Ideal temperature to wash bed sheets so they don't need to be washed as often

02 December 2023 , 11:17

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An expert explains the ideal temperature for washing bedding (Image: Getty Images/iStockphoto)

This expert-approved hack could save you money on your energy bills in the long term.

Ensuring that your bed sheets are properly cleaned is essential for your health, with a study showing that unclean bedding can increase your chances of developing serious infections, like pneumonia and appendicitis. Back in 2020, research showed that people aren't washing their bedding enough - with one-third of Brits only washing it once annually. Considering bedsheets are basically clothes you wear every night, it's important to regularly pop them in your washing machine for a thorough clean, but balancing this alongside keeping your energy bills down as we head into winter can be difficult for some people.

If this is something you find yourself weighing up, this hack is for you. An expert, speaking to The Express, has explained there is an ideal temperature that you should opt for to wash your bed sheets that will both eradicate any lingering bacteria and mean you don't have to wash them quite so often, keeping your energy bills down.

The expert, from Melt - a laundry sheet company - recommends going for a hot wash setting at 60°C. "A hot wash, at 60°C is the ideal temperature as it will kill the bacteria, germs and fungi that build up on sheets.

"Wash them on a hotter cycle and you won’t need to wash them as often. On a lower temperature wash some bacteria will remain on your laundry. This means it will smell more quickly."

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However, you need to make sure that you have checked the care label on your bedding before you use this hack, as some materials are not suitable to be washed at such a high temperature. While lower-temperature washes are better for the environment, the experts claim that you may not get rid of all the bacteria present in your bedding, so opting for a hot wash at least sometimes is a good way to eliminate any that may be there.

The Sleep Foundation advises that to maintain good sleep hygiene you should wash your sheets every week, but if you don't sleep in them every night this can be stretched out to every fortnight.

However, they explain that for some people with certain health conditions - like asthma - then "it may be worth it to try cleaning your bedding more frequently to see if your symptoms improve." They also recommend if you have a pet that sleeps in your bed with you that you wash your sheets twice a week.

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Emma Mackenzie