Most experts recommend washing your sheets once a week. This standard helps remove accumulated sweat, body oils, and millions of dead skin cells that attract dust mites.
Medical experts advise washing your sheets at least once a week, says dermatologist Sean McGregor, DO. Pillows and blankets don't need to be washed as often, but cleaning them at least every few months limits the amount of germs and other microscopic organisms you face when you're asleep.
Linen, made from the flax plant, is another excellent option for people with RLS. It's highly breathable and moisture-wicking, helping to maintain a steady temperature throughout the night. Linen's airy weave prevents overheating while keeping you comfortably warm during cooler months.
Various factors contribute to bacteria buildup over time, including body oils, sweat, dead skin cells, and skin care products. As a result, these dirty sheets can cause skin problems like acne, rashes, and eczema. Additionally, the bacteria in sheets can cause open wounds to become infected.
Most people should wash their sheets once a week to remove sweat, bacteria, and allergens that build up during sleep. How often should you change your sheets if you sweat at night? If you sweat heavily, changing your sheets every three to four days helps keep bedding fresh and hygienic.
Key Takeaways
Gen Z often skips the top sheet for simplicity, while tradition holds it as a bedding staple. Experts have mixed feelings, with some valuing the top sheet's hygiene benefits and others seeing it as unnecessary. Ultimately, your choice might hinge on comfort, temperature preferences, or ease of bed-making.
If you properly allow your sheets to dry out in the morning, then bacteria will grow for roughly two weeks, with a peak amount on your sheets at around the 14-day mark, says Petro. “So scientifically speaking, 14 days is probably when you're going to want to change your sheets,” he says.
Yellow sheets on your boyfriend's side of the bed are completely normal and usually come down to biology. Men naturally have more active sweat and oil glands and higher testosterone levels than women, which leads to body oils and sweat oxidizing in the fabric.
Martha Stewart has her bed sheets changed and washed every two to three days. While she has housekeepers who handle the actual washing and making of the bed, she considers getting into a fresh bed the "height of luxury" and believes that swapping them out every five days should be the bare minimum.
While yes, you can technically sleep on unwashed sheets, it's not recommended. Your sheets can gather dirt, dust mites, sweat, dead skin cells, and bacteria, leading to potential health issues like skin irritation, allergies, and even infections. Even new sheets should be washed before use.
Flax linen was once a hospital staple—valued for its breathability, antimicrobial properties, and healing logic. But over time, U.S. hospitals phased it out not because it failed patients, but because it didn't fit the evolving demands of industrial infection control and centralized laundering systems.
Along with lacking enough vitamin C and E, low vitamin D levels statistically increase your odds of having restless legs. While experts still haven't determined exactly why vitamin D deficiency increases RLS, they believe it has something to do with the way this vitamin works in your brain.
The healthiest sheets are made from natural, breathable fibers processed without toxic dyes, bleaches, or synthetic finishes. The best options—GOTS-certified organic cotton, bamboo viscose, and Eucalyptus Lyocell—minimize chemical exposure, regulate temperature, and prevent skin irritation.
Most people should wash their sheets once per week. If you don't sleep on your mattress every day, you may be able to stretch this to once every two weeks or so. Some people should wash their sheets even more often than once a week.
The healthiest fabrics to sleep on are breathable, moisture-wicking, and free of harsh chemical dyes or synthetic treatments. Top choices include organic cotton, linen, and Tencel (Lyocell). These materials are hypoallergenic, reduce bacterial growth, and help regulate body temperature to prevent night sweats.
Wash bedding weekly.
If bedding can't be washed hot, put the items in the dryer for at least 15 minutes at a temperature above 130 F (54.4 C) to kill the mites. Then wash and dry the bedding to remove allergens. Freezing items for 24 hours if they can't be washed also can kill dust mites.
Not washing your sheets allows sweat, millions of dead skin cells, body oils, and saliva to accumulate. This creates a breeding ground for bacteria and dust mites, which can trigger allergy symptoms, worsen acne, and lead to skin infections.
Freshen your bed sheets instantly by shaking them out and letting them air in a sunny window for an hour. To eliminate lingering odors, lightly sprinkle the sheets with baking soda, let them sit for 30 minutes, and vacuum them off before misting with a DIY or store-bought linen spray.
Yes, it is highly recommended to wash bedding—especially duvet covers and pillowcases—inside out. This simple habit helps preserve the fabric’s color, minimizes pilling, and protects any delicate embroidery or prints from the friction of the wash cycle.
Oprah Winfrey
For her, just five-and-a-half hours of slumber works well. She believes anything less affects her focus and energy. Oprah wakes up naturally, without an alarm, between 7:16 and 7:23 a.m. and starts her day with stillness and mindfulness.
Experts recommend washing your sheets once a week, though stretching it to two weeks is acceptable. Going longer than 14 days allows sweat, dead skin cells, and body oils to accumulate, which can feed dust mites and trigger allergies, acne, and eczema flare-ups.
Martha Stewart is famously a massive fragrance enthusiast with a collection of over 70 perfumes. However, she has consistently sworn by one specific signature scent for decades, while also recently endorsing a popular gourmand fragrance.
Hotels maintain perfectly white bedding by using industrial-grade machines, rigorous pre-treatment processes, and a carefully timed combination of commercial detergents, bleach, and bluing agents. Because all-white sheets are an industry standard, hotels rely on this scientific laundering approach to prevent yellowing and instantly discard any linens that show permanent discoloration.
Over time, natural body oils, sweat, and skin contact cause discoloration, especially if the same spot is used every night. Regular washing, breathable sheets, and protective covers can help keep things fresh and bright.
Yellow or oily stains on your husband's pillowcase are completely normal. They are typically caused by a buildup of sebum (natural skin oils), sweat, and saliva mixing together. Men naturally produce more sebum and sweat due to higher testosterone levels, which transfer onto the bedding and oxidize overnight.