How Often Should You Change Your Sheets?

Most people should change and wash their bed sheets about once a week. That's a sensible starting point rather than a strict rule, because how often you need to wash them depends on things like how much you sweat, whether you share your bed with a partner or pet, allergies, illness and the time of year.

Key Takeaways

• Change your sheets once a week to stop sweat, body oils and dead skin building up in your bed.

• Wash pillowcases and duvet covers on the same weekly cycle, while pillows, duvets and mattress protectors only need washing every few months or once or twice a year.

• Wash more often if you share your bed with pets, sweat at night, have allergies or have been ill, as these all add to what builds up in your bedding.

• Many people change their sheets less often than weekly. In a 2026 survey of UK adults, a third said they change them every two weeks.

• Air your bed each morning and make sure washed sheets are fully dry to keep them fresh between washes.

How Often Should You Change Your Sheets?

We recommend changing your sheets once a week, which is in line with what dermatologists advise. The same routine works for pillowcases and duvet covers. A weekly change keeps build-up from sweat and skin under control, and it fits easily into most routines.

It helps to be clear about the terms, as they're often used to mean the same thing.

• Changing your sheets means taking the used sheets off the bed and putting clean ones on.

• Washing your sheets means laundering the ones you've taken off.

• Changing your bedding usually covers everything that touches you in bed, which means sheets, pillowcases and your duvet cover.

Someone who sleeps alone in a cool bedroom has different needs from a couple who share their bed with a dog in the middle of summer. The sections below explain what makes a difference.

Why Should You Change Your Sheets Regularly?

You should change your sheets regularly because sweat, body oils and dead skin build up in them every night you sleep. Over time, your bedding also collects dirt, dust mites, bacteria and allergens such as dust and pet dander.

Dead skin is a big part of it. The average person sheds around a gram and a half of skin cells a day, and much of it rubs off onto your sheets while you sleep. Add anything you bring in from outside, and your bed becomes a good place for bacteria to grow.

None of this means your bed is dangerous. It simply explains why fresh sheets feel and smell better, and why regular washing helps keep your skin comfortable and your bedroom a nicer place to sleep.

Dust Mites and Allergens

Dust mites are tiny creatures found in almost every home. They live in bedding and feed on the dead skin we shed, and for people who are allergic to them, their droppings can trigger sneezing, a blocked nose, itchy eyes and worse asthma or eczema.

Dust mites only cause symptoms in people who are allergic to them. If you have a dust mite allergy or asthma, washing your bedding every week at 60°C or above can help, as cooler washes only rinse the allergen away for a while.

Signs You Should Change Your Sheets

Signs you aren't washing your sheets often enough include unpleasant odours, sweat marks, visible stains, a sticky or grimy feel, and a build-up of dirt or pet hair.

• Your sheets smell. A stale or musty smell usually means sweat and body oils have built up.

• You can see sweat marks. Yellowish patches, especially around the pillow and where you lie, are a sign it's time.

• There are visible stains. Food, drink, makeup and skincare can all leave marks.

• The fabric feels greasy or sticky. Clean sheets should feel smooth and soft against your skin.

• Pet hair has built up. If your cat or dog sleeps on the bed, hair and dander collect quickly.

• There are crumbs or dirt in the bed. Even a few crumbs can make sheets feel uncomfortable.

• Your allergies seem worse at bedtime. Sneezing or itchy eyes in bed can be a sign that allergens have built up.

If you notice any of these before your usual wash day, it's worth changing your sheets early.

What Can Change How Often You Should Wash Your Sheets?

How often you should wash your sheets depends on your household and your habits. Living alone, sharing your bed, sleeping with pets, sweating at night, allergies and illness can all change how often your bedding needs a wash.

If You Live Alone

Living alone doesn't mean you can stop worrying about your sheets. There may be less sweat and skin in the bed than when two people share it, but the build-up still happens every night you sleep there. If you sleep in your bed every night, once a week is still a good routine.

If you're often away and your bed goes unused for days at a time, you can stretch it to about every two weeks.

If You Share a Bed

If you share a bed, stick to at least once a week. Two people add more sweat, body oils, skin cells and moisture to the same sheets, so they get dirty faster. If one of you sweats a lot, has allergies or has been unwell, wash your sheets more often.

If You Sleep With Pets

If your pet sleeps on your bed, you'll probably need to wash your sheets more than once a week. Pets bring hair, dander, dirt and outdoor allergens into the bed. The Sleep Foundation suggests washing every three to four days if they sleep with you.

If You Sweat at Night

If you're a hot sleeper or get night sweats, wash your sheets more often. Extra sweat and moisture soak into the fabric, which can make sheets feel damp and start to smell sooner. The same goes for warm, humid summer nights, when most of us sweat more.

If You Have Allergies or Asthma

If you have allergies or asthma, washing your bedding more than once a week at 60°C or hotter may help. Allergen barrier covers on your mattress and pillows can also reduce your contact with dust mites.

If your symptoms are affecting your sleep, speak to your GP or pharmacist, who can advise on the right treatment for you.

If You've Been Ill

If you've been ill, change and wash your bedding once you're feeling better. Wash it at the hottest temperature the care label allows, and make sure it's completely dry before you put it back on the bed.

How Often Should You Wash Sheets, Pillowcases and Duvet Covers?

You should wash sheets, pillowcases and duvet covers about once a week, while duvets, pillows and mattress protectors need washing far less often. Use this table as a general guide, and always check the care label, as some fabrics and fillings need different care.

For most fabrics, wash sheets, pillowcases and duvet covers at 60°C, as cooler washes may not remove sweat or bacteria as well. Delicate fabrics such as silk need a cooler wash, so follow the care label.

For duvets, the filling makes a difference. Many synthetic duvets can go in a home washing machine on a gentle cycle if they fit, while feather, down and silk duvets are usually best taken to the dry cleaners.

How Often Do British People Change Their Sheets?

Many people change their sheets less often than once a week. In a 2026 survey of 2,000 UK adults, a third said they change their sheets once a week and another third every two weeks.

The survey found these routines.

• Every day, 1%

• Several times a week, 8%

• Once a week, 33%

• Every two weeks, 33%

• Every three weeks, 8%

• Once a month, 11%

• Less often than once a month, 7%

Overall, 74% of people said they change their sheets at least every two weeks, and people aged 25 to 44 were the most likely to change them several times a week.

This shows what people say they do rather than what's best for your bed. Many households settle into a fortnightly routine, but we'd still recommend once a week for most people.

How to Keep Your Sheets Fresh Between Washes

You can keep your sheets fresh between washes with a few easy habits.

• Air your bed in the morning. Pull the duvet back for a while before you make the bed, so moisture from the night can evaporate. The Cleveland Clinic explains that this takes away the moisture dust mites and bacteria need to thrive.

• Shower before bed. It washes off sweat and dirt from the day, and some people find it helps them fall asleep.

• Take your makeup off. Removing makeup and heavy skincare before bed helps prevent marks on your pillowcase.

• Avoid eating in bed. Crumbs and spills are one of the quickest ways to dirty your sheets.

• Keep pets off the bed where you can. Even limiting the time they spend on it helps.

• Make sure washed sheets are completely dry. Putting damp bedding back on the bed can lead to bacteria and mould, so dry it fully, ideally outside or in a well-ventilated room.

Creating a Cleaner, More Comfortable Sleep Space

Clean sheets are only one part of a comfortable place to sleep. Your mattress, pillows and duvet all play a part too, and so does how easy they are to keep fresh. We'd suggest cleaning your mattress about every six months and using a protector to help it last longer.

When everything on your bed is easy to wash, keeping it fresh becomes part of your routine rather than a chore. Removable, washable covers, a mattress protector and a spare set of bedding all help. The same thinking applies wherever you or your guests sleep, including a sofa bed.

What About Sofa Beds?

A sofa bed needs the same care as any other bed, and how often you change its sheets depends on how often it's slept on.

How Often Should You Change Sofa Bed Sheets?

If a sofa bed is your everyday bed, change and wash its sheets about once a week, just as you would on a regular bed. If it's mainly for guests, put fresh sheets on before someone stays and wash them once they leave. There's no need to change sheets on a sofa bed that isn't being used, but give them a wash if they've been sitting for a while and smell stale.

Our Koala Sofa Bed opens into a full-size Kloudcell® mattress with a plush integrated topper, so you make it up with sheets just like a normal bed. The sleep surface unzips and can be removed for a cold machine wash, and the sofa covers come off for hand washing, so the whole thing is easy to keep fresh between guests. You can compare sizes in our sofa beds collection, read sofa bed reviews from our customers, and try it at home with our 120-day trial.

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Frequently Asked Questions ( FAQs )

How often should I wash my sheets if I live alone?

If you live alone and sleep in your bed every night, washing your sheets once a week is still a good routine. You shed skin and sweat into them every night, even without a partner. If you're often away and your bed goes unused, about every two weeks is fine.

How often should you wash duvet covers?

Wash your duvet cover about once a week to every two weeks. Weekly is best if you can, especially if you sweat at night. The duvet itself only needs washing once or twice a year.

Should you wash sheets more often if you have pets?

Yes, if your pet sleeps on your bed, wash your sheets more often. Pets bring hair, dander, dirt and outdoor allergens into the bed, so every three to four days is a good routine if they sleep with you.

Is the Koala Sofa Bed washable?

Yes. The sleep surface on our Koala Sofa Bed unzips and comes off for a cold machine wash, so spills and night sweats are easy to sort out. The sofa covers zip off too, but they're hand wash only, using warm water and a mild detergent. Line dry everything in the shade and make sure it's completely dry before you put it back on. Always check the care label first, as care can vary by fabric.

How do you keep dust mites out of a Koala Sofa Bed?

The best protection against dust mites is regular cleaning, and our sofa bed is designed to make that easy. We recommend vacuuming it once a week on a low setting and washing your sheets every week at 60°C or above. When the mattress needs a deeper clean, the sleep surface unzips for a cold machine wash. If you have a dust mite allergy, an allergen barrier cover on the mattress can also help.