Handy guide shows how often you should be washing duvets and sheets to kill bugs – and you’re probably falling way short
BRITS are being advised to wash their bed sheets at least once a week and their duvets every few months to kill off germs.
Laundry may be a dull and tiresome task but it turns out we’re probably not doing it enough.
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With good hygiene essential to stop the spread of coronavirus, a recent poll quizzed more than 1,000 Brits over their laundry habits.
The findings, , found that people weren’t washing their bedding nearly enough, with duvet covers only being cleaned half as much as they should be.
Bed sheets were also found not to be getting washed enough, with Brits admitting they only chuck them in the washing machine every 11 days.
To maintain good hygiene levels and kill off any bugs, the experts recommend duvet covers be washed once a week - or twice if you’re ill.
How often you should be washing your bedding
- Mattress: At least once a year
- Pillows: Every 3 months
- Duvet: Every 2-3 months / at least twice a year
- Bottom sheet: Once a week / more often if ill
- Pillowcases: Once a week / twice a week if you sleep on your stomach
- Pyjamas: Once a week / every few days in summer months
Pillow cases should also be washed once every seven days, but this should increase to twice weekly if you sleep on your front.
Meanwhile your actual pillows and duvets should also be laundered, with these bulky items needing to be cleaned around four times a year.
Michal Szlas, CEO and founder of , commented: “In light of the ongoing pandemic, some may feel more at ease by purchasing new bedding to reduce the risk of bacteria surviving and being transferred to others, particularly if they experience symptoms, but proper laundry frequency and good personal hygiene should be sufficient.
“It’s also worth noting that the NHS have also advised that normal washing of clothes will reduce the risk of germs being transmitted, but that in certain situations clothes should be washed at higher than normal temperatures and with a bleach-based product to minimise the transmission risk as much as possible.”
He advised anyone sharing a house with someone who is unwell to wear gloves when washing their bedding, and wash your hands afterwards.
And the experts also recommended people showering before bed - with 64 per cent of people admitting getting straight under the covers after a long day.
Lisa Evans, spokesperson from , added: “As well as sufficient laundry frequency, showering is essential for wellbeing and health and showering before bed is the recommended time of day to do it!
“This is to wash away the day's dirt and grime and help you keep hygienic.”
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