How Often Should You (Really) Wash Your Home Linens?
Here’s The Ultimate Guide to Cleaning Every Fabric in Your Home
If you’ve ever found yourself on the cleaning side of social media, you might have fallen down (or in my case, happily jumped into) the rabbit hole of watching countless smell-good videos. You know the ones — those effortlessly completing household responsibilities that many despise doing. For some weird reason, the chores we’re putting off, in exchange for scrolling our favorite apps, are going viral by creators who make you feel like you, just by watching, have accomplished the task too.
With their amazing tips and tricks in the captions, you can learn how to make your bed sheets brighter, your towels whiter, and the endless ways to use a lemon during the job. But have you ever checked out the comments section?
Other than feeling like I finally found my tribe of others who appreciate a good house cleaning, there are TONS of people asking things like: “Wait, you’re supposed to clean your curtains?” “How is your mattress so clean and white?” “You actually vacuum behind your fridge?”
And the most repeated question being… “How often should I be cleaning my (insert linen)?”
If you feel like you can relate, you're not alone. The truth is, many of us are just winging it, relying on habits we picked up in childhood. After all, you don’t know what you don’t know.
But in this ultimate guide, I'll break down exactly when and how to clean every type of home linen. That way, you too can create a home that’s not just aesthetically pleasing to your eyes and nose but also hygienically for your skin and health.
The Ultimate Guide to Washing Your Linens
1. Sheets and Pillowcases
Experts recommend a weekly wash for sheets and pillowcases and I, for one, agree with them. This isn’t just about crisp sheets; it’s about hygiene. Your bedsheets and pillow cases accumulate body oils, sweat, and dead skin cells daily — even if you can’t see it. Regular washing ensures you’re nestling into freshness every night.
2. Duvet Covers + Comforters Without a Duvet
While duvet covers (and comforters without a duvet cover) don't need washing as frequently as sheets, you should plan to clean them every two weeks to a month. I personally wash them once a month and as needed for additional spot cleaning. However, feel free to adjust this for your life as you see fit. Duvet Covers don't hug your skin like sheets, but still, deserve regular attention. This regular care maintains a clean appearance and prolongs the life of your duvet without over-washing it.
3. Duvet Inserts and Blankets
Comforters (specifically inserts to duvet covers) and blankets are a little less needy. This will change with each household, based on where you live and how often your items are used, but you’ll want to wash them with the changing seasons at the very least. When it comes to my duvet insets, I personally shoot for once a quarter. For example, I would wash my comforter inserts in January, April, July, and October. Whereas my blankets are washed more or less frequently with each season. More specifically, I will tend to throw blankets in the wash once a month in the dead of summer but every week in the winter if they are being used daily.
4. Mattress + Protective Covers
Want to keep your mattress clean, white, and free of dust mites and other allergens? If you answered “yes,” then make sure to wash your mattress protective covers every two months. You can do this by throwing it into your washing machine, but make sure to check the label for instructions to decrease shrinkage.
While your protective covers are in the wash, take the time to also clean the mattress itself. Sprinkle baking soda (mix in a couple drops of essential oils before spreading to boost a long lasting smell) on the mattress, let it sit for 30 minutes to two hours, and then vacuum it up. This can help get rid of dust mites, moisture, and unwanted odors.
5. Bath Towels
This one may be controversial. To prevent bacterial growth and keep your towels fluffy and absorbent, experts say to wash them after every 3-4 uses. Personally, I wash them after every use. This has changed throughout various seasons in our family’s life. But now that our littles are older and we are much more active compared to earlier childhood years, this is what we currently do. However, where ever you land in this window, just remember that regular washing is key to ensuring cleanliness and comfort.
6. Hand Towels and Washcloths
Due to their frequent use, experts say to swap out your hand towels and washcloths every one to two days. In our home, we clean washcloths after one use and hand towels once to twice a week depending on their usage. This ensures that what’s meant to clean you isn’t harboring unseen nasties. Because if you didn’t know, washcloths are one of the leading fabrics that can cause or increase acne on the skin due to hidden bacteria.
7. Kitchen Towels + Table Linens
Kitchen Towels:
Given their constant use, kitchen towels should be swapped out daily or every other day. This habit ensures that you're not inadvertently spreading germs around your kitchen. Also, make sure to treat any stains quickly to prevent longterm discoloring. If you’re looking for cleaner alternatives to harsh chemicals like bleach, make sure to check out the bonus below for my list of favorite natural cleaners.
Table Linens:
Change your table linens after each use, especially if stains have made their mark. The sooner you treat a stain, the more likely it is to come out and not leave a “shadow” behind. Not to mention, cleaning your table linens regularly keeps your dining area looking and feeling fresh.
8. Shower Curtains + Window Curtains
Shower Curtains:
Fabric curtains can be washed every 1-3 months depending on the traffic of those using the space and how hard your water may be. Also, remember to shut the toilet lid before flushing to decrease bacteria flying onto your shower curtain.
For plastic liners, a monthly wash is ideal. Yes, you heard that right. You don’t have to throw your plastic liner away when you start to see the discolored build up on it’s bottom edge. You can simply remove it from the shower rod, throw it into your washer on a gentle cycle with warm water and mild detergent, and hang it back up on the rod to dry. I promise it will look brand new! Disclaimer: Make sure not to use hot water or the dryer as it will melt the plastic. To remove soap scum or mold, without using harsh chemicals, check out the best natural alternatives below.
Window Curtains:
The recommendation here can widely vary depending on several factors. But experts say that at the very least, you should wash your household curtains once to twice a year. You may find that you need to do so more often if you have children, pets, high traffic areas, smoking in the home, etc.
9. Pillows
Wash your throw pillow covers monthly and the pillows themselves every 3-6 months depending on if you have children, pets, or high traffic.
When it comes to the pillows you sleep on nightly, you’ll want to wash the pillow cases weekly (along with your sheets) and the pillows themselves twice a year. If you sweat a lot, sleep with pets, or eat in bed, you should wash your pillows once a quarter and as needed for stains or when you get sick. Also if you notice your pillows starting to get flat or lumpy or you're experiencing discomfort and soreness in the morning, this is a clear indicator that it’s time to purchase a new pillow.
10. Couch Fabric
If you have removable couch cushion fabric, remove and throw in the wash once a quarter. If the fabric does not come off your couch cushions, you can follow a similar cleaning method as you would your mattress. Simply sprinkle baking soda on the fabric, gently brush it into the surface, wait 15 to 60 minutes, and then vacuum thoroughly. For tough stains, you can use a paste consistency of baking soda and water to remove.
Bonus: The Natural Way to Clean, Sanitize, and Brighten
To maintain the freshness of your linens without harsh chemicals, opt for natural ingredients. These natural alternatives help sanitize, brighten, and eliminate odors, keeping your linens in top condition.
Natural Detergents: Choose mild, hypoallergenic options.
White Vinegar: A half-cup in the rinse cycle works wonders. Also removes soap scum from shower liners.
Baking Soda: For brightening and deodorizing, add it to your wash.
Lemon Juice: A lemon's citric acid breaks down stains and is a natural bleach for your whites.
Sun-Drying: Nature’s disinfectant and bleacher. Forego the dryer if the weather feels right.
Hydrogen Peroxide + Baking Soda: Natural and effective mold removers, especially shower liners and curtains.
Avoid Fabric Softeners: They can reduce towel absorbency. Try wool dryer balls instead.
Warm Water Washing: Balances cleanliness and fabric care. Generally more effective, but check care labels.
Regular Washer Maintenance: Keep the machine that cleans, clean by using Affresh tablets monthly.
Remember, while these are the guidelines I swear by, always check your linen's care labels for specific instructions. Embracing these habits will not only prolong the life of your linens but also transform your home into a consistently refreshing and enjoyable space.
