including towels, as this allows for more thorough cleaning and rinsing during the cycle, according to Romine. “Bedding specifically can accumulate sweat, body oils, skin cells, and personal care products over time. Washing these items separately can help ensure you aren’t overloading the wash with too much soil,” says Romine. “You also want to make sure you aren’t overstuffing the load with fabrics so they have enough room to move freely in the wash, allowing detergent and water to more effectively remove soils.”
When it comes to bedding, watch out for things like fraying on edges and seams, as this is a sign that, rather than washing, you should simply throw out and replace the sheet, according to Romine.
If you sweat a lot, (I’m looking at you hot sleepers), and your bedding is more likely to come in contact with perspiration, then you should change and wash your sheets more frequently than the general recommendation. Consider every few days versus once a week. Additionally, if you run hot while you sleep, consider cooling sheets like the Buffy Breeze Sheet Set might be a good investment for you.
If you’re a pet owner and you allow your dogs or cats to sleep in bed with you, then you should also change and wash your bedding more frequently than once a week, according to Romine. “Pets can leave behind hair, dander, dirt, and other environmental debris that accumulate in bedding over time,” she says. “Likewise, bedding naturally collects dust and common environmental allergens that can build up.”

Meet our laundry experts

At NBC Selected, we work with experts who have specialized knowledge and authority based on relevant training and/or experience. We also take steps to ensure all expert advice and recommendations are made independently and without undisclosed financial conflicts of interest.

Salvador Villarreal is the owner of laundry services company VIP Cleaners and Laundry, based in San Diego.
Kim Romine is a laundry expert and fabric care scientist at Tide. *Any inclusion of Procter & Gamble products in this story was made independently of Romine, who we only consulted for shopping tips and guidance. We did not ask Romine for product recommendations.

Why trust NBC Selected?

I’m a commerce editor at NBC Selected, where I write about home, kitchen, cleaning, laundry and more. I’ve written extensively about home cleaning and laundry, including how to whiten clothes without bleach, how to wash jackets and hats, the best products to restore leather clothes and furniture and more. For this article, I spoke with multiple laundry experts for their guidance on the best methods for washing and replacing bed sheets.

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