How often should you wash your bedding?

The average person will spend around a third of their life in bed.

That means, without regular cleaning, your cosy sleep setup could become a hub for dirt, dust mites, dead skin cells and sweat.

It's important to wash your bed sheets regularly at the right temperature, but not many people know that duvets, pillows, mattresses and toppers can often be cleaned at home, saving you a trip to the dry cleaners. 

Here's how often you should clean each part of your sleep setup, including whether or not you can put your duvet in a washing machine or tumble dryer.

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How often should you wash your bed sheets, pillow cases and duvet covers?

As a general rule, most people should be washing their bedding covers once per week – that's bed sheets, pillow cases and duvet covers. 

Wash at 60°C for most fabrics (colder temperatures may not kill all the bacteria or remove sweat as effectively). If you have silk sheets, wash them 30°C and use a mild detergent. Always check the label.

However, you may need to clean your sheets more frequently, depending on how you use your bed. 

For those who are sensitive to allergens or have asthma, washing your bedding more than once per week at 60°C or hotter may help alleviate your symptoms. 

Alternatively, Allergy UK suggests that, if you have a dust mite allergy, you can invest in allergen barrier covers for your bedding to minimise your contact with dust mites.

The London Fire Brigade also warns that a build-up of residue from emollients or skin creams on bedding can increase flammability, especially if you spend extended periods in bed due to impaired mobility. 

Washing your bedding regularly is also a good idea to help prevent bedbugs. Frequently changing your sheets will help you spot them, and washing and tumble drying at a high temperature can help eradicate them. Learn more in our guide to getting rid of bedbugs.

Find the best duvets from our rigorous testing, and watch our video on the fastest way to put on a duvet cover

How to keep your bedding clean between washes

While it's important to clean your bedding regularly, over-laundering can wear it out sooner than expected, meaning you'll need to buy new sheets more frequently.

A study by North London Waste Authority (NLWA) found a quarter of people have pets sleep in their bed, while a fifth eat in bed on a regular basis, and 13% smoke in bed. One in 10 people reported actually brushing their teeth in bed.

These habits risk staining or dirtying your sheets, so it's worth hauling yourself out of bed to perform these daily rituals. It's also a good idea to limit the time pets spend in or on your bed – or banish pets from your bedroom altogether. 

The London Fire Brigade also warns that you should never smoke in bed, since it poses a fire risk.

Other ways to keep your sheets cleaner before the next big wash include:

• removing makeup thoroughly before getting into bed (your skin will also thank you for this)
• showering or bathing before going to bed – some people also find this helps them fall asleep more quickly
• avoiding making your bed as soon as you get up – it's a good idea to peel back the covers for a few hours to air them.

Everything has a shelf life. Do you know when you need to replace these everyday household items?

How often should you wash your mattress topper or protector?

Mattress toppers and protectors catch a lot of the sweat, dust and other build-up on your mattress, so it's important to wash them semi-regularly: once every two to three months should suffice.

Mattress toppers and protectors serve slightly different functions, so their cleaning needs differ somewhat. Before you start laundering, always check the label for care instructions.

• For mattress protectors: Most will be machine-washable with your other bedding (between 40-60°C). Tumble dry on a low, gentle setting or air dry in a well ventilated area (or outside) until completely dry.
• For mattress toppers: Gently remove the topper and place on a flat surface, spray stains with a 1:1 mixture of water to distilled white vinegar and blot with a paper towel. Sprinkle the topper with baking soda and leave to rest for around eight hours, before vacuuming with the handheld attachment. Allow to fully air dry and repeat steps if necessary.

To boost the freshness of your topper or protector between deeper cleans, you can blot most stains with water or 1:1 mixture of water and distilled white vinegar. 

Bear in mind that the latter of these will leave a strong smell, so deodorise it by sprinkling baking soda on your topper or protector and leaving it to sit before vacuuming it.

How often should you wash your pillows?

Many feather, down and microfibre pillows can be cleaned in the washing machine. The standard recommendation is to wash them every four to six months.

If you're going to machine wash, choose a delicate cycle. Washing two pillows at once can help to keep them in position in the machine. Dry them on a low heat to protect from damage and fluff them back into shape.

Memory foam pillows should not be machine washed, but you can usually remove the cover for cleaning. It's important to read the manufacturer's instructions carefully as washing a memory foam pillow against recommendations may invalidate your guarantee.

Pillow protectors can help to keep allergens off your pillows but we would still recommend washing your pillows twice a year.

We've tested a range of pillows from brands such as Emma, Ikea and Simba. Read our reviews of the best pillows for a good night's sleep

How often should you wash your duvet?

Aim to wash your duvet about once or twice per year to keep it fresh. Many duvets can be cleaned at home, but the best way to wash your duvet will depend on what filling it has and the size of your washing machine. 

You should be able to find the washing instructions for your duvet on the care label, so always check this before you start. You can always take it to the dry cleaners if you're concerned about damaging it. 

Only put your duvet in the washing machine if there's adequate space inside the barrel – the duvet shouldn't completely fill the barrel as water and detergent won't be able to circulate properly.

For smaller, isolated stains, you'll have more success pre-treating these by hand with detergent or a stain remover. 

How to clean different types of duvets

• For hollowfibre, synthetic or microfibre-filled duvets: Machine wash on a gentle setting (about 30-40°C). Follow with an extra rinse cycle to remove all soap suds, then tumble dry on a low/air-dry setting or hang in a well ventilated area (or outside) until completely dry.
• For wool duvets: Machine wash on a gentle setting (no more than 30°C). Do not tumble dry a wool duvet – hang it in a well ventilated area (or outside) until completely dry.
• For feather, down or silk duvets: Take it to the dry cleaners to be professionally laundered.

Discover the best washing machines according to our rigorous testing

How often should you clean your mattress?

There's no rule for how frequently a mattress should be cleaned, as this will largely depend on your home environment, and how it's being used. If you spend more time in your bed working, eating or otherwise relaxing, you will need to clean your mattress more often.

However, a good guideline is to clean and refresh it every six months, and flip or rotate your mattress as often as the care instructions state. Some mattresses will not require flipping – check your manufacturers guidance.

For allergy-sufferers, look out for the signs of an allergic reaction (runny nose, itchy eyes, dry throat) as these may signal it's time to clean your mattress.

For further advice on keeping your mattress fresh, read our guide on how to clean a mattress

How to dry your bedding

Drying outdoors

The ideal way to dry your bedding is air drying it outdoors. Drying bedding in UV light (sunlight) will help kill any micro-organisms living on your sheets.

If you have limited or no outdoor space, or the winter months prove too cold and rainy, you could try drying it indoors or in a tumble dryer. The most important thing is to make sure everything is completely dry before remaking your bed, as dampness and moisture can lead to nasty bacterial build-up and mould.

Drying indoors

If you are forced to dry your bedding indoors, aim to hang it in a well-ventilated area, ideally with open windows and good airflow. 

Draping sheets over bannisters, using a heated clothes dryer or keeping a dehumidifier nearby all work well, too. Read our round-ups of the best heated airers and best dehumidifiers.

If you need to hang your bedding over a door, try to avoid using cupboard or wardrobe doors as this could result in mould in the closet space (which is a pain to clean).

Some advice may recommend drying sheets on the radiator, but don't do this – it could be a fire hazard, result in mould build-up and increase your heating bills.

For more on drying indoors, read our guide to the best and cheapest ways to dry clothes indoors.

Drying using a tumble dryer

Your bedsheets will probably be machine-dryable, but check the care label in case they aren't.

Synthetic, hollowfibre or microfibre duvets can be dried in the tumble dryer – if they fit – but be sure to use a cool or air-dry setting. 

Avoid tumble drying wool, silk, feather or down duvets as this will likely clump or ruin the filling.  

A great hack for ensuring your bedding stays fluffy is to invest in tumble dryer balls and add them to your drying cycle. Alternatively, place a tennis ball inside a sock and add it to your dryer for similar results. 

Discover the best tumble dryers according to our rigorous testing

Should you buy a new mattress?

Investing in mattress toppers and protectors can lengthen the lifespan of your mattress, but if yours is truly getting tatty, lumpy or saggy – or you've had a severe infestation of bedbugs – it may be better for your sleep and health to buy a new one.

We've tested hundreds of mattresses so you can find the right one for you. Head to our mattress reviews to see the full results and our top picks. We also round up the best mattress deals monthly.

Time to replace your bedding? Head to our expert-picked round-ups of the best mattress toppers, best pillows and best duvets