Are You Cleaning Your Duvet Cover Often Enough?

There is nothing quite like the feeling of slipping into bed and wrapping yourself up in fresh, crisp bedding. It is a simple pleasure that brings comfort and joy to many. But when it comes to keeping our sleeping sanctuaries clean, it is not just the sheets that require attention. Our duvet covers deserve a good, thorough wash as well. After all, we use them just as much, right?

Duvet covers may seem a bit more complex than your standard linens, but fear not — they are actually a breeze to clean! Once you remove the insert, the cover itself resembles regular bedsheets and can be laundered in a similar manner. So, the question arises: do duvet covers warrant the same frequency of washing as our beloved sheets? If they come in direct contact with your skin, following an equivalent cleaning routine and washing duvet covers once a week is best.

Dermatologist Alok Vij, MD, explained that, on average, each person sheds about 1 ½ grams of keratinocytes per day, which is almost equivalent to ½ a teaspoon of dead skin, per Cleveland Clinic. This amount may seem minuscule, but when you consider the vast amount of time you spend in bed, it quickly accumulates over the week. When you factor in bacteria, bodily fluids, and perhaps even crumbs, the dirt buildup in your bed can be quite unpleasant. That's why you should aim to launder duvet covers and any other bed linens that directly touch your skin every week.

The frequency of washing your duvet covers may vary depending on certain factors. If you share your bed with loved ones, such as your spouse, pets, or young children, washing them more frequently may be more appropriate. This is because having more bodies in the bed can lead to an increased presence of bacteria, dust, and fungi. However, if you use a top sheet as an additional protective layer, you may be able to extend the time between washes to once a month. Now, wash away those worries, and enjoy a restful, clean sleep on cloud-9.