How many hours a week do you spend sleeping? According to the Sleep Foundation, it’s anywhere from 45-60 hours, or more, per week. While the importance of a good night’s rest can’t be stressed enough, sleepers often overlook the topic of how and how often you should wash your sheets.
Every night, your sheets, blankets, duvets, and pillows absorb dirt, sweat, and irritating allergens. While certain mattresses, such as our memory foam mattress with a supported frame, can help to reduce allergies with antimicrobial foam, it is important to know how to wash bed sheets and dressings of all types to achieve the healthiest sleep.
How to Wash a Weighted Blanket?
Due to its heavy nature, washing a weighted blanket can be a bit tricky. The easiest way to keep up with the cleanliness of your weighted blanket is to purchase a removable duvet cover. When your weighted blanket is ready for deep cleaning, it is recommended to either machine or hand wash it in a tub, then allow it to air dry.
How to Wash a Duvet?
How to wash a duvet tends to come down to the material. While most are machine washable, it’s recommended you consult the individual manufacturer’s instructions on how to wash a duvet.
Please note, due to the material’s natural ability to stay clean and dry, wool duvets only need cleaning about once every 6-12 months, unless specified otherwise by the manufacturer’s instructions.
In all cases, remove the blanket from the duvet cover before washing.
| Duvet Type | Machine Temperature | Machine Setting | Detergent Type | Drying Instructions | Special Instructions |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| How to wash a duvet in the washing machine | Cold or warm | Regular | Regular | Air dry or tumble dry on low. | - |
| How to wash a wool duvet | Cold | Wool or gentle | Specialized wool detergent | Hang or air dry | - |
| How to wash australian wool duvet | Cold | Wool or gentle | Specialized wool detergent | Hang or air dry | - |
| How to wash bamboo duvet | Cold | Gentle | Mild or biodegradable detergent. | Air dry or tumble dry on low. | Avoid washing with towels or other blankets |
| How to wash polyester duvet | Cold or warm | Regular | Regular | Air dry or tumble dry on low. | - |
| How to wash a wool filled duvet | Cold | Wool or gentle | Specialized wool detergent | Hang or air dry | - |
| How to Hand Wash a Duvet | Warm | Mild | Air dry or tumble dry on low. | Fill a large bucket or clean tub with warm water. Add a mild detergent. Gently submerge, swish and scrub until clean. Rinse thoroughly. |
How to Wash a Mattress Protector?
How to wash a mattress protector typically depends on the material it’s made of. Like duvet covers, it’s recommended you consult your mattress protector’s manufacturer's instructions. The average mattress protector can be machine washed with cold water and a mild detergent, then hung or tumbled dried on a low setting.
Since your mattress protector is typically covered by a fitted sheet, it is only recommended to wash your mattress protector once or twice a month, or immediately after recovering from an illness or having a spill.
Though the average mattress cover on the market is waterproof, it can still be machine washed with cold water and a mild detergent, then hung or tumbled dried on a low setting.
Similar to any mattress protector, bed bug mattress protectors can typically be machine washed with cold water and a mild detergent, then hung or tumbled dried on a low setting, though it is important not to use bleach of any kind and consult the manufacturer’s instructions before washing.
Polysleep mattress topper
How to Wash a Mattress Topper?
Since your mattress topper should be protected by both your protector and fitted sheet, deep cleaning is not typically necessary. However, if you’re looking for a simple way to deodorize or refresh your topper, it’s possible to do so with baking soda.
Start by stripping the sheets and removing your mattress topper. Then, use your vacuum’s handheld attachment to thoroughly vacuum the surface of your topper. Sprinkle a thin layer of baking soda over the surface of the topper and allow it to sit for 8 hours. After 8 hours, thoroughly vacuum your topper once more.
For a deeper cleaning, you can create a mixture of cool water and white vinegar in a spray bottle. Follow the same steps above but before sprinkling the baking soda, spray your mattress topper down with the mixture and blot dry, then continue the process as stated.
How to Wash a Foam Mattress Topper?
Foam mattress toppers can typically be washed using the baking soda or deep cleaning methods above, but it is important to refer to the manufacturer’s instructions on your topper to be sure.
How to Wash Pillows?
When washing pillows, it’s once again very important to consider the material the pillow is made of. It’s also best to consult the manufacturer’s instructions on the label. While most cotton, feather, and down pillows are machine washable, foam pillows, like The Polysleep Pillow, come with a convenient removable cover to wash instead. In some cases, your pillow may be dry clean only.
Depending on use, it’s recommended you wash your pillows every 6-8 months.
If your pillow filling consists of cotton, feather, down, or fiberfill, machine wash with warm water and mild detergent on the gentle cycle. Air dry, or tumble dry on low. It’s suggested you take the pillows out every so often to fluff them. Be sure your pillows are thoroughly dried before covering and using.
When washing a foam pillow such as The Polysleep Pillow, remove the protective cover and machine wash as normal. While foam pillows can be machine washed, it is not recommended to put them in the dryer as this could potentially be a fire hazard.
Similar to your regularly used pillows, you must first consider the material the pillow is made of, or check if your body pillow has a removable cover. Once you’ve determined your pillow's material, consult the pillow washing methods above or refer to the manufacturer's instructions.
Similar to cotton, down, and fiberfill pillows, feather pillows can typically be machine washed using the method stated above.
How to Wash Your Bed Sheets?
Just like most bedding, the proper washing of your bed sheets is dependent on the material they’re made of.
| Sheet Type | Machine Temperature | Machine Setting | Detergent Type | Drying Instructions | Special Tips |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| How to wash fitted sheets | Cold or warm | Regular | Regular | Air dry or tumble dry on low. | - |
| How to wash bamboo sheets | Cold | Gentle | Mild or biodegradable | Air Dry or tumble dry on low. | Avoid washing with towels or other blankets. |
| How to wash cotton sheets | Cold or warm | Regular | Regular | Air dry or tumble dry on low. | - |
| How to wash cotton sateen sheets | Cold | Gentle | Mild | Air dry or tumble dry with no heat. | - |
| How to wash cotton percale sheets | Cold | Gentle | Mild | Air Dry or tumble dry with no heat. | - |
| How to wash cotton polyester | Cold or warm | Regular | Regular | Air dry or tumble dry on low. | - |
| How to wash cotton linen fabric | Warm | Gentle | Mild | Hang or air dry. | - |
| How to wash cotton rayon blend | Cold or warm | Regular | Regular | Air dry or tumble dry on low. | - |
| How to wash silk pillowcase | Cold | Gentle | Specialized silk detergent | Air dry only. | Dry cleaning is recommended. |
How Often to Wash Bed Sheets?
According to experts, you should be washing your bed sheets and pillowcases at least once a week, or every 3-4 days if you’re suffering from allergies or skin breakouts.
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