How Many Extra Pairs Of Sheets Do You Really Need Per Bed?

Spring cleaning season is the ideal time to declutter your home, but tackling each room might feel daunting. It's not unusual for people's dwellings to hold hundreds or thousands of items, many of which seem necessary or useful to have. If you feel stuck when it comes to organizing your space, there is at least one area that has a magic number to help you remove excess.

Your linen closet might be home to numerous pillowcases, duvet covers, blankets, and most importantly: bed sheets. After all — backup linens are a must regardless of if you are in a single or multiple-person home.

However, you don't actually need as many sheets as you think, and anything over three full sets can go. Studies across numerous bedding companies and designers have shown that as long as each individual bed can claim three sets of sheets, they are more than prepared for laundry days, guests, and anything else that might require a linen swap.

So where did the rule of three come from? According to numerous sources like GhostBed, three sets of sheets ensures that there is always one on the actual mattress, while another can be in the laundry, and the last set can be kept on standby if it's needed to replace the one in use.

Being able to rotate your linens without being rushed to get them cleaned and put back will take the stress away, allowing for more time to properly launder dirty sheets. Most people do their washing once or twice a week, so having backups will give you breathing room between loads.

The exception to this rule is your pillowcases, which can be changed more frequently if you prefer. The New York Times recommends washing sheets once a week, but pillowcases can even be switched out twice a week if they tend to see more sweat, makeup, or other elements.

Different materials and fabrics will have different results and needs, including washing schedules. The best sheet fabrics that are breathable and soft include bamboo, linen, and cotton. Because these are a more airy material, they won't collect odors or particles as quickly as some synthetic fibers.

Linen sheets are expensive but also get softer the more you use and wash them, which makes them a great investment. Choosing linens with a super high thread count doesn't always mean they are better than the other options, so research care instructions to avoid purchasing sets that require extra work.

If you want to keep your bedding sets fresh in between uses, you can also add some small, spare pieces of cloth sprinkled with essential oils to your linen closet. Simply pour a few drops of your favorite scent onto the fabric and store it between your sheets and towels where you store them, so when you pull them back out they smell fresh and inviting. After all, your bed should be the coziest place in your house, so why not treat yourself to soft, good-smelling sheets?