Are Your Bedsheets as Clean as They Should Be?

When you slip into bed each night, you probably expect a clean, restful space. But how often are your sheets or even your mattress really cleaned?

To uncover the surprising truth about Americans’ bedding hygiene habits, we surveyed 1,000 adults across generations and lifestyles.

The results reveal overlooked routines, unexpected hygiene slip-ups, and the real impact these habits can have on sleep quality, skin health, and overall well-being.

Key Takeaways

Over 1 in 4 Americans (27%) only wash their bedsheets once a month.
34% allow outside clothes in their bed, with Gen Z being the most likely to do so (45%).
Nearly 1 in 4 Americans (23%) wait to wash their sheets until they look or smell dirty.
46% of six-figure earners wash their sheets weekly, almost twice the rate of those earning less (24%).
Nearly 1 in 5 Americans (19%) are still sleeping on a mattress that’s more than a decade old.
3 in 5 Americans believe clean bedding is extremely or very important to their overall well-being.

How Often Americans Really Clean Their Bedsheets

Bedding hygiene habits vary widely, and not always for the better.

More than a quarter of Americans (27%) said they only wash their sheets once a month, a schedule far below expert recommendations of once a week. Baby boomers tended to be the most diligent, with 39% washing their sheets at least once a week, compared to just 19% of Gen Z.

Income also plays a role in sheet hygiene. Higher earners were nearly twice as likely to wash their sheets weekly: 46% of those earning $100,000 or more reported doing so, compared to 24% of those earning less.

Meanwhile, nearly 1 in 5 Americans (19%) were still sleeping on mattresses over 10 years old. Sleeping on an old mattress can cause negative health effects, such as chronic back pain or allergic reactions to dust mites.

Another concerning trend is people waiting until their bedding looks or smells dirty before washing it. Nearly 1 in 4 Americans admitted to this behavior, despite the fact that allergens and bacteria can build up long before any signs appear. Gen Z was almost three times more likely than baby boomers to practice this habit (34% vs. 13%).

More than half of Americans (53%) also said they don’t rotate their mattress or didn’t realize they were supposed to. This habit helps prolong mattress life and support sleep health.

Honesty around bedding hygiene is another issue. Nearly 1 in 5 people (17%) admitted to lying about how often they clean their bedding. Gen Z was especially likely to fib, with 34% admitting to this compared to just 8% of baby boomers.

What Americans Allow in Their Beds and How It Affects Hygiene

Clean bedding isn’t just about appearances. It plays an important role in how we feel. In fact, 3 in 5 Americans said having clean sheets is extremely or very important to their overall well-being. Still, many people allow everyday items and habits to affect their bed hygiene.

Electronics were the most common, with 73% bringing laptops or tablets into bed. More than a third allow food (37%) or get in without changing out of their outside clothes (34%). Among Gen Z, that number rises to 45%. By comparison, 32% of millennials, 28% of Gen X, and only 24% of baby boomers allow outside clothes in bed.

Some even let other people like friends or guests (32%), backpacks (14%), luggage (10%), and shoes (3%) into their beds. Some hygiene lapses go even further. One in 20 adults said they’ve wet the bed at some point in the past year.

Gen Z stands out again, being 25% more likely than older generations to get into bed after working out without showering. These habits can bring dirt, allergens, and bacteria onto bedding, which can lead to skin irritation and poor sleep quality.

Interestingly, people who washed their sheets less than once a month were 11% more likely to feel tired after getting seven or more hours of sleep, compared to those who washed them every two weeks (60% vs. 54%). They were also 14% more likely to experience brain fog and 8% more likely to report dry or irritated eyes.

The Expert-Clean Standard

Keeping your bed clean feels good, and it’s one of the easiest ways to support your skin, your sleep, and your overall health. But how often should you really wash everything? And what hidden hygiene habits could be holding you back from more restful nights?

How Often Should You Wash Your Bedding?

Experts recommend washing pillowcases and sheets weekly, and comforters or duvet covers every 1–2 months. Pillowcases, in particular, build up oils, dead skin, and bacteria quickly, especially for those with acne-prone or sensitive skin. Sheets accumulate sweat, skin cells, and allergens over time, which can disrupt sleep and contribute to skin irritation if not cleaned regularly.

What Happens When You Don’t Clean Bedding Enough?

Dirty bedding can lead to a range of issues, from minor breakouts to more serious sleep disruptions. Built-up allergens like dust mites and pet dander can trigger sneezing or congestion, while lingering bacteria from unwashed sheets can irritate the skin and scalp.

Over time, this can mean more tossing and turning, poor skin recovery, and even worsened allergy symptoms.

Mattress Care: What’s Ideal?

Caring for your mattress is just as important as changing your sheets. Experts recommend rotating your mattress every 3–6 months to promote even wear and extend its comfort life.

You should also use a mattress protector to shield against sweat, spills, and allergens. While mattresses can vary, most should be replaced every 7–10 years, especially if you’re waking up with new aches or disrupted sleep.

Common Bedding Hygiene Mistakes

One of the biggest slip-ups? Waiting until bedding “looks dirty” before washing it. Visual cues aren’t always a reliable indicator of hygiene, as allergens, oils, and bacteria can accumulate long before any stains appear.

Another common mistake is skipping pillow and mattress protectors, which act as the first line of defense against dust, sweat, and bacteria. And if you’re not rotating or flipping your mattress at least twice a year, you’re likely wearing down one side faster than the other.

Simple Upgrades for Better Sleep and Health

A few small changes can make a big difference:

Opting for breathable, moisture-wicking fabrics like bamboo or organic cotton can help regulate temperature and reduce bacteria buildup.
Mattress and pillow protectors add a hygienic barrier and make weekly cleaning easier.
And simply setting a reminder to rotate your mattress can extend its life and your comfort.

FAQs

How often should I wash bedding if I have allergies?

If you have allergies, it’s generally recommended to wash your bedding once a week in hot water (at least 130°F/54°C) to kill dust mites and remove allergens like pollen, pet dander, and mold spores.

For those with severe allergies, you might consider using allergen-proof covers on mattresses, box springs, and pillows to create barriers between you and potential allergen sources.

It’s also important to dry your bedding completely, preferably in a hot dryer, as moisture can promote dust mite growth and mold.

How often should I change bedding when sick?

You should change your sheets and pillowcases daily if possible to prevent reinfection and reduce germ buildup. Laundering your bedding in hot water (above 140°F/60°C) is particularly important to kill viruses and bacteria that could prolong your illness.

If daily washing isn’t practical, consider at least changing your pillowcase daily, as this is where most respiratory droplets collect when you’re sick with a cold or flu.

How often should married couples change their sheets?

Married couples should ideally change their bed sheets once a week, as two people generate more sweat, body oils, skin cells, and other debris than a single sleeper. This weekly schedule helps maintain good sleep hygiene and may contribute to better quality sleep and overall health.

If either partner sweats heavily at night, has allergies, or if pets sleep on the bed, you might need to increase the frequency to twice weekly.

Can dirty bedding make skin conditions worse?

Yes, dirty bedding can definitely exacerbate skin conditions like acne, eczema, and contact dermatitis because the accumulation of dead skin cells, sweat, and oils creates an ideal environment for bacteria and dust mites to thrive.

For people with sensitive skin conditions, experts recommend washing sheets at least weekly in hot water with fragrance-free detergents to minimize irritants.

Additionally, dirty pillowcases are particularly problematic for facial skin conditions, as they can transfer oils, bacteria, and irritants directly to your face throughout the night.

How often should I change my pillowcase?

Pillowcases should ideally be changed once a week for general hygiene, but if you have acne or oily skin, changing them every 2-3 days can help prevent breakouts. This is because pillowcases collect facial oils, sweat, makeup residue, and environmental particles that can clog pores and irritate skin when pressed against your face all night.

If you apply hair products before bed, consider placing a clean towel over your pillow each night or change your pillowcase even more frequently to prevent these products from affecting your skin.

Conclusion

The survey reveals a concerning gap between expert recommendations and actual bedding hygiene practices among Americans. With over a quarter of respondents washing sheets only monthly and nearly one in four waiting until bedding looks or smells dirty, many are unknowingly compromising their sleep quality and health.

This disconnect is particularly pronounced among younger generations and those with lower incomes, highlighting how bedding care habits vary significantly across demographic groups.

Higher earners were nearly twice as likely to follow weekly washing recommendations, while baby boomers demonstrated more consistent sheet hygiene than their younger counterparts.

The impact of these habits extends beyond just cleanliness. Respondents who washed their sheets less frequently reported higher rates of tiredness, brain fog, and eye irritation, suggesting real health consequences to neglected bedding care.

Implementing simple changes like establishing a weekly washing schedule, using mattress and pillow protectors, and regularly rotating your mattress can dramatically improve your sleep environment. These small adjustments require minimal effort but offer significant rewards for your sleep quality, skin health, and overall wellbeing.

Remember that clean bedding isn’t just about appearances – 3 in 5 Americans recognize its importance to their overall wellbeing. By prioritizing these often-overlooked aspects of home hygiene, you’re making an investment in better sleep and, ultimately, better health.

Methodology

We surveyed 1,000 Americans to expose the surprising truth about Americans’ bedding hygiene habits. The average age of the respondents was 40; 50% were female, and 50% were male. Generationally, 7% were baby boomers, 21% were Gen X, 51% were millennials, and 21% were Gen Z.

About Amerisleep

Amerisleep is a leader in sleep innovation, offering eco-friendly, high-performance mattresses designed to improve rest and well-being.

Fair Use Statement

Feel free to share these findings for noncommercial purposes, but please provide a link back to this page.

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