How often you should wash your bedding — and the right way to do it
We spend a third of our lives on our bedding, leaving behind 56 hours a week of sweat, body oil and dead skin cells. So how often should we be washing away that funk? And what's the best way to do so? Shutterstock We asked Mary Zeitler of Whirlpool's Institute of Home Science for professional tips on tackling this chore. From water temperature to drying time, there's definitely a right way and wrong way to do the job. Follow these tips and not only will your sheets be cleaner, they'll last longer, too. How often to wash ? To keep dust mites and other allergens at bay, Zeitler suggests washing sheets once a week. Loading the washer Sheets need lots of room to get clean, so don't jam too many sheets into each load. Never wrap sheets around the agitator — they'll tear and wrinkle. Wash sheets separately to prevent other items from getting tangled or balled up in them. If you do choose to wash other items with sheets, make sure they are lightweight ...