How Often Should I Wash My Bedding?

You might be surprised to learn that your duvet can impact your sleep, especially if you don’t know when to replace it or even how often you should wash your duvet.

1 in 12 have had their duvet for over a decade

According to the results from our bedding calculator, 8% (or 1 in 12) admitted to having their duvet for more than 10 years; more than double the lifespan for a duvet. But what could be thriving on these long-loved duvets? The answer is a myriad of bacteria and dust mites.

During an average night, we shed over 1 million skin cells. Or 3.6 billion skin cells over 10 years. Combine that with the sweat and body oils you secrete each night, and your duvet fast becomes an item that could potentially make you ill - particularly if left unwashed.

Researchers have also found that bathroom towels - those that people often leave on their bed - can host bacterial species, including E. coli, which can spread to other items in the home, including your bedding.

41% have never washed their duvet

Almost half (41%) have never washed their duvet! That’s almost half of those who answered our Bedding Calculator.

While you might wash your bedsheets weekly, duvets can become a breeding ground for bacteria. They are used every night and, subsequently, can hold dead skin, sweat and body oils that can host thousands of dust mites and all other types of bacteria.

If your duvet isn’t washed regularly, that bacteria can build up over time, discolouring your duvet and even triggering allergies for some people.

Hundreds of dust mites can live in just one gram of dust present on your duvet

Your skin cells, oils and sweat can build up over time. Not to mention, hundreds of dust mites can live in just one, singular gram of dust. If that duvet hasn’t been washed or laundered in years, you can imagine how many dust mites could be living in your duvet.

Studies have identified a high association between those who are sensitive to dust mites and trouble falling asleep and staying asleep. So, your duvet can actually impact how long you sleep, too. And, we have news, dirty duvets can hold up to 20,000 live dust mites at a time. That is in addition to the bacteria, stains and dust mite faeces.

Similarly, your pillow needs as much care as your duvet but you should be replacing your pillows much sooner than your duvet.

Pillows are an essential part of your sleep, helping to keep your neck and spine aligned. However, the older and less regularly washed they are, the worse your sleep will become.

1 in 3 have had their pillow longer than two years

Pillows are just as important as duvets, but they have a shorter lifespan. Our Bedding Calculator has revealed that over one-third (35%) have had their pillow longer than they should. Pillows last up to two years and should be replaced every one to two years, or sooner if you feel a lack of support from your pillow.

17% of those who answered our calculator have had their pillow more than double the recommended amount. After two years, it’s reported a third of the weight of our pillows is estimated to be made up of dust mites, faeces, dead skin and other types of bacteria.

1 in 5 wake up with a sore neck each day due to their pillow

Our pillows can also affect our physical health with 18% stating they wake up with a sore neck every morning due to their pillow.

When you sleep, it’s important that your neck and spine are aligned and your neck isn’t positioned at an odd angle that is out of alignment with your spine. However, a lumpy pillow, one that no longer has support, will not hold your neck in the correct position.

There is a way you can check, however, if your pillow is no longer up to standard. If you hold it up vertically with one arm, check to see if the pillow folds over while you hold it as that’s an indicator that it no longer provides the support you need.

Interestingly, we also discovered some of the bedtime habits that could be further impacting the lifespan of duvets and pillows.

As mentioned above, our beds are actually pretty gross. Sorry to shatter the illusion that your bed is this glorious cosy, fresh place, but your bedding is often filled with sweat, dead skin and dust mites. In case you don't believe us, a study in 2022 saw volunteers swabbing their sheets over four weeks.

In just four weeks, a pillowcase was found to have 39 times as much bacteria as a pet bowl, whilst sheets have 5.4 times more bacteria than a toothbrush holder. If that doesn't make your skin crawl, then we don't know what will!

As if that's not horrifying enough, the statistics that show how often people in the UK wash their bedding makes for some alarming reading. According to a study, 62% of single women changed their bedding every two weeks, compared to only 29% of single men and 17% of people in relationships. Alarmingly, 45% of single men only changed their sheets once every three-to-four months! Imagine how much sweat and dirt has accumulated after that long! And if you think this is just because they can't be bothered, only 35% of people gave that as their reason compared to 38% of people who don't believe they need to be washed more often.

We hate to break it to you, but your bedding needs to be washed more often rather than less! Not only is it gross to sleep in dirty, germ-ridden bedsheets, but there are many benefits to washing everything on your bed as directed. Dirty bedsheets affect your health - if you have asthma, eczema or dust-related allergies, you should consider cleaning your bed sheets weekly to keep any flare-ups at bay.

A 2017 study showed that infections could be passed and contracted through dirty sheets! So if you're under the weather, get your sheets in the wash as soon as possible - especially if you're sharing a bed with someone, as this will help prevent the infection from spreading. It has also been proven that pillowcases can harbour bacteria, causing acne flare-ups if you're usually acne-prone. So you must wash everything on your bed as much as possible.

But how often do you need to wash your bedding?

Changing bedding can be a hassle, but duvet covers, sheets, pillowcases and top sheets should be washed at least once every two weeks if you wear pyjamas or shower before bed. Wash your sheets more frequently if you suffer from allergies, have an infection, sleep with no clothes on, or go to bed without showering.

You should wash your bedsheets in a hot wash, but check the care label to see the hottest temperature at which you can wash your bedding. The hotter you wash your sheets, the more germs are removed, meaning that your bedding will be properly clean and free of germs. But to keep your super soft bedding in tip-top condition, refer to the care instructions on your sheets before washing.

You should wash your pillows at least every three months on a hot wash to kill that bacteria but always remember to check your product care guides.

Aim to replace your pillows every one to two years to ensure you are hygienic and adequately supported.

Due to the skin cells and bacteria that can build up on your duvet, washing twice a year is recommended. Of course, more is recommended if you tend to sweat a lot, spill on your duvet, share a bed with your pet and other factors that can affect the cleanliness of your duvet.

You can time your duvet washing with the change in seasons if you swap your winter duvet for a summer duvet and vice versa. Washing your duvet this often should also help if you suffer from allergies or share your bed with your pets.

At the very least, your duvet should absolutely be washed once a year. Again, checking the care instructions ensures your duvet has a long life. Synthetic fibre duvets can usually be washed on a regular spin cycle at 60 degrees Celsius or higher if the care label says so. Feather and down-filled duvets typically need to be dry-cleaned, so make sure that you check the labels before trying to wash them yourself.

Duvets tend to last longer than pillows as you don't sleep on top of them. As long as you keep your duvet clean and bacteria-free, it can last around five years!

Now, mattresses are more tricky. If you've got a mattress protector, great. You should be using one and washing it around every two months following the care instructions. But what about the actual mattress?

Now you can't pop this in your washing machine, nor can you take it to the dry cleaners, so how can you make sure you're keeping your mattress clean? Well, it's pretty easy. Remove all your bedding, and after checking manufacturer guidelines, hoover your mattress surface on the lowest setting to remove dust and any other surface dirt. You can then treat the mattress with upholstery cleaner if needed.

To remove any odours clinging to your mattress, sprinkle some bicarbonate of soda over the mattress. Try to leave it for 24 hours before vacuuming again; this should absorb any unwanted scents! You should replace your mattress every 8 years to get the best support possible and the most hygienic night's sleep.

1. Use pillow protectors

If you are prone to drooling in your sleep, a pillow protector can improve the longevity of your pillow. This is an additional layer between you and your pillow, and, as we know, moisture buildup can lead to yellow stains. The more moisture, the more yellow your pillow. If you sleep on your side, you could try to sleep on your back as you are less likely to drool as a back sleeper.

2. Leave your pillow and duvet to air before putting new bedding on

We all have a ‘making the bed’ day. And we want to get the bed made as soon as possible. But, when you remove the previous bedspread, leave your pillows and duvets to air. If you leave the bed and change the bedding immediately, the moisture and heat build-up becomes trapped in your new bedding. And these humid conditions are where bacteria and mites thrive. So, next time, leave your pillows, duvets and mattress at least 30 minutes before you change the bedding.

3. Don’t let your pets on your unmade pillows and duvets

We are a nation of pet lovers. But try not to let your pets sleep or lie on your unmade pillows and duvets. Pets can leave behind fur that can irritate and trigger your allergies, leaving you struggling to breathe properly when it comes to sleep. And, if you don’t get the recommended 7-9 hours, your next day is impacted.

Pets can also harbour bacteria and germs that can pass to your bedding; therefore, you need to wash your pillows and duvets much more than what we recommend each year. If you allow your pet to share your bed, we also suggest you wash your bedding regularly to ensure their fur and dander do not affect your sleep.

4. Avoid sleeping nude as that can lead to stains

Sleeping nude is popular, clearly, with almost a fifth (18%) sleeping completely nude. But doing so could lead to more body oils, sweat and skin landing on your bed sheets and mattress. This can soak through to your duvet and lead to a build-up of bacteria, especially if you do not regularly wash your bedsheets or vacuum your mattress.

Ideally, cotton pyjamas or pyjamas made up of a breathable material can help reduce the build-up of this bacteria, as well as regulate your core body temperature. A significant change in body temperature can drastically affect your sleep, whereas cotton pyjamas can stop you from feeling those sudden temperature changes.

5. If you sweat a lot, try opting for pyjamas at night

It’s not unusual to sweat at night. But if you sleep nude and sweat a lot, that moisture can soak through to your duvet. Moisture can be the perfect breeding ground for bacteria and can even yellow your duvet.

If your duvet is moist and is put in storage - such as if you swap your winter duvet over for your summer one - mould and mildew can also damage your bedding, so it’s important that you regularly wash your duvet and keep on top of cleaning your sheets weekly.

If you do find you sweat a lot, cotton pyjamas could help. As mentioned, breathable materials can regulate your body temperature which can reduce the amount you sweat. You could try sleeping in pyjamas for one week and note down the changes in your sweat and sleep patterns.

Methodology

We analysed 602 responses from our Pillow and Duvet calculator to reveal the above data.