Most people wash their sheets less often than they think they should. We surveyed our customers and the average answer was 'every two to three weeks' — which is below what experts recommend. Here's the right answer for each item on your bed.
The quick answer
- Bed sheets and pillowcases: once a week
- Duvet cover: every 1–2 weeks
- Pillows: every 3–6 months (the pillows themselves, not just the cases)
- Duvet: every 3–6 months
- Mattress protector: every 1–2 months
Why weekly matters
You shed roughly 500 million skin cells a night, plus sweat (up to a litre on a hot night) and oils. All of that feeds dust mites, which are a major trigger for asthma and eczema. A weekly 60°C wash kills mites; cooler washes don't.
When to wash more often
- You sleep naked — sweat and oils transfer directly
- You have allergies, asthma or eczema
- You've been ill (wash on the hottest cycle the fabric allows)
- You let pets on the bed
- It's been a hot summer week
Duvets and pillows are the forgotten ones
Most people never wash them. After a year, an unwashed pillow can double in weight from skin cells, sweat and dust mites. Both need a proper hot wash twice a year — and most won't fit in a home machine. That's exactly the kind of job we collect for.
Published 2026-06-08 by MyLaundress. Book a collection online