Sheets. We drool on them, snore in them, mess them up, sweat, eat in them and sometimes might even spill something unknown in them. Hence, when it comes to washing them, when or how often is a question we usually ask. For good sleep hygiene, making sure they are fresh and clean for our exhausted bodies to relax in after a long day.
After an average of seven to eight hours of sleep, our bodies tend to produce quite a few gross things. We also seem to shed a lot of dead skin cells, which dust mites feed on, and they accumulate significantly over time. Taking it one step further, if you sleep naked, there is a significant chance you are sleeping in some dried faecal matter. Yuck.
If we look into the recommended timeframe of washing sheets, we are typically looking at once a week. However, not only is this not really realistic, but with water shortages and wanting to be a little more earth-friendly, doing this is not exactly our best option. So, for good sleep hygiene, if you’re washing your sheets once every two weeks, you’re doing a pretty good job of keeping them as clean as you can.
Extra steps for washing sheets – sleep hygiene
Along with washing your sheets every two weeks, there are other precautions you can take to make sure they are getting a good, deep clean. These are:
1. Wash sheets with hot water as this will better remove pollen and successfully eliminate other things that fall off of our bodies.
2. Use a gentle detergent on your linens to help them last longer and be more adequate for your skin.
3. Allow for plenty of room in your washing machine, so sheets have enough room to be cleaned thoroughly.
4. Since we live in a water scarce country, always try to save water. So while we don’t recommend washing sheets in a full machiine (see point 3!), we do recommend filling it up as much as possible. In this case, I would think make sure your machine is 3/4 full.
On the same note, purchasing sheets that are not only durable but also make you feel comfortable is important. By sticking to cotton or cotton blends, you’ll still get an amazing sleep with this breathable, lightweight, soft and popular material. Sealy sheets are made from 100% cotton percale, with a minimum 200 thread count.
When it comes to what colour sheets you can buy, the usual colours land within neutral colours like whites, beiges, ivory or browns. However, studies have shown that blue is the best colour for better sleep. Warm colours (not including red), greys, silvers and greens come in close behind.
Sheets remain an interesting product as they make such a considerable difference in our sleep, but can often be something we don’t focus on. This autumn season take care of your sleep hygiene by washing your sheets the right way. Washing them every two weeks is good, but adding some extra steps into your washing methods will allow for longer-lasting sheets and a much cleaner bed.