December 19, 2025, 8:39 am | Read time: 3 minutes
It’s the small moments in life that promise true bliss, like sleeping in a freshly made bed. However, you should wash your bed linens regularly, not just for the good feeling, but also for hygiene reasons.
Sleep helps our bodies recover. We relax and process the day’s experiences to have enough energy for the next day. Several factors are crucial for restful sleep. Among them is an environment where you feel comfortable. In other words: a cozy and clean bed. But it’s only clean if you properly and, above all, regularly make it with freshly-washed linen. But what does that mean exactly? How often should you wash your bed linens?
Washing Bed Linens—How Often Is It Necessary?
The frequency with which you should change your bed linens depends on your sleeping habits, as informed by the German Cosmetic, Toiletry, Perfumery and Detergent Association (IKW). Those who like to sleep naked or sweat a lot should make their bed with fresh bedding weekly. Such a short interval is also advisable during the hot summer months. In the cooler seasons, it’s sufficient to wash the bed linens every two, at most every three weeks.
Besides sweat and skin particles, bacteria or bedbugs can also nest in the bed linens over time. After all, the body releases about one and a half liters of moisture overnight. Combined with body heat, this creates an ideal breeding ground for pests.
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At What Temperature Should You Wash Bed Linens?
Even though many wash their bed linens at 60 degrees Celsius, in most cases, 30 to 40 degrees Celsius is entirely sufficient if you use full or universal detergent. Sixty degrees are only necessary if the laundry is heavily soiled. A lower temperature, on the other hand, preserves the textile fibers and colors. If it’s colored bed linens and color detergent, it should not exceed 60 degrees.
Tips for Allergy Sufferers
If you suffer from a dust mite allergy, you should wash your bed linens more frequently. A weekly wash cycle is advisable. Additionally, allergy sufferers should clean their bed linens at 60 degrees. This can effectively combat a mite infestation.
Note: There is also special anti-mite bed linen for allergy sufferers.
Extra Tip
“Whether you want your pets to sleep in bed with you is up to you. Personally, I have to admit that I couldn’t—nor would I want to—stop my cat. If you’re like me and appreciate a purring hot water bottle, you should also wash your bed linens more frequently. A weekly change is appropriate. To better remove the hair, special lint brushes are suitable. Especially those areas where the pet particularly likes to rest should be freed from pet hair.”