How Often Should You Wash Your Linens?

No one likes to think that their home could be a potential ground zero for allergens and viruses.  But not sticking to a routine cleaning schedule for your bedding and linens could contribute to changes in your overall health and disrupt your sleep and comfort. Plus, don’t we all love the feeling of fresh linen sheets and plush towels? Keeping your linens clean is not only important for hygiene, but it also ensures that they last longer. We’re here to advise you on how often you should wash your linens and how to care for them properly.

What Are Linens?

Before we get into the specifics of washing your linens, let's define what they are. Linens are household fabrics made from natural cotton, linen, or bamboo fibers. They include sheets, pillowcases, duvet covers, blankets, and throws. 

Bed Linens:

Sheets, pillowcases, and duvet covers are the linens that are in close contact with your skin every night. As much as you may want to curl up in that cozy sanctuary of your bed, dirt, and oils accumulate over time, and it can be detrimental to your health to continue sleeping in a bed with unwashed linens. You should aim to launder them once a week to keep them clean and fresh. If you have sensitive skin or suffer from allergies, it's recommended to wash your linens every three to four days. When washing your bed linens, use mild detergents and avoid using bleach or fabric softeners, especially if you have sensitive skin. Fabric softeners can cause irritation and weaken the fibers, which reduces the lifespan of the fabric. 

• Expert Tip: It’s also important to air out large items like blankets and quilts outside on a regular basis – this will help remove any unpleasant odors and refresh the look of your bedding. 

Towels:

Towels are another type of linen that requires frequent washing. How often you should be washing them depends on how frequently you use them. If you use your towel once a day, you should launder it every three to four days. If you use your towel more than once a day, you should wash it after each use. Avoid using fabric softeners on your towels since they can reduce their absorbency. It's also important to avoid over-drying your towels, as this can damage the fibers and reduce their lifespan. When it comes to linens that are used frequently, purchasing higher quality products with organic and sustainably sourced ingredients and materials will also help dictate their longevity and cleanliness over a longer period of time. Lower-quality fabrics will dull and fade, holding allergens and grime. 

Here are a couple of bonus tips and tricks that you can use to keep your sleeping area refreshed and comfortable:

• Replace your pillows every year. Pillows are made to last, but over time the material inside wears down, making them less supportive and increasing the accumulation of dust and other allergens. 

• Rotate your mattress every 6 months. Not only does this help with the potential build-up of odors and potential allergens, but it will also help keep your mattress fresh and comfortable, ensuring it will last to the manufacturer’s specifications. Mattresses realistically should be replaced every 6-8 years, and rotating your mattress 180 degrees every 6 months will help prolong its life.

Following these tips can help keep your home and your linens fresh, clean, and inviting while promoting a healthier lifestyle. Investing in high-quality bedding products and taking proper care of them can help ensure that you will get the most out of your investment and stay comfortable. For more helpful information like this, head over to lanwoodhome.com for more content and inspiration.