Fashion Journal readers share how often they really wash their bed sheets

WORDS BY FASHION JOURNAL

“It realistically only takes about 15 minutes out of my day, but it is such a drag and so easy to avoid at all costs.”

You can tell a lot about a person from their bedroom. A carefully curated, minimalistic space might indicate an organised, regimented personality; a floor covered in clothing and Uber Eats bags could tell you the opposite. New York comedian Rachel Coster’s recently viral TikTok series, ‘Boy Rooms’ uncovered the disturbing underworld of young men’s bedrooms – poor ventilation, old food, odd trinkets and all.

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The series also resurfaced the age-old bed linen debate. Is a top sheet really necessary? How acceptable is a thin, yellowing pillow? And perhaps most importantly, how often should we be washing our bedding? Here, 11 Fashion Journal readers share how often they really wash their bed sheets.

Tyla*, 20, she/her

Probably once a month if I am being honest. I know that is considered gross but I’d be lying to you and myself if I said otherwise. In summer, it’s obviously a lot more frequent (you kind of have no choice unless you are planning to sleep in your sweat) but in winter, I struggle big time to meet the two-week changeover. I don’t feel dirty or untidy by it, or I definitely would change them. It realistically only takes about 15 minutes out of my day, but it is such a drag and so easy to avoid at all costs.

Selena*, 31, she/her

We change them every one-and-a-half weeks on average I’d say. When you have a few sets in rotation, the sheets tend to come off the bed earlier but be washed later. We try and wash them every two weeks. It’s a bit of an ordeal because we soak them before washing them, have to hang them in the apartment, etc. I really love my sheets and that’s made me so motivated to keep the hygiene routine tight!

Charlie*, 22, she/they

I wash them once a week. Often by the weekend, I want to wash them but hold off because I know on Friday and Saturday night I’ll rub my club makeup off on my pillows. But I replace my bottom sheet usually mid-week so me and my partner don’t have to sleep on post-sex stains.

Mia*, 25, female

I wash them every two weeks in winter, and weekly in summer. There’s no better feeling than crinkling your toes in clean sheets.

Luella*, 26, she/her

Every two to three weeks in summer for sheets and pillowcases (and every second sheet change for the mattress protector) but around once a month in winter. I’m a reformed never-washer and have a reminder set on my phone. Top blankets and doonas get washed every one to two months.

Xav*, 27, he/him

I think for a young, single male, I wash my sheets fairly often. I don’t use a top sheet, but I’ll change my fitted sheet and doona cover every two weeks for sure. Some of my friends’ rooms have that kind of musty, unwashed sheets smell, and I really never want to walk into my room and smell that.

Tony*, 28, she/her

I was them every two to three weeks. I’d love for it to be every week but I love to be a little secretly gross.

Beth*, 24, she/her

I wash them like every four to six weeks, whoops. I was a tomboy growing up.

Georgie*, 20, she/her

I wash them once a month.

May*, 27, she/her

I wash them once a week or, if I’ve been staying at my partner’s place or at my sister’s place a lot, once a fortnight. My partner (he /him, 27) washes his sheets once a week now. For a few years now I told him he must because he sweats so much, and because he just should be doing that and thank god.