When should you replace your bed sheets? Expert tips for quick changes and seasonal swaps for better night's sleep

We all know how important it is to wash our bed sheets regularly to keep them fresh and stay healthy, but how often should you replace sheet sets for a better night's sleep?

Everything from a change in season to illness or even a room upgrade could warrant a sheet change, bedding experts say.

Here, they highlight the five key times you should swap your bed sheets for new ones to help you avoid some common bed-making mistakes.

How often should you replace your bed sheets? 

Besides washing bed sheets every one to two weeks, Katie Elks, Brooklinen's director of design and product development, suggests you should also consider how hot you're sleeping at night, the bedroom look you're going for, and the quality of your current set.

Here's what to be on the lookout for when swapping sets, keeping in mind that your bed sheets are one of the bedroom items you should be replacing more often than you probably are.

1. Seasonal changes

The methods you use to keep warm in bed in winter will only serve to keep you tossing and turning when sleeping in the heat. Switching out your cozy cotton for some breezy summer sheets will help you sweat less and stay cool at night, and vise versa.

Bed Threads founder Genevieve Rosen Biller says, 'bedding made from natural materials like linen is moisture-wicking, lightweight, and cooling'.

Danielle Mason, head of product development at The Fine Bedding Company. adds, 'If you have polyester bedding that's prone to oil and bacteria you'll have to wash your sheets more frequently in the summer when you are more likely to perspire.'

If you only have one sheet set, it's worth investing in another that will help you maintain the best temperature for sleep more easily throughout the year. Unless you have an all-season comforter, you should also swap your duvet insert from a lightweight summer option to a thicker tog type for winter, and vice versa.

2. They look worse for wear

Over time, bedsheets will start to look a little worse for wear. Be it from frequent use, improper storage, or some bedding laundry mistakes.

When bedding starts to fray or look threadworn, or simply does not feel as soft and comforting as it used to, it is a good time to consider changing bedsheets for a new set or two.

Christina Heiser, content director at Saatva adds, 'Sheets should be washed once a week or once every other week. This will keep both your top sheet and fitted sheet fresh and ensure they don't wear down too quickly.'

3. They need washing

It should go without saying that you should change out your bedsheets whenever they need washing. Having at least two bedding sets to switch between means your first set has longer to dry completely (especially when reaping the benefits of air-drying laundry) to avoid mold and bacterial growth that could impact your sleep hygiene.

Parima Ijaz, bedding designer and founder of Pure Parima says, 'A general rule of thumb is to wash all of your bedding at least once a week. This frequency removes daily accumulation of sweat, oils, and allergens effectively. While this can change depending on your sleeping habits, climates, and other factors, we recommend keeping to this schedule as much as possible. '

4. You have been ill

Beds should be a prime target when cleaning your house when someone is ill.

Saatva's Christina Heiser explains, 'Another time to increase the frequency of changing your sheets is when you are sick. Viruses die in a matter of hours, so you don't have to be concerned with them lingering on your sheets, although some bacteria like the norovirus can survive for about a month (so you'll want to wash your sheets ASAP if that's the case).'

5. When changing your decor

Changing your bed sheets is one of the simplest ways you can switch up your bedroom ideas. Swap out a neutral bedding set for one of bright color and you've transformed your bedroom. You can double the effect by changing the material at the same time.

A velvet bedspread, for example, gives depth and elegance, making a bedroom look cozy, yet change it for a lightweight linen option and you've got a chic, Scandi look instead.

FAQs

How many sets of sheets should you have?

We would recommend having at least three sets of bedsheets per bed. One all-season set, one cool set for summer, and a cozy set for winter. This is so that when one is being washed, an extra set is clean and ready to be used. Having a single all-season set you can use all year round will mean you never have to get too hot, or too cold at night. If you're prone to eating in bed, sweat no matter the temperature, or have pets, or kids in bed, it may be useful to have a few cheap bed sheets, like one of these under $25 sets from Amazon, to hand where they are prone to spills and stains.

What happens if you do not change your sheets?

If you do not change your bed sheets, a few things can happen. Firstly, they will get dirty and start to smell, and may impact your health and skin (flaring existing skin conditions, or leading to new rashes and itchiness). They will also negatively impact your sleep quality.

You might also find that you struggle to sleep as you cannot regulate your temperature as well under thicker sheets in summer or thinner sheets in winter, resulting in drowsiness and lack of mental clarity.

Knowing when to change your bed sheets might not sound important, but it really is key to sleeping better and staying healthy. If it makes you feel wasteful, fear not. You can re-purpose old bed sheets for cleaning and other uses around the home.

Next, brush up on how to clean a bedroom to eliminate dust mites for the perfect night's rest.