Dust mites & How Often Should Bed Sheets Be Changed?

It is a common question posed by many. Changing bed sheets is a critical task that should be done at least once a week, if not twice a week. There are those that tend to release more body sweat in the night in which case the frequency should be increased. Along with bed sheets, one should also wash their pillow cases regularly. While some websites recommend washing pillows only a few times a year, we suggest washing them at least 6-12 times a year. Believe it or not, pillows are filled with germs so they need to be cleaned regularly.

One of the major problems that arise from lack of washing is dust mites. These little critters can be quite troublesome. Dust mites feed on dead human skin, something we are constantly shedding throughout the day. In fact, it is said we shed over 1,000,000 dead skins cells every day. Dust mites love these and will go wherever there is plenty dead skin cells – namely our mattress, bed sheets, and pillowcases! In addition, dust mites love humidity so if your house tends to stay warm and has humidity you can bet there will be dust mites crawling everywhere. Worse yet, dust mites lead to allergies which can be debilitating to some.

To protect against dust mites, wash your linens on a regular basis and look for any signals of dust mites. If you are experiencing traditional allergy symptoms such as runny nose, watery eyes, itching, and so forth, then you may have a case of dust mites in the home. Another thing to look for is bite marks on the skin which can come from certain types of mites. These can itch severely and are best treated with calamine lotion and medications such as Benadryl.

If you live in places like San Diego, Los Angeles, Orange County, San Francisco or any other part of California with high humidity concentration, it is especially important to do regular house cleanings throughout the year to prevent dust mites in your home.