Your bed may look clean, but beneath the sheets, sweat, dead skin cells, body oils, and other bodily fluids can build up over time. Although changing the bedding might feel like an unnecessary chore, keeping sheets clean is important for protecting your health and maintaining a comfortable sleeping environment.

Laundry expert Mary Marlowe Leverette explains that dirty bedding can carry bacteria and other contaminants. These may increase the risk of infection, especially when you have cuts or scratches on your skin. Fungi associated with athlete’s foot can also spread through contaminated fabrics. Meanwhile, moisture and accumulated residue can reach pillows and mattresses, making them much harder to clean.

Dead skin cells also provide food for dust mites, whose waste can trigger allergies and worsen asthma symptoms. Body oils can become trapped deep in fabric fibers, eventually creating unpleasant odors that remain even after bedding has been stored.

Leverette recommends washing bedsheets at least once a week, or more frequently when someone is sick or sweats heavily during the night. Using the hottest water allowed by the fabric’s care label can also help remove accumulated dirt and residue. Changing your sheets regularly is a simple habit that helps keep your bed fresher, cleaner, and healthier.