There’s nothing better than hopping into a freshly made bed at the end of a long day. Unfortunately, the remnants of the day often get in with you, too.
Enhancing sleep hygiene means revamping your habits and routines as well as your bedroom environment to ensure you get quality sleep every night. Washing your bed sheets frequently and consistently is just one way to help improve and maintain a healthy sleep environment.
According to the Sleep Foundation, most people spend 49-60 hours per week in bed. If you spill a drink or eat a crumbly snack in bed, it’s easy to see that your bedding needs a wash. But you should be worried about the things you can’t see, like dust mites, germs, dead skin cells, sweat and body oils. Even if you aren’t bothered by your own dirt and grime, sleeping with dust mites can lead to skin irritation and rashes. To avoid unwanted skin irritation, the best thing you can do is wash your sheets regularly.
So, how often should you really be washing your sheets? The answer is that washing your sheets about once or twice a week is ideal for a healthy night of sleep.
Good sleep hygiene habits can help improve your mental and physical well-being, make you more productive, and positively impact your daily life. Knowing you’re sleeping in a clean environment puts your mind at ease, which will help you drift off faster.
Most sheets should be washed in cold water, tumble dried on low and removed from the dryer as soon as possible to prevent wrinkling. Using low heat ensures sheets won’t shrink and will stay softer for longer. Before washing your sheets, make sure to check the care tag.
