Your bed can look spotless while collecting what you would never knowingly sleep in. Beneath that comforting fabric, sweat, shed skin, and body oils quietly accumulate, creating problems that reach beyond an unpleasant smell. Laundry expert Mary Marlowe Leverette explains why this familiar chore matters more than it seems, and why waiting another week could mean more than dis… Continues…

Stripping the bed may feel like one chore too many, but regular laundering protects more than freshness. According to Leverette, bedding collects saliva and other bodily fluids alongside everyday dirt. Contaminated linens can pose an infection risk when skin has cuts or scratches, while fungi associated with athlete’s foot can transfer through dirty fabrics. Neglect also allows moisture and residue to reach pillows and mattresses, turning a straightforward wash into a much harder cleaning problem.

The skin flakes we shed also feed dust mites, whose waste can aggravate allergies and asthma. Meanwhile, lingering oils become harder to remove as they settle into fibers, sometimes leaving stored linens smelling stale despite appearing clean. Leverette recommends washing sheets weekly, and more often during illness or heavy nighttime sweating. Use the hottest water permitted by the fabric’s care label. That modest routine helps keep the place you rest cleaner, fresher, and more comfortable.