For people who hate doing laundry, our advice to wash bed linen 1-2 times a week may sound like torture. I’ve known dudes who go weeks before they change their bedsheets. 

Dirty bedding is bad for your skin and health, hence our recommendation for frequent laundry. But if you really can’t get onboard with washing your sheets weekly, you can go for longer. But you’ll need to be extra careful with your bed hygiene. Here are some tips to keep your bedding cleaner for longer. 

Take a Shower Before Getting In Bed

By the end of the day, your skin is covered in sweat, dirt, pollution, dead skin cells and sebum. If you are a morning shower only kind of person, all this stuff transfers onto your bed linen when you sleep. As it builds up, you risk skin breakouts and infections. 

Taking a shower or bath in the evening keeps your bedding cleaner and hygienic for longer so you don't need to launder it as often. 

On those days when you are not able to take a shower before bed, make sure you at least wash and cleanse your face. Your face is especially prone to acne and other skin problems. So keeping your pillowcase clean is essential.  

Go Easy on Skin Products in the Evening

Don't lather on too many skin products when you go to bed. All those serums and creams may be great for your skin, but they make your bed sheets dirtier. 

Once they accumulate on your linen, they can clog your skin pores and lead to breakouts particularly on areas of your skin that are constantly in contact with the sheets.

So go easy on skin products in the evening. Stick to only one or two products and apply them sparingly. 

It’s also a good idea to wait 10-30 minutes once you apply a cream or some other product before you get in bed. This is how long it takes for most lotions and creams to absorb into the skin. 

Not only will this prevent transfer onto bedding, it also ensures the products you use benefit your skin. Cotton sheets are especially notorious for absorbing moisture and oils from your skin.   

Get Natural Bed Linen 

There are plenty of reasons to choose natural bedding like cotton, silk and linen over synthetic ones such as polyester. 

Natural bedding is more breathable, it’s better at wicking or absorbing sweat, it lasts longer and it feels softer against your skin. Natural bed sheets are also more hygienic. 

Synthetic bedding sleeps hotter and can make you sweat more. The excess moisture creates the perfect habitat for bacteria, germs and even mold.  

In addition, synthetic fibers like nylon and polyester trap more of the fatty compounds in sweat that cause odors. This is why synthetic bedding (and clothes) tend to get smelly quicker, especially if you sweat a lot. 

Natural bed linen is more hostile to bacteria. It also doesn't smell as much as synthetic bedding. So your bed stays hygienic and smells fresh for longer. As a bonus, you also sleep cooler and don't have to worry about waking up clammy with sweat.      

Use Hercleon Antibacterial Sheets

The Hercleon Jax Sheets take bed hygiene to the next level. They are breathable and do a great job sucking up sweat from your skin. That’s not all. 

They are made with a special antibacterial fiber that actively fights off bacteria. This keeps your bed hygienic and smelling clean even if you go a couple of weeks without washing the sheets. 

Hercleon sheets are especially great for folks who have sensitive skin and are prone to skin infections and breakouts. 

Get a Duvet Cover

A duvet cover is like a mattress protector, but for your comforter. It protects your comforter from getting dirty by providing an extra layer between it and your skin. It also keeps allergens and dirt from around the bedroom from settling on the comforter. 

With a duvet cover, you can go a couple of months or even longer without having to launder your comforter. That not only saves you the hassle of bundling a bulky comforter into the washer, it also extends its life. Frequent laundering is bad for comforters.   

Air Your Bed Daily 

When you wake up in the morning, don't make your bed immediately. There’s moisture (and smells) trapped under the blankets. Remove the blanket or comforter, or just roll it back to let the bed sheet and mattress air out. If possible, open a window to improve airflow. 

This will get rid of excess moisture on your bed, which keeps it clean and fresh for longer. It also reduces the risk of mold and mildew growing on your bed.