How Often Should You Really Wash Your Bedding? A Microbiologist Explains

Your bed may look clean, but it is one of the most-used surfaces in your home. Night after night, it collects sweat, body oils, dead skin cells, microbes, allergens, and whatever your hair, skin, clothes, or pets bring into it.

The practical answer is not complicated: sheets and pillowcases should usually be washed weekly, or every three to four days if you have been ill, sweat heavily, or share your bed with pets. A microbiologist writing in The Independent recommends washing at 60°C or higher with detergent, with tumble drying or ironing for deeper sanitisation.