There are few things more inviting than climbing into a bed made with beautifully clean, fresh sheets. But while most of us love that just-washed feeling, it can be all too easy to leave bedding on for a little longer than we intended.
Your sheets come into close contact with your skin for several hours every night, collecting natural oils, sweat, skincare products, hair and dead skin cells along the way. Regular washing helps keep everything feeling fresh while also protecting the smoothness and appearance of good-quality bed linen.
Hampton and Astley luxury 500TC bedding is Good Housekeeping Institute Approved, has received dozens of press accolades and thousands of five-star Trustpilot reviews. Made from long-staple Egyptian cotton in a silky-smooth 500 thread count sateen weave, it is naturally breathable, moisture-wicking and designed to stay beautifully soft wash after wash.
So, exactly how often should you be changing your sheets?
How often should you wash bedding at a glance?
As a general rule, the bedding that touches your body most closely needs washing most frequently.
| Bedding | How often should you wash it? |
|---|---|
| Bed sheets | Around once a week |
| Pillowcases | Once a week, or more often if needed |
| Duvet cover | Around once a week |
| Mattress protector | Every 1-2 months, or when needed |
| Pillow protectors | Every few weeks |
| Duvet | Every 3-6 months, depending on use |
| Washable pillows | A few times a year, following the care label |
These are useful guidelines rather than rigid rules. Your own sleeping habits, the season and how your bed is used can all make a difference.
Why should you wash your bedding every week?
Even when your sheets still look perfectly clean, they gradually collect sweat, body oils, dead skin cells, and residues from products such as moisturiser and hair treatments. Washing your bedding approximately once a week prevents this build-up from becoming noticeable and gives you that lovely clean-sheet feeling more regularly.
It can also help preserve the appearance of your bed linen. Oils and other residues that are allowed to build up can eventually leave white bedding looking dull or discoloured. If this is something you've struggled with, our guide to keeping white bedding bright and beautiful has more simple care tips.
A regular washing routine doesn't have to shorten the life of your bedding either. High-quality cotton is designed to withstand regular use and laundering when properly cared for. Hampton and Astley's luxury Egyptian cotton bedding, for example, is made from long-staple cotton fibres chosen for their softness, strength and durability.
Should you wash pillowcases more often?
Your pillowcases can sometimes benefit from being changed more frequently than the rest of your bedding.
They spend every night in direct contact with your face and hair, so natural oils, skincare products, and hair products can accumulate relatively quickly. If you have particularly oily skin or hair, sweat heavily at night, or use rich overnight beauty products, changing your pillowcases every three or four days can help keep them feeling fresher.
Having several pairs of pillowcases makes this easier, as you can change them without needing to wash your entire bedding set every time. It's also a good idea to allow skincare products to absorb before getting into bed. Products containing benzoyl peroxide deserve particular care, as they can bleach coloured fabrics.
When should you wash your bedding more often?
Once a week is a good routine for most households, but there are times when your sheets may need changing sooner. Consider washing your bedding more frequently if:
- you sweat heavily during the night
- the weather is particularly hot
- pets sleep on or in your bed
- you eat in bed
- you go to bed without showering after exercise
- you use oily skincare or hair products overnight
- your bedding becomes visibly marked or starts to smell
- you are recovering from an illness
During warmer weather in particular, sweat and body oils can accumulate more quickly. Naturally breathable fabrics can make sleeping more comfortable, but they still need regular cleaning.
If you're thinking about changing your bed linen as well as your washing routine, our guide to what thread count is best for luxury bedding explains why the quality of the cotton and yarn matters just as much as the number on the label.
How often should you wash your duvet?
Your duvet itself doesn't normally need to go into the washing machine every week because the duvet cover acts as a protective layer between it and your body. As a rough guide, cleaning your duvet every three to six months should be enough for many households, although you should always check its individual care instructions first. Some duvets can be machine washed, while others may require professional cleaning.
Using a freshly washed duvet cover and allowing your duvet to air regularly will help keep it fresh between deeper cleans. The same principle applies to pillows. Washable pillows can usually be cleaned several times a year, but the manufacturer's instructions should always take priority, as fillings can vary considerably.
What's the best way to wash bedding?
How you wash your bedding is just as important as how often you do it. Very hot washes, too much detergent, and aggressive drying can all place unnecessary stress on fabric.
For Hampton and Astley Egyptian cotton bedding, we recommend washing on a cool or warm cycle at no more than 30°C with a mild detergent, following the care instructions supplied with your bedding. For the best results:
- wash bedding separately from towels, denim, and other rough fabrics
- avoid overloading the washing machine
- turn duvet covers and pillowcases inside out
- use the correct amount of mild detergent
- avoid excessive fabric conditioner
- remove bedding from the machine promptly
- line dry where practical, or tumble dry on a low setting if the care label allows
- make sure everything is completely dry before putting it away
Using more detergent doesn't make your sheets cleaner. In fact, detergent residue can build up on the fibres and leave otherwise beautiful bedding feeling stiff. For more detailed washing and drying advice, see our complete guide to keeping your sheets silky-smooth and your bedding soft.
Can washing bedding too often damage it?
Regular washing shouldn't be a problem for good-quality bedding as long as you care for it correctly. What tends to cause premature wear is excessive heat, harsh chemicals, overloading the washing machine, or repeatedly overdrying the fabric rather than washing it at sensible intervals.
Choosing strong, high-quality fibres also makes a difference. Long-staple Egyptian cotton fibres can be spun into finer, stronger yarns, which helps the finished fabric stay smooth and durable through regular use.
Rotating between two or more bedding sets can also help. It gives each set plenty of time to wash and dry properly and means you're not continually putting the same fabric through the laundry.
How can you keep bedding fresh between washes?
A few simple habits can make your bedding feel fresher throughout the week.
Instead of making the bed immediately after getting up, fold your duvet back for a little while and allow the mattress and bedding to air. Straighten and plump your pillows and make sure there is plenty of ventilation around the bed.
Try not to get into bed in damp clothing or with wet hair, and give moisturisers, fake tan and other products time to absorb before they come into contact with your sheets.
When it's time to make the bed again, a well-fitting sheet also makes everything feel smoother and more comfortable. Our deep fitted sheets are designed with generous depth to stay securely in place rather than working loose during the night.
How do you know when your bedding needs washing?
You don't necessarily need to wait until your usual laundry day. If your bedding smells stale, feels greasy, has visible marks, or simply no longer feels beautifully fresh against your skin, it's probably time for a change.
A weekly routine is easy to remember and works well for most people. Choose a regular day for changing the bed and, before long, it simply becomes another part of your household routine. And there's certainly something to be said for ending the week by climbing into freshly washed sheets.
Final thoughts
For most of us, washing our sheets, pillowcases and duvet cover once a week strikes the right balance between keeping the bed fresh and avoiding unnecessary washing. Some households may need to do it more often, while duvets, pillows, and protectors can usually go much longer between washes.
Most importantly, treat your bedding gently. Use the right amount of detergent, follow its care label and avoid excessive heat. Good-quality cotton should stay beautifully soft through regular washing and can even become more comfortable with time.
Combined with a comfortable mattress, good-quality bed linen and a calm sleeping environment, fresh bedding is one of the simplest ways to make bedtime feel that little bit more luxurious. For more ideas, read our guide to creating a luxury hotel-style bedroom at home.
FAQ
Is it okay to wash bedding every two weeks?
For most people, washing sheets and pillowcases around once a week is preferable because they are in direct contact with your body every night. Leaving them for two weeks occasionally isn't disastrous, but a weekly routine will generally keep them feeling fresher and prevent sweat, oils, and other residues from building up.
How often should you change your pillowcases?
Aim to change pillowcases at least once a week. You may prefer to change them every three or four days if you have oily skin or hair, sweat heavily while sleeping, or regularly use skincare and hair products overnight.
Should I wash my duvet cover every week?
Yes, washing your duvet cover approximately once a week is a good general routine, especially if you sleep directly beneath it without a top sheet. Because the duvet cover comes into regular contact with your skin, it collects many of the same residues as your sheets.
Do you need to wash new bedding before using it?
Yes. Washing new bedding before sleeping in it helps remove any residue left from manufacturing, packaging or storage and allows natural cotton fibres to begin relaxing. Follow the care label and use a mild detergent rather than trying to soften new bedding with excessive conditioner.
What temperature should you wash bedding at?
Always follow the washing instructions for your particular bedding rather than assuming hotter is better. Hampton and Astley Egyptian cotton bedding should be washed on a cool or warm cycle at no more than 30°C using a mild detergent. If you have specific allergy-related washing requirements, check appropriate healthcare advice alongside the manufacturer's care instructions.
