Before washing sheets and bed linens, always read each item’s label to maintain your bedding over time. You should not wash some materials in hot water; choose the hottest setting recommended. Pre-treat stains with stain removers or oxygen cleaners as directed by the product label. Once your bedding is ready to wash, select an appropriate detergent for each type of fabric, then tumble dry your items in low heat to prevent damage to the material. Below, learn how often to wash your sheets and pillowcases along with bedding like pillows, blankets, comforters, duvet covers, mattress covers, bed skirts, canopies, and curtains. Be sure to check for and treat any stains on your sheets no matter how often you wash them. Also, avoid washing sheets in hot water because it can shrink your sheets, which you might not notice until you try to put them back on the bed. Warm water is much more likely to get them clean without shrinkage. If you don’t use pillow protectors, washing your pillows monthly or at least every other month will be your best bet. Most washing machines can handle washing a pair of pillows at a time. It’s not a good idea to wash a single pillow because it throws your machine out of balance. Be sure to follow the specific care instructions for your blankets and wash them as directed. If a blanket is used less often, be careful about color bleeding color when you do wash it (if it isn’t colorfast.) You can always wash a blanket in a load by itself if you have any concerns. On the other hand, if there is no separate cover, you’ll need to wash the entire comforter whenever spills or stains occur or on a monthly cadence. If your machine can’t handle the size, you may need to launder your comforter at a laundromat where there are oversized machines for bedding.
