Bed linens, bath towels, curtains, and other bedroom fabrics are something we all use. However, they all need to be pampered in very different ways, including how often they get washed and replaced. You might think this is a part of an age-old routine with no real reasoning behind it, but you’d be wrong! It’s all about hygiene and how often each piece gets dirty with use (or disuse).
Instead of bashing you over the head with a bunch of health warnings, how about we just tell you how often you need to wash those bed covers, blankets, and other linens and fabrics? We will also tell you very quickly the whys and potential hows on each entry!
1. Mattress covers
Your mattress cover is what keeps your bed comfy, allergen-free, in good shape, and it actually extends the useful life of your mattress too. Unless you’ve accidentally spilled something on it, these covers should be removed and washed at least once a month. However, if you spilled something on it as we said, remove it immediately to avoid damaging the mattress itself, then wash it according to whatever fell on it. Hey, if you’re only washing the cover, then it is doing its job!
2. Blankets
Knowing when to wash your blankets depends entirely on how often you use them, of course. If yours are rolled in a drawer or at the end of the bed most of the time, then you should be good washing them every few months. But if you use them every day (and remember that winter is fast approaching) then you should wash them weekly, or at least bi-weekly. Of course, each blanket is unique, so make sure to follow the specific care instructions for them, if any.
3. Comforters and duvet covers
The covers for comforter and duvets keep it all inside and, as such, are never used too much by themselves. Its job is to look cute and keep the outside world, well, outside! Therefore, you can get away with a couple of washes per year for comforters and duvets. The cover, however, will have to be washed weekly at the very least, or every couple of weeks if you never really lie on top of it.
4. Bath towels
Few things are as relaxing as a warm shower or a bath, but the hygienic gains you could get from them are completely lost if you use a dirty towel. If you don’t wash your towel regularly, you’re essentially using a bacteria magnet to dry yourself. We know, it’s icky to think about it, but it’s true! The longer you let a towel stay damp, the longer yeasts, bacteria, and mold have to stay active, causing many problems on your skin and overall health. So, how often should you wash those towels? Again, wash them at the very least once a week, and hang them out to dry over a bar between uses.
5. Curtains, canopies, and bed skirts
These extra pieces of decorative fabric are all about style, not usefulness. That means that, overall, they just don’t get dirty all that often, which in turn makes you forget about them most of the time. However, your allergies won’t let you forget them! Being still for so long makes them a magnet for dust, pet hair, and a few other nasties. If you suffer from allergies, wash them every three or four months, otherwise, twice a year is a perfectly good ratio to wash them.
6. Sheets and pillowcases
Sheets and pillowcases are definitely a part of the “wash-a-week” club since they’re the most exposed to the oils and dirt that clings to our bodies, but also dead skin and bacteria. Yes, it’s not pleasant to think about, but it’s important that you know it so you get the urge to wash them without fail! A good tip is to use only warm water instead of hot water since the latter will shrink your sheets and cases, something you won’t really notice until you try to put them on again. Not changing your bed sheets is a big no-no for hygiene!
There you go! Keeping track of how often you wash and replace each item in this list is the key to avoid the most common allergens and bacteria that affect your health. Still, you might need a helping hand for the rest of your chores once in a while, and that’s what the professionals are here to do.
