Water Temperature and Detergent - The best overall temperature to wash your sheets in is warm water. Hot water will fade colors and can be harsh on fine threads. Cold water may not clean your sheets as well as you would like.
Unless they're unusually dirty, you can place most sheets right into your washing machine on a normal (or regular) cycle in cool or warm water. This setting can help you avoid excessive wrinkling. But it's not always that simple. If you still have questions, don't worry, you're not alone!
Washing sheets is a balance between making sure they're actually clean and ensuring they last as long as possible. To get your bedsheets really clean, it's best to use hot water, over 130 degrees Fahrenheit to get rid of dust mites and over 140 degrees to help kill viruses and bacteria.
That should be the default.” Sansoni explains that cold water is “usually just as effective, but it's more sustainable and your sheets will last longer,” because cold water washing reduces wear and tear, as well as fading.
Wash with low temps
The best way to maintain good-looking sheets is to wash them in low-temperature cycles—cold water is ideal. Sometimes, though, you will need to use warmer wash cycles.
What spin speed to use for bed sheets? Spin speed is also important when considering how to wash bed sheets. Aim for around 1000-1200rpm (800rpm or less for silk). Anything faster can cause excessive creasing, knotting and even potential damage to your sheets.
Towels and sheets, along with any clothes that an ill person has been wearing, should be washed at a fairly warm temperature to kill bacteria and potential mould. A good temperature for washing towels and sheets is 40 degrees, but a 60 degreewash will be better at killing germs.
Washing your sheets with other clothes one time isn't going to ruin them, but we don't recommend getting into the habit of it.
Separating linens into separate loads based on their material type (sheets vs towels) will not only give your linen a better clean, it will also help prevent unnecessary wear-and-tear on your linens and your washer – all while extending the life of your linens significantly! Don't Wash Sheets and Towels Together!
Washing bedding in water that's too hot can cause them to shrink and fade over time. Similarly, constant washing on the heavy-duty cycle may cause them to wear out. It's always best to select the appropriate cycle for the level of cleaning you need — no more, no less.
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.
Tumble dry your sheets on the low-heat setting to reduce wrinkling and prevent unnecessary wear. Using a low-heat setting also keeps your fitted sheets fitting snugly—if the dryer is too hot, it may damage the elastic. Avoid dryer sheets, as they can weaken the material and cause pilling over time.
You may be thinking, can you get bed bugs from not washing your sheets? No—bed bugs have absolutely nothing to do with cleanliness levels. However, washing your sheets regularly gives you the opportunity to look for and remove any possible bed bug infestations.
Cleaning Instructions for Hospital Linens
Soiled or infected linens should be washed at a temperature of 65 degrees for at least 10 minutes, or 71 degrees for a minimum of 3 minutes. Hypochlorite may be used to disinfect linens, if they can withstand it.
The Good Housekeeping Institute says that your sheets should be changed at least once every two weeks. However, if you suffer with night sweats or allergies such as asthma, it's worth washing them weekly to get rid of any grime or potential irritants and keep your sleeping space fresh and clean.
“Doctors recommend washing at 60 degrees or above to kill germs. When washing at lower temperatures, add a laundry disinfectant such as Dettol to your wash to kill bacteria.”
The quick-wash shouldn't be used to clean the following:
So, if you have an outfit you want to wear on a date, go ahead and use the quick wash, but for items like towels and linens, it's best you use a different option.
According to the Sleep Foundation, a standard mattress should last between 6-8 years before you need to replace it (1). But a mattress's life span can depend on a number of factors – including how often it has been slept on, the kind of mattress it is, and whether it has been used with a mattress protector.
How often should I wash my bath towels? Dead skin cells, bacteria, and even sweat can accumulate quickly on your towels, so using a fresh one about every three days is a simple rule of thumb—for all kinds of towels.
Men are more likely to wait longer between sheet changes than women (29.6 days vs. 19.4 days). On average, single people go 37 days before changing their sheets, while those in relationships go 21.8 days, and married couples go 19.9 days.
Avoid using dryer sheets when washing bath, kitchen, microfiber or cleaning towels or rags. If you have children, avoid washing their pajamas with dryer sheets. The coating can make pajamas less fire resistant. Stearic acid coatings can disable the wicking capabilities of active wear and socks.
As a disposable single-use product, dryer sheets contribute to environmental waste and have been found to emit volatile organic compounds into the air from dryer vents. This could potentially affect both air quality and human health, although more research is needed.
After just 20 washing and high-heat drying cycles, your bedsheets could have lost nearly 50% of their original tensile strength. This means your sheets will fit awkwardly and may even loosen up further over time. It will also impact the feel of the sheets.
Is it okay to change your bed sheets once a month? While your specific sheet changing habits might vary a little bit depending on your lifestyle, your body, and your preferences, most experts agree you should change your sheets every week or every two weeks.