In order to be healthy, we need 7-8 hours of sleep, therefore, we spend about a third of the day in bed. When in contact with the body, sheets, pillowcases and duvet covers inevitably become dirty. When asked how often bed linen should be changed, many people answer incorrectly, thinking that only visible dirt is a reason to wash it. Unfortunately, this opinion is as wrong as it is popular. Let's figure out why you need to change your linen frequently.

During use, the bed accumulates a lot of things. Dust settling on the bed, human sweat, dandruff, food crumbs, cosmetic residues, dirt from the body and dead particles, the hair of beloved pets, high humidity and temperature - all this creates excellent conditions for bacteria and microorganisms. Bed and dust mites, multiplying in large numbers in the bed, can cause allergies, dermatitis, rhinitis, and decreased immunity. And this is not the entire list of diseases that can be caused by poor sleep hygiene.

To avoid adverse consequences, it is necessary to change the bedding set at least once every 1-2 weeks. The pillowcase gets dirty even faster; due to its “staleness,” serious skin problems can arise: pimples, blackheads, and allergic reactions. If your skin is prone to breakouts, try changing your pillow cover every 1-2 days to help improve the situation.

In addition, if you change linen frequently, you can use more gentle washing modes at low temperatures and do not use bleaches. Thanks to this, the set will last longer.

Factors influencing the frequency of linen changes

The service life of a bedding set depends on several indicators. We list the factors by which you can determine the time to change your pillowcase, sheets and duvet cover.

Age

Important! If you have furry animals that like to sleep in the bed with you or your children, you should change the bed more often. If it is not possible to wash it, remove any hair that has accumulated from your pet using a clothes cleaning roller.

Health status

Another factor that needs to be taken into account when changing bed linen is the presence of diseases. During illness, bacteria multiply faster and remain on the sleeping set. Therefore, to prevent re-infection, it is necessary to change the bed linen daily. If the illness is not serious, for example, a common cold, the bed should be remade every 3-4 days. If you have allergies, change your linen every 2-3 days, and change your pillowcase every day.

Season

At first glance, the time of year has nothing to do with how often you need to change your bedding set. However, it is not. The higher the temperature outside, the more a person sweats when sleeping. In addition, in the warm season, people, like all living organisms, are more active. All this is reflected in the cleanliness of the linen. Therefore, in summer, late spring and early autumn, it is recommended to change the bed twice as often as at other times, and be sure to change the pillowcase daily.

Attention! Every 5 years you need to buy new pillows and blankets, as the old ones become unusable. But they should be washed once a year. The lifespan of the mattress is 20 years, unless the instructions indicate a different time period.

How to prolong the freshness of your laundry?

There are a few little tricks that will help you enjoy the cleanliness of your kit a little longer:

Here are some tips for caring for your bedding to keep it fresh and clean:

1. It is not recommended to hang pillowcases, sheets and duvet covers on radiators and other heating devices, as this will make the material rough and unpleasant to the touch.
2. When washing and ironing, choose one temperature regime, which will not harm the type of fabric.
3. Store dirty laundry in a basket or box with holes to allow air to circulate. Do not put wet laundry in the basket: mold may develop, which will be very difficult to wash.
4. To make your pet lose less hair, you should trim it. The problem will be solved for a while, but even when the hair grows back, the loss will decrease.
5. Before washing, turn the set inside out. This will help maintain the brightness of the design.
6. Do not neglect ironing, as it not only gives the laundry beautiful view, but also prevents the growth of bacteria. If your duvet cover, pillowcase, or sheets have any decorative elements, it is better to iron the item from the wrong side.
7. Immediately after purchasing a bedding set, you should wash it. This will wash away production dust and make the fabric softer.

Changing bed linen can easily be considered one of the hygiene procedures important for human health. Keeping your sheets and pillowcases clean is just as important as washing your clothes regularly. If you do not change your bed linen for a long time, pathogenic microorganisms begin to actively multiply in it, causing allergic reactions and exacerbation of diseases. This is why adults and children should sleep exclusively on clean pillowcases and sheets. Regular replacement is the key to comfortable sleep and human health.

How many times should bed linen be changed?

Experts in the field of epidemiology recommend washing a sleeping set for adults once every 10 days. Every night, dead skin cells, sweat, and organic secretions move from the human body to the bed. All this is a breeding ground for bed mites, bacteria, and fungi. If a person often sweats in his sleep, this is a good reason to change his underwear to clean ones even more often, since high humidity is an ideal environment for the growth of fungi.

It must be said that pillowcases should be changed twice as often as other elements of the sleeping set. This is especially important if there are rashes on the skin or the person has any disease of an infectious nature.

Children's bedding should be changed at least once every 7 days, even if the set appears clean. The pillowcase must be replaced with a clean one twice a week. Babies and newborns will need several sets of bedding.

If your baby sleeps without diapers, the sheets can be changed every day, if not more often. To avoid studying bed linen day and night, it is worth purchasing disposable absorbent diapers.

How often should I wash my bed linen?

How many days should you wash your pillowcase, duvet cover and sheets? Washing bedding should occur with the same frequency as changing it. “Adult” sets need to be washed once every 10 days, children’s sets - once a week. If stains appear on the bedding, you will have to replace the set ahead of time.

Children's clothes must be washed separately from adults. Your baby's bedding should be either manually or machine cleaned using a delicate wash cycle. Existing contaminants must first be rubbed laundry soap. It is recommended to use products for children with a neutral pH and no odor. It is better to avoid air conditioners and bleaches to avoid allergic reactions.

Adults' clothes can be washed in hotter water. If the laundry is made of cotton, it is recommended to select the “Cotton” mode, which is equipped with many automatic machines. This program will provide a longer wash at 60 or 95°C. Hot water effectively eliminates pathogenic microorganisms living in bedding. However, in what mode it is better to wash the set, the manufacturers indicate on the label.

On what days should bed linen be changed?

On what day of the week to change your sleeping set is entirely up to everyone. Many people have a “cleaning day” on Saturday, and then they refresh their linens. If we are talking about a person working from home, or a mother on maternity leave, then bedding can be washed on Monday, Wednesday, and any other day. It is better to set a specific day for yourself to change the sheets in order to control the time that has passed since the last update of the set, and know exactly when to change for new ones.

Bed linen should be changed on a regular basis, because human health depends on it. It is important to monitor the cleanliness of both children's and adult sleeping sets. It is necessary not only to update pillowcases, sheets and duvet covers, but also not to forget to air pillows and blankets at least once a month.

It is much more pleasant to fall asleep on clean, fresh linen than in a bed that has not been changed for a long time. And this is not only the psychological side of the issue. Frequently changing bed linen is not a whim, but an important hygienic procedure. Neglecting it can lead to health problems.

Why you need to change bed linen regularly

During sleep, the following accumulate on bedding:

Therefore, constantly postponing the change of bed linen is fraught with a decrease in immunity, increased coughing and difficulty breathing (especially important for asthmatics), irritation of the mucous membranes, the occurrence of chronic rhinitis, neurodermatitis and eczema.
While we sleep, we inhale dust that collects on our bed linen.

How often should bed linen be changed?

The frequency of changing bed linen depends on many factors:

• The best option for healthy adults is once a week. This rule should be followed especially in summer period when due to the heat it is released large quantity sweat, and harmful organisms multiply faster. During abnormally hot periods, laundry is washed once every 2–3 days. In cool and cold seasons, you need to change your linen at least once every 2 weeks, but it is still recommended to adhere to a period of 7 days if two people sleep in a bed;
• sick children and adults (for any diseases, especially those accompanied by high fever) need to change the bed every day until the person fully recovers;
• people with chronic diseases lungs and skin, for people with allergies, the bed is washed once every 2–3 days;
• newborn babies need to change their underwear once a week or more often - as they get dirty;
• preschool and junior children school age They sweat less than adults, so replacement is possible once every 10–14 days. In kindergartens, the norm is to wash clothes every 10 days;
• Teenagers are characterized by restructuring of the body and increased secretion of fat by the sebaceous glands. You should make a new bed 2 times a week.

You should also change your pillowcases more often if your hair gets dirty quickly. To keep your bed fresh throughout the week, you need to shower before bed.

How to properly care for your bed and make your bed

Since childhood, we have always been taught to make our bed in the morning, but are we doing it right? Several rules must be followed:

1. In the morning, do not cover the bed with a blanket too quickly, let it dry a little. Open the window for ventilation - it will be good if the sun's rays enter the room. At the same time, open the bed so that the sheet is visible. The fact is that dust mites that collect on the bed die in the fresh dry air from dehydration. If you make the bed right away, you will create conditions for their further reproduction - a humid and warm environment.
2. Before laying down the blanket, remove all unnecessary items (books, magazines, phone, etc.) and debris from the bed, thoroughly shake the blanket and fluff up the pillow.
3. Carefully fold the blanket over the sheet.

It is also important to take care of other bedding items that are not changed as often (blanket, pillows, mattress). They also need to be cleaned, but once every six months. Pillows need to be regularly ventilated and refilled, as dust accumulates inside.
Pillows should be regularly ventilated in the fresh air and refilled

When soiled, the sofa and bed are vacuumed to remove hair, dust and animal hair. Mattress covers must be washed once a month, and it is recommended to take mattresses to the dry cleaner (the same applies to bulky rugs and blankets) or call special services. For temporary home care Upholstery shampoo diluted in cool water in a ratio of 1:3 is suitable.

How to properly wash bed linen depending on the type of fabric

When washing bed linen, be sure to consider the type of fabric. For example, not all materials can withstand high temperatures - linen may lose its shape and color. Information about care (temperature, the possibility of using bleaches, type of spin, etc.) can be found on the labels of the bedding components and on its packaging.
Each set of linen is supplied with a tag that indicates the washing and ironing conditions

Preparing for washing

Used linen should be placed in a special basket or box with holes for ventilation. If you store laundry in a regular basin, make sure that there is no moisture in it, and that the door to the bathroom is always open. This way you will avoid the formation of mold, which is difficult to remove.
Buy a special basket for used laundry with ventilation

Before washing:

Detergents

The bedding detergent should be selected based on the following rules:

Water temperature and mode

If you don’t know what a particular icon on a label means or you’ve already cut them off a long time ago, use the following guidelines:

• satin Depending on the degree of contamination, satin bedding is washed at 40–60 o C. Number of revolutions - up to 600;
• jacquard-satin. Elite fabric is cleaned in a machine with low spin and at a temperature not exceeding 40 o C;
• cotton. Colored material will withstand 40 o C, and white material - 90–95 o C. The optimal option is 40–60 o C. It is recommended to use double rinsing;
• linen. This thick fabric can be washed at high temperature. Even boiling is possible (except for colored ones - only 60 o C). The material can withstand repeated washing with strong spin;
  Linen linen can withstand washing in a normal machine cycle with a strong spin
• synthetics. For this type of fabric, the maximum mark is 60 o C. K synthetic fabrics include lycra, polyester, dacron, tactel, modal, viscose. They should only be hand washed at low temperatures. Synthetics cannot be bleached or boiled. It is better to remove the spin cycle or set it to low;
• silk, satin. For silk satin, you can only use dry cleaning (the circle on the label indicates this). Other types of satin are cleaned manually or in a machine at 30–40 o C. Silk itself should be washed at a temperature of no more than 30 o C, using a mode without spin or with a weak spin;
  Satin linen should be washed at a low temperature - from 30 to 40 degrees
• calico The temperature should not exceed 30–60 o C, and the spin speed should not exceed 600 rpm;
• colored chintz - 40 o C and any mode;
• cambric, bamboo - 30–40 o C, delicate mode without spin or with low spin;
• wool. This material requires the most delicate handling - mode " Handwash» and cool water (no more than 30 o C);
• percale. The first time such laundry is washed at 20 o C, subsequently the temperature is set to no more than 60 o C. Spin is maximum;
• poplin - 30 o C and low spin mode;
• twill is the most unpretentious material. It can withstand temperatures up to 95 o C and any spin.

As a rule, machines have washing modes with names corresponding to the types of fabrics: “Cotton”, “Synthetics”, etc. For each option, the machine itself sets not only the temperature, but also the washing time, as well as the spin intensity.
Some modes have names of fabric types - tips for housewives

Also consider the following general tips:

• the optimal temperature at which all harmful microorganisms are destroyed is 55 o C. If the fabric does not allow you to set this temperature, you should use rinses with an antiseptic effect;
• colored laundry should be washed first at 30 o C (the first three times), then switch to 40 o C;
• remove stubborn stains before washing - soak the laundry for 1 hour in warm water with the detergent you are going to use for washing.

Calculation of the weight of bedding sets for washing

Each machine has its own maximum weight limit for the laundry it can wash. The weight of items is measured dry, but weighing the laundry every time is inconvenient. If your machine does not independently measure the weight of loaded items, keep in mind the following guidelines (using the example of calico bed linen):

• children's set with one pillowcase - 1200 g;
• 1.5-bedroom - 1580 g;
• 2-bedroom - 1860;
• euro - 2340 g.

Cotton bed linen weighs less:

• duvet cover - 800 g;
• sheet - 600 g;
• pillowcase - 200 g;
• 2-bedroom set - 1800 g.

Thus, the weight of one set varies from 1.5 to 2 kg. For high-quality and safe washing, it is recommended to load the machine to a maximum of 2/3, and preferably half. The laundry will be constantly in motion in the drum and will not bunch up in one lump. At the same time, the machine will effectively rinse and wring out the fabric.

It is also important to consider the correspondence between the weight and the mode with which you are going to wash the laundry. If the machine load is 6 kg, this is the maximum weight for the standard “Cotton” mode. For more delicate modes, the maximum weight will be less: for silk and wool - 1.5 kg, and for synthetic fabrics - 3 kg. Do not forget that you cannot put only one or several small things that weigh less than 1 kg into the machine.

Washing new bed linen

New bedding will almost never be clean. Dust can get on it directly at production during sewing, during transportation and storage. This is especially true for textiles that are sold without packaging.
On store shelves, laundry collects dust, so it must be washed after purchase.

Another reason for the need to wash new clothes is special means, which are used to treat the bed before sale (starch and resins). They make linen denser and stiffer, help preserve the color and shape of the fabric, preventing damage to the fibers. The products are not dangerous to human health, but may cause allergic reactions.

To wash new linen, it is enough to run a delicate wash in a machine at 40 o C. This will disinfect the textiles and remove excess paint after poor-quality dyeing of the linen in production. You should iron new clothes after washing only if they are too wrinkled or are intended for a child.

After the first wash, the laundry may shrink slightly.

Video: we wash bed linen according to all the rules

Do I need to iron bed linen?

It is necessary to iron bed linen, as this will guarantee the complete destruction of harmful microorganisms from its surface. The bedding set is dried in the sun, removed when the fabric is still slightly damp (except for linen made of cambric - it can wrinkle if ironed wet) and begin to iron. The temperature depends on the type of fabric.

Irons of different brands may also have modes with the names of materials. You can safely rely on them. If there are no modes, set the following temperature:

• cotton - 200 o C. Use steam and iron the linen from the front side;
• linen - it is possible to turn on the highest temperature on the iron;
• satin - no more than 150 o C and only on the wrong side;
• calico, twill - from 100 to 200 o C;
• synthetics - the lowest temperature on the device. A hot iron may melt the product and render it unusable. It is better to iron through gauze from the wrong side;
• satin - up to 200 o C on the front side;
• chintz. Ironing at high temperatures is allowed. If you want to make the product shiny, iron from the front side, and if matte, iron from the back;
• wool. Linen made from this material is ironed at 150–165 o C through a damp cloth from the inside out;
• cambric, bamboo. You need to use the “Silk” mode or the most low temperature, ironing through cloth, gauze or tissue paper;
• percale - up to 150°C.

If there are embroidered patterns or prints on the linen, it is recommended to iron only from the wrong side.

How to store bed linen

Laundry care does not end with washing and ironing - it must also be stored correctly:

Video: how to organize bed linen storage

Bed linen is changed on average once a week. This is the best option for healthy adults and children. Wash used items depending on the type of fabric. Tips for caring for bedding are on the label (tag) in the form of special signs. Brand new linen can also be washed. Bedding sets should be stored in ventilated cabinets on separate shelves, out of direct sunlight.

Statistics say that every fifth European resident changes their bed linen once a month. This is done least often by young single men under the age of 35, and on average, residents of large cities send their bedding to the wash once every two weeks. How true is this and how often do you need to change the sheets on your bed for it to be medically justified? Here is the opinion of hygienists.

Allergists are convinced that we expose our health to an illusory danger when we sleep on dirty sheets. This behavior leads to chronic rhinitis, acute allergic reactions, neurodermatitis and eczema. For those who suffer from asthma, their condition and well-being may worsen.

The main danger of stale laundry is dust mites and their waste products. Spores of highly allergenic mold, which always arise in a humid, warm environment with infrequent washing of bed linen, complete and complement the frightening picture.

Change bedding at least once a week

The generally accepted belief that changing sheets every two weeks is acceptable is wrong. Already a week after using the bed for its intended purpose, the population of dust mites reaches limits that are hazardous to health. If two people of average build sleep in a bed every day, up to 16 types of mold grow on the surface of the bed from sweat within two weeks, each of which can provoke powerful allergic reactions even in a relatively healthy person.

For these reasons, routine changes of sleep accessories should occur at least once a week. In cases of high temperature due to illness, hot weather or sleeping with small children, bedding should be changed even more often - once every two to three days. The same applies to allergy sufferers and asthmatics, people with eczema and psoriasis.

Wash clothes at a temperature of 55 degrees

This temperature is the lower limit for the death of dust mites. Additional protection against fungus and mold will be achieved by using hot drying of laundry.

Some delicate materials cannot be washed at high temperatures. The solution in this case may be to use a disinfectant rinse conditioner or, if you or your children are at risk for allergies, it is better to switch to a more practical options bed linen made of calico, satin, poplin or cotton.

Don't judge the cleanliness of your laundry by its appearance.

Of course, if you accidentally spill coffee on the pillow or spill chocolate chip cookie crumbs on the blanket, it will be clear that the linen needs to be washed. But the absence of visible stains and dirt does not mean that your bed is truly clean and safe.

Even if your sheets look crisp white after two weeks of use, they need to be washed—and done regularly. By the time they actually look stale, they are guaranteed to have already become home to dozens and hundreds of dust mites, mold and mildew. They cannot be seen with the naked eye, since their size is microscopic, but they always live in an environment associated with the natural secretions of human skin, since they provide food for these microorganisms.

Important: up to a third of all inhabitants of our planet suffer from allergies to dust mites. At least a quarter of them cannot correctly diagnose the source of the disease and spend years being treated for colds and persistent runny nose and eczema.

Clean your mattress and pillows regularly

Frequently changing your bedding will reduce the size of your dust mite problem, but will not completely eliminate it. Even weekly washing of bed linen cannot provide optimal cleanliness if you forget about the expiration date of the mattress, pillows and blankets.

Dust mites have the annoying property of accumulating inside bedding, in the upholstery of mattresses and sofas. If you put clean sheets on them, they will instantly become saturated with mite secretions and microparticles of mold. The same statistics claim that almost all of us use pillows and blankets much longer than the permitted period - pillows are changed on average once every 3 years, blankets last about 7 years, and mattresses do not change at all for a decade. During this time, their weight increases threefold due to the weight of the ticks living in them.

Choose quality mattresses

In addition to the obvious benefits of comfort, the quality of the mattress also determines the cleanliness of the sleeping area. Internally hollow spring mattresses with padding polyester or foam rubber accumulate a lot of mold, epithelial particles, dust and huge populations of dust mites. The top layer of a poor quality mattress and the use of airtight covers only worsen the situation - this leads to overheating of the sleeping area and the sweating of the person sleeping there is constantly increased, which further contributes to the proliferation of microorganisms hazardous to health.

Every day we spend about eight hours in bed. All this time, our body does not stop working, releasing sweat and renewing cells. And the external environment does not freeze, but continues to live.

This is how dust, microorganisms (mites, microscopic spores of fungi and bacteria), our sweat and dead cells, as well as the remnants of cosmetics that we applied to the skin before going to bed, accumulate on the bed. All together this turns into a real explosive mixture that can harm the body. For example, provoke an allergy.

How often should bed linen be changed?

Don't neglect changing your bed linen. This affects your health!

Ekaterina Khafizova Microbiologist

Dust accumulated on stale bedding can worsen diseases such as allergies or asthma.

Also, when inhaled, a person may feel discomfort in the larynx and nasopharynx, difficulty breathing, and irritation of the mucous membrane.

And with a weakened immune system, the fungus can lead to much more serious health consequences.

How to change clothes in summer?

In summer, it is better to change your underwear more often - every five days. When it's hot, you produce more sweat. In addition, in the summer we often open the windows, allowing street dust to enter the apartment, because of this, the laundry gets dirty faster.

The composition of the bed linen fabric is of no small importance. For example, a set made of 100% cotton does not wrinkle, does not attract hair or dust, and does not slip. In addition, stains from satin are easily washed off, and the linen itself can withstand frequent washing, maintaining the brightness of the fabric. You will find your bedding set in the salon.

What to do with children's underwear?

Pillowcases, duvet covers and sheets need to be changed when they get dirty (and babies get dirty often!) or at least two or three times a week.

What should you remember about underwear for patients on bed rest?

Because these people stay in bed almost 24/7, more sweat and dead cells are deposited on the surface of the tissue. All this, fungi and mites! A daily change of linen will help prevent them from giving any chance!