One of the most essential steps to maintaining a healthy lifestyle is keeping your sheets clean.
The average person sleeps an average of eight hours per night. During that time, our sheets soak up body sweat and oils from our skin. This can lead to unpleasant odors and stains that make our sheets look filthy and become unhealthy to sleep in. [1]
Bed sheets usually need to be washed at least every other week. But there are several steps you can take to keep your sheets clean and fresh without washing them.
In this article, I will share my 11 favorite tips that help me cut down on washing my sheets.
11 Tips for Keeping your Bed Sheets Clean Between Washes
Shower before you get into bed: Oil and sweat are the most significant contributors to stains and odors on bedding. Removing as much oil and sweat as possible will help keep your bedding clean longer. A quick shower before bed will help reduce the amount of oil and sweat on your skin. It will also help remove any dead skin cells that could become stuck in your sheets and cause a foul odor.
Only wear clean PJs: Another method dirt can find its way into your bedding is through the clothing you wear to bed. Dirty clothes can transfer dirt and dust onto your sheets. You should avoid wearing dirty clothes to bed. Having a dedicated set of comfortable clothes to sleep in can help you avoid this problem. Also, avoid wearing your PJs for more than three days without washing them. Dirty PJs will increase the likelihood of dirt and dust getting onto your bedding.
Never Sleep with Makeup: If you wear makeup, it’s important to remove all of your makeups before bed. Removing cosmetics from our skin is already challenging enough, try to imagine how difficult it can be to remove makeup from cloth. If you don’t take the time to wash your face before bed, any makeup residue can transfer to your sheets and stain them.
Use a Vacuum: You can also keep your sheets clean without washing them by occasionally vacuuming them. A good vacuum can pick up most of the loose dirt and dust that builds up between washes. Vacuuming can also help to kill dust mites that live in your sheets, making them more hygienic.
Use a Lint Roller: If you want to go above and beyond, a lint roller can easily pick up any dirt that your vacuum may have missed. A lint roller is great for picking up stray pet hair, dust, and lint that your vacuum might miss.
Here’s a link to the lint roller I’ve been using on my sheets.
Spot Cleaning: I also keep my sheets clean between washing by spot cleaning any noticeable stains. You can use some club soda mixed with a bit of baking soda to spot clean your sheets. Combine the two ingredients in a spray bottle, shake it up, and give the stain a good spritz. The baking soda will help lift the stain, while the club soda will disinfect it.
Remove your socks: The most obvious place for dirt to accumulate is in your socks. Never sleep with dirty, sweaty socks on! If you’re wearing shoes or boots before bed, always take the time to remove them a few minutes before going to sleep. I also take this time to enjoy an occasional foot soak whenever possible.
Rotate your sheets: Sheets tend to develop stains near the top of the fitted sheet. This is because we’re constantly rolling around in our beds when we sleep. The oils from our hair cause a buildup of stains near our heads. To prevent this buildup, you must rotate your sheets every few weeks, so all parts get equal exposure to dirt and dust.
Refresh your sheets: I also keep my sheets clean between washing by refreshing the bedding with a quick spritz of my favorite essential oil. You can use your own blend of oils to create a romantic, calming, or energizing scent. Essential oils are also great for killing bacteria and dust mites.
Don’t sleep in the nude: This is a pretty obvious one, but I can’t stress enough how important it is to wear clothes while you’re sleeping. Bed sheets act as a magnet to oils and sweat from our skin. I’d rather wash the oil and sweat from my pajamas than have to wash them from my sheets.
Wipe your sheets down with a cloth: The final tip I would like to share is occasionally wiping your sheets down with a damp cloth. Regularly wiping your bedding can eliminate the need to wash it as often and is a great way to remove oils and dead skin. I’ve found using a mixture of water and vinegar in a spray bottle to get my sheets extra clean between washing effectively.
Conclusion
Keeping your sheets clean between washings is a lot easier than you may think. With these 11 tips, I hope that you will have the information necessary to keep your bedding fresh and comfortable without having to spend much time or money on them.
If there are any additional questions about maintaining your sheets in-between washes, feel free to comment below!
