You should change most of your bedding about once a week , and some pieces less often, unless your lifestyle or health means you need to wash them more frequently.

How Often Should You Change Your Bedding?

Quick Scoop

  • Sheets and pillowcases: Every 7 days.
  • Duvet covers: Every 1–2 weeks.
  • Blankets/comforters: Every 2–3 months.
  • Pillows (the actual pillow): Every 3–6 months for washing; replace every few years.
  • Change things more often if you sweat a lot, sleep with pets, have allergies, or go to bed without showering.

Why It Matters (In 2026, When Everyone’s Busy)

While you sleep, your bed collects sweat, skin cells, body oils, dust mites, and sometimes crumbs from late-night snacks. Over time, that build‑up can trigger allergies, worsen acne, and make your bed smell less than fresh.

Experts in skincare and home hygiene still point to weekly sheet changes as the sweet spot in recent guides from 2024–2025. Surveys show many people stretch it to 2–3 weeks or more, but that’s usually less than what’s recommended for health and comfort.

Ideal Schedule (By Item)

1. Sheets & Pillowcases

  • Standard advice:
    • Wash once a week.
  • Wash more often (every few days) if:
    • You sweat a lot or live in a hot climate.
    • You sleep naked or don’t shower before bed.
    • You eat in bed or drink coffee/tea there.
    • You have acne, eczema, or sensitive skin.

2. Duvet Covers

  • Wash every 1–2 weeks.
  • Go closer to weekly if pets sleep on top of the bed or if you often lie on top of your duvet.

3. Blankets, Comforters, and Top Covers

  • Wash every 2–3 months if they’re protected by a duvet cover or sheet.
  • Wash sooner if you notice visible dirt, smells, or if someone has been sick in bed.

4. Pillows and Mattress Protection

  • Pillows: Wash every 3–6 months , following the care label, and replace every few years when they flatten or stain.
  • Mattress protector: Wash about once a month , or immediately after spills or illness.

When You Should Change Bedding More Often

You may want to shorten the schedule if:

  • You have allergies or asthma (dust mites and pollen can collect in bedding).
  • You have skin issues like acne or body breakouts (pillowcases especially should be weekly or more).
  • You sleep with pets in the bed, especially dogs or cats that shed.
  • You’ve been sick recently (flu, cold, stomach bug).
  • You notice musty smells, visible sweat marks, or stains.

In these cases, many experts suggest switching to twice‑a‑week pillowcases and weekly or even more frequent sheets until things settle.

What People Actually Do (Forum & Real‑Life Vibes)

Online discussions and forum-style threads show that lots of people aim for weekly changes, but many realistically manage every 2–3 weeks or even monthly. Some hygiene‑enthusiasts proudly change sheets twice a week, while others admit to stretching it much longer, especially in winter.

“Biweekly in theory, monthly in practice. Weekly is generally recommended.”

That contrast between recommended (weekly) and real life (often less frequent) is a recurring theme in recent discussions.

Simple Routine You Can Follow

Here’s a straightforward plan you can actually stick to:

  1. Pick a ‘bedding day’ once a week (e.g., Sunday morning) and always swap sheets and pillowcases then.
  2. Every 2–4 weeks , add duvet covers to that wash.
  3. Every 2–3 months , do a “deep clean” day: pillows (if washable), blankets, comforters, and mattress protector.
  1. Keep at least two sets of sheets so you can strip the bed and remake it quickly.

If life gets hectic, try not to go more than two weeks between sheet changes unless you absolutely have to.

Mini SEO Bits

  • Focus keyword: how often should you change your bedding – answer: about once a week for sheets, with variations for other items as above.
  • Current context: In 2024–2025 articles and guides, weekly washing is still the dominant recommendation, with flexibility based on lifestyle, pets, and health.

TL;DR: Change your sheets and pillowcases every week , duvet covers every 1–2 weeks , and bulkier items every 2–3 months , adjusting more frequently if you sweat, have pets, allergies, or skin issues.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.