The buildup of dirt, oils, dead skin cells, sweat, and other contaminants on your sheets and bedding is inevitable considering you probably spend 7-8 hours in bed every day. Not only is this residue disgusting, but it can also feed dust mites, stretch the fabric's fibers, and cause problems like allergies, skin irritation, and acne—all but conducive to a good night's sleep. The recommended washing frequency of bed linen and towels seems to be a topic on which everyone has an opinion. That's why we want to know: How often should bed linen and towels be washed?
There are several factors at play here, but generally people adhere to certain guidelines. Read on to learn the exact frequency of washing as well as methods to maintain their freshness.
Who among us doesn't like the smell of freshly washed towels or the feeling of clean sheets? The recommended washing cycles for bed linens and towels differ significantly. Your bedding should only be washed every one to two weeks, but your towels will look like new if you wash them every few days.
More frequent washing of towels
Every time you dry yourself, you transfer millions of bacteria and thousands of skin cells to the towel. Plus, your towel is always wet when you use it to dry off after a bath or shower. Because of their heavier construction, towels also tend to retain moisture for longer periods of time than sheets. If humidity isn't bad, then what is? Bacteria and mold thrive on damp cloths. Damp places are ideal for mold. You won't see the mold until it's grown quite large, but it can still cause a bad smell.
Towels and sheets harbor bacteria that not only produce unpleasant odors but also pose health risks, including asthma attacks, allergic skin irritations and infections. Cloths should therefore be washed more often, perhaps once every few days. When the cloth is soaked, it stays in this state for longer, trapping more moisture and therefore more skin cells and germs.
Wash cloths properly
To eliminate many bacteria and germs, wash your towels at a higher temperature than normal (at least 60°C). If you are worried about your energy bill, you can wash your laundry at a lower temperature and use 250ml of vinegar.Vinegar is effectiveagainst microorganisms and can prevent odors before they arise.
What if you wash your towels over and over again and the smell doesn't go away? You may have left them in the washing machine for too long after washing, which could be the cause of this smell. The time when they are warm and wet is ideal for bacteria to grow, especially if the wash cycle was warm. For this reason, never leave a towel in the washing machine after you have finished washing it, but instead hang it up to dry. Put your laundry and towels out in the sun if you can. This means they dry quickly and thoroughly and at the same time spread the wonderful scent of clean, fresh cotton. If you can't go out in the sun, a dryer is an acceptable substitute.
The frequency of changing sheets
The frequency of changing sheets is a topic on which people do not always agree. When it comes to bedding, a lot depends on how often you bathe or shower before bed, or whether you go to bed without showering after a hot day. In the second case, the laundry mustbe washed more frequently. As a general guideline, once every seven days or two weeks is sufficient.
As long as you wash your bedding once a week, it will look like new. To get into the habit of doing this, you should include this in your weekly cleaning schedule. A reasonable rule of thumb is once a week, but how often you need to clean them really depends on how dirty they get. So let's say you're always on the go and never actually sleep in your own bed. In this case, you may be able to keep the laundry for a little longer. If you or your sleeping partner sweat profusely while sleeping or if you share a bed with a pet, your bedding will get dirty much faster. For people with sensitive skin or allergies, changing bedding every 4 days can also be helpful.
There are a few things you can do to get through extended periods of time without washing your bedding as often if that's not possible. Before going to bed, you should cleanse your face and take a shower or bath to remove any sweat, oil, or dirt that you may have picked up throughout the day. Next, you should think about getting a separate bed for your pet so that his hair and dander don't end up on yours. And nibbling in bed is also forbidden.
Tips for washing bed sheets
Before you learn how to wash your sheets, be sure to read the care instructions on the label carefully. You may need to take special precautions with some fabrics such as silk, cotton and linen.
To get the most out of your sheets and avoid them becoming damaged or wearing out more quickly, you should wash them separately from other items. Pre-treat stains before washing. Then wash the sheets with lukewarm water on a gentle cycle. If you don't want to get rid of dust mites and prevent allergies, or if no one in your family has been sick, you don't need to wash your bed linen in hot water - 40 ° C is a good temperature, otherwise you can wash it at a temperature of 60 ° C and above.
Also read:Wash yellowed down pillows: In the washing machine or by hand, you will find the best tips here
Wash bed linen and towels together? Yes! There is no problem.Find out more about it here.
