- By Bornika Das
- Tue, 13 Jan 2026 04:46 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
How Often To Wash Bed Sheets: Little do people know that their comfortable bed sheets are potentially harbouring dirt more than their kitchen towel. Well, whether you use your bed sheet for a long time or just for sleeping, it is important to know how often the bed sheets and pillow covers should be changed. Often, people ignore the cleaning of bed sheets and pillows, though clean bedding is vital for skin and health. Each night, our bodies release millions of skin cells, producing enough sweat to make the bed sheets a haven of germs and dust mites.
In India, it is not enough to launder bed sheets biweekly; thus, cleaning them frequently becomes more important. According to the National Sleep Foundation, bed sheets should be washed once a week. Here’s everything you should know about how often you should wash bed sheets.
How Often Should You Wash Your Bed Sheets?
According to the National Sleep Foundation, people should wash their bed sheets once a week. If they’re not sleeping on the mattress every day, they may be able to stretch this to once every two weeks or so. It is advisable to wash bed sheets more often in the warm summer months when people sweat more on their bedding. People should also change their pillowcases weekly.
If people sweat too much, develop allergic reactions, skin conditions or sleep next to their dog or pets, it is better to change the sheets every 3-4 days. Moreover, if you’re sick with a cold or fever, the bed sheets should be changed immediately.
Common Bed Sheet Care Mistakes
Not washing the bed sheets for 15-20 days or a month.
Shaking up the dusty sheets or sun-drying them without cleaning.
Not taking care of pillow covers or actually waiting for smells or stains.
These mistakes invite bacteria and trigger allergies and skin problems and one should not take chances with healthy and better sleep.

Bed Sheet Care (Image Credits: Canva)
ALSO READ: Why You Must Sleep For At Least 8 Hours At Night? Expert Explains
How To Clean Bed Sheets The Right Way
Use hot water (above 60°C) to destroy bacteria and mix with a gentle soap for comfort. Complete dry in the sunlight to naturally eradicate bacteria. Avoid wet sheets as they attract molds.
Prioritising clean bedding helps improve sleep routine, which in turn becomes an immunity booster, fighting off allergens and giving radiant skin. Thus, dispensing upon the personal habits such as sweat, you should decide when you should wash your bed sheets.
