If your sheets dont look dirty, it might seem safe to assume that you dont need to wash them for another few weeks. However, your bed sheets can accumulate bacteria and particles that you cant see with the naked eye. You might want to start washing your sheets once a week if you suffer from allergies or frequent infections.

Some people wash their sheets once every two weeks or worse, once a month. Your sheets might not have visible stains, but they could harbor bacteria, allergens, dust, skin cells, pollen, and even microscopic insects that might compromise your health. Washing your sheets regularly kills the bacteria and helps you sleep more easily at night.

To wash your sheets, throw them in the washing machine on the hot water setting. Hot water kills most of the germs that might be lurking in your bedsheets. You can do this at home or take your sheets to the local laundromat.

Even if you wash your sheets once a week, your bedsheets can still accumulate dirt, allergens, and bacteria. Here are a few ways you can keep your sheets clean between washings

• Dont eat while sitting in bed. The crumbs can cause bacteria buildup and attract pests.
• Dont let your pets get on your bed, or place a protective sheet over the covers.
• Change your sheets if you get sick or suffer from a skin condition like poison ivy.
• Take a shower before you get into bed, especially if youre covered in sweat.
• Dont get in bed while wearing makeup.
• Avoid using your pillows or bed sheets in different areas of the house.
• Dont get in bed while youre wearing your regular clothes.

During the day, you can accumulate pollen, dust, and allergens without realizing it. If you get into bed before you shower, you might contaminate your bedsheets. As a result, you suffer from allergies even when youre sitting indoors.

Washing your sheets could ease the symptoms of your allergies. Additionally, you should avoid getting into bed before youve showered and changed clothes. Most allergens are microscopic, so you wont know if youve contaminated your sheets until its too late.

You might contract an infection if someone gets blood on your sheets or lies on your bed with an open sore. Similarly, a person with a virus or infection could contaminate your bedsheets. If you get poison ivy, you could recontaminate yourself if you dont wash your sheets.

Even if you have to do it multiple times a week, its important to wash your sheets when they might be contaminated. Otherwise, you could put yourself and the rest of your family at risk.

Ideally, it would help if you didnt let your pets on your bed at all. However, its hard to keep an enthusiastic dog or cat off your bed. When your pets jump on your bed, they could contaminate the sheets with pollen, dirt, allergens, sweat, fur, and even fungi. If your pets dont stay off the bed, consider draping a protective sheet over your bed during the day.

When you need to wash your sheets, take them to the local laundromat for a thorough cleaning experience. Many laundromats have drop off services where the employees wash and fold your bed sheets for you.