Studies have shown that clean, fresh smelling sheets and bedding significantly improves our bedtime experience. It’s one of the most economical ways to help improve your physical and emotional health. Dirty bedding is literally a breeding ground for bacteria and microscopic pests which can negatively impact our physical health. Making sure these bedding items are clean and fresh can affect your well-being more than you might expect. Keeping up with all the laundry chores can be overwhelming Top Laundry is here to help. Use our large, efficient Self Service equipment or let us handle it for you with our Wash and Fold service. Either way, here are some guidelines for keeping your bedding clean and healthy.
Sheets- While most experts recommend washing every 1-2 weeks, this will of course depend on your lifestyle. Do you sleep alone? Do you shower before bed? Do you have pets? Do you have allergies or asthma? In general, we shed approximately 500 million skin cells every 24 hours, so that equates to about 160 million while you are in bed – and that’s if you don’t share it with anyone! All those skin cells, along with products used on the skin, lint and bodily fluids. Not to mention dirt and pollen, crumbs of food, pet hair and more! All this creates the ideal environment for bacteria and dust mites to breed and share your bed with you. If your lifestyle is on the cleaner side you can stretch toward the 2-week side and if you have some of the less tidy factors in your life, you may want to make it a more frequent practice.
Pillow cases- Pillowcases become dirty fairly quickly. They spend roughly eight hours per night exposed to everything from the greases and oils on our skin and our scalps to the products we use on our hair and face and whatever comes out of our nose and mouth during the night. This is why washing these bed linens frequently is a must. A good rule of thumb is to wash your pillowcases at least once per week. You may want to wash pillowcases more frequently if you have been sick, sweat while sleeping, have oily hair or skin, or go to bed with makeup on.
Blankets- While these times can vary depending on the fabric and how the blanket is used, here are some guidelines to help you. Wash regularly used blankets once or twice a month for hygiene reasons. Cotton blankets that you layer over sheets should be cleaned every other week. You can stretch your washing schedule for your cotton blanket by shaking it out and letting it air out to reduce the amount of pet dander and dust that accumulate. Fleece blankets should be washed once or twice per month to preserve their quality. Wash wool blankets every three months with a wool-safe, delicate detergent so they don't get damaged in the washing machine and dryer.
Pillows- If you don’t use a pillow protector, toss your pillow in the washing machine every three to four months. If you do use a pillow protector, clean the protector once a month, and wash the pillow every four to six months. (Check the label to make sure your pillow is washable.)
Make sure your pillows are completely dry, as a wet pillow could grow mold. Pillows can be tricky; at Top Laundry we have years of experience, and we can help to make sure your pillows stay like new after washing. Just ask and we’d be happy to help!
Comforters- Your comforter may be more overlooked more than other bedding when it comes to washing, but comforters collect dust just like the other surfaces in a bedroom, and they can pick up sweat and body soil from your body and from hands when pulled into place, both while sleeping and when making the bed. Just because they are hard to wash doesn’t mean they aren’t getting dirty. In addition to the dirt on your comforter’s exterior, the filling inside can pick up soils and allergens that work through the weave of the outside fabric.
Generally, you should aim to wash your comforter every one to two months but treat stains and spills immediately. How often you wash your comforter typically won’t change based on the type you have (down, down alternative, etc.), but you should always check the manufacturer’s instructions when caring for your specific comforter.
Washing your comforter at home can be a challenge and many consumer model washers will not do an adequate job or may be damaged washing that size load. At Top Laundry, we make it easy to care for all your bedding. With our large machines and years of experience we can make sure everything gets clean as new and with no fear of damage. We even have a “Comforter Club” where every 5th wash is 50% off!
Whether you do these items yourself with our Self Service machines or have us take care of them with our Wash and Fold service, we’re here to help!
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