How often should you wash your household linen?
Every day, household linen is in prolonged contact with our skin. It is therefore important to follow a number of care guidelines for our bed linen, whether it is washed linen or another fabric. In particular, it is essential to adhere to a certain washing frequency, which varies depending on the item. According to a study conducted in 2014, a third of respondents washed their sheets every week, 35% every two weeks, 8% every three weeks, and 10% every four weeks. As for the rest, they waited up to two months before washing them. But what do health professionals recommend?
How often should you wash your sheets?
We tend to wait several weeks before washing our sheets… yet the bed is a place where numerous bacteria accumulate due to the humidity generated by perspiration. All of this can turn our bed linen into a real breeding ground.
Thousands of microbes in our beds
According to estimates from America’s Environment Health and Safety Online, there are believed to be between 100,000 and 10 million dust mites in our mattresses. Despite linen’s ability to combat dust mites, it is necessary to change your sheets regularly.
Did you know?
The presence of dust mites, fungi, skin flakes or dust can be the cause of certain illnesses such as asthma, rhinitis, allergies or eczema.
The perfect frequency for washing your bed linen
So, what is the ideal frequency for washing our sheets or duvet cover? Ideally, every week if you shower in the morning. This interval can be extended to 2 weeks if you shower before bed or sleep in pyjamas. Washing at 40 degrees helps preserve your linen and is more energy efficient. Laundry detergents are effective from 40 degrees.
Our care guide for linen bed linen
Linen: a moisture-wicking material
Having linen sheets is a considerable advantage when it comes to washing frequency. They have the natural ability to limit perspiration during the night (which can reach up to a litre of water per night during a heatwave) because linen fibre is hollow and therefore breathable.
The thermoregulating powers of linen
How often should you wash your duvets and pillows?
Duvets should ideally be washed every 6 months (between seasons). Pillows, meanwhile, should be washed every 3 months.
Check the care label on your items, but they can often be washed at up to 60 degrees for synthetic duvets and pillowcases, and at 30 or 40 degrees if they are down-filled.
Tip: if your utility room doesn’t allow you to wash your duvets and pillows, head to the nearest launderette for a quick wash and dry!
How often should you wash your mattress protector or topper?
It is recommended to wash your mattress protector or topper every month. Designed to absorb moisture, they are also a breeding ground for germs and require thorough regular cleaning.
How often should you wash your bath towels?
It is advisable to wash your bath towels after a maximum of 4 uses for cotton towels, and after 8 uses for honeycomb linen towels. We use them to dry our whole body, and they quickly absorb lingering moisture if not aired properly after use. This is one of the many advantages of honeycomb fabric: it dries quickly.
Our tips and tricks for washing your linen household textiles