How to Clean Bedding: Sheets, Comforters and Pillows

Read the care label, treat stains right away by blotting (never scrubbing), and wash on a schedule: sheets and pillowcases every week or two, the comforter about once a month. White bedding is forgiving, because it tolerates hotter water and stronger brighteners than most colored fabrics.

It's very common to dread a white comforter once a dog, a coffee mug or a kid enters the picture, so don't feel bad if yours already has a mark or two. Most of them come out if you act in the right order.

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How often should you wash your sheets and comforter?

Purdue Extension says bedsheets and pillowcases should be washed at least every two weeks. The same page says blankets, including weighted ones, and comforters should be washed monthly.

If a dog sleeps on the bed, I'd lean toward the short end of those ranges. Pet allergens spread easily: the NIEHS notes they can circulate in air and remain on carpets and furniture for months. A washable throw at the foot of the bed catches most of the hair and oils, and it goes in the machine far more easily than a comforter does.

What should you check before washing?

Start with the care label. It tells you the maximum water temperature, whether bleach is allowed and whether the piece can go in a dryer. Then look at the fabric.

• Percale is a plain, matte, crisp weave. It handles frequent hot washes well, so it suits households with pets.
• Sateen has a soft sheen from more threads on the surface. It snags and pills more easily, so wash it gently and skip hard scrubbing.

If you're choosing a new comforter for a pet-heavy home, a tightly woven cotton makes it easier to shake or vacuum off dog hair.

How do you wash bedding in a washing machine?

1. Shake out hair and crumbs outdoors, and check for loose seams.
2. Wash sheets separately from towels so lint doesn't cling to them.
3. Use the temperature on the label. White cotton usually tolerates warm or hot water.
4. Use less detergent than you think. Extra soap leaves residue that holds onto dirt, and a splash of white vinegar in the rinse helps clear it.
5. Dry completely. Damp bedding smells quickly.

Don't pack the drum. Water and detergent need room to move through the layers.

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How do you wash a comforter and duvet?

Most home machines are too small for a king-size comforter. Cramming one in leaves detergent streaks and trapped dirt that turns the fabric gray. Use a large-capacity machine, or soak it in a clean bathtub with warm water and detergent for a couple of hours, then press out the water and rinse until it runs clear.

To dry, use low heat and add wool dryer balls or clean tennis balls. Pull the comforter out every 30 minutes or so to fluff it and break up clumps.

With a duvet cover, wash the cover often and the insert only now and then. As an architect, I recommend a cover on every comforter you can manage: it is the cheapest way to protect the fill.

How do you get stains out of a white comforter?

Blot first. Rubbing pushes the stain deeper and can bunch the fill.

For organic stains such as coffee, wine, blood or urine, use an enzyme-based cleaner and cool water. Hot water can set protein stains. If the accident was from a cat, skip ammonia: Ohio State's Indoor Pet Initiative warns that the smell may attract the cat to that area again.

For a spot on a down comforter, pull the shell away from the fill, clean only the fabric with mild soap and water, blot, and dry quickly with a hair dryer on cool. Down that stays wet can mildew. For more on stain technique, see our full guide to white comforter stains.

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Why do sheets turn yellow, and how do you get dingy sheets white again?

Body oils and sweat build up in the fibers over time, and hard water minerals or detergent residue add a gray cast. Rarely, the bulb is the culprit: very warm 2700K light makes white look creamy, and I usually suggest 3000K in bedrooms.

To brighten, wash with an oxygen-based bleach, which is gentler than chlorine. Chlorine can yellow some synthetic fibers and weaken cotton. Add a water softener if your water is hard, and cut back on detergent. Once a year, a stripping soak with borax and washing soda can reset very dull sheets.

How do you wash pillows?

Check the label first. Many polyester and down pillows can go in the machine two at a time, so the drum stays balanced. Use a gentle cycle, rinse twice, and dry on low with dryer balls until no damp spots remain. A pillow protector under the pillowcase cuts down on how often you need to do this.

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How do you clean a mattress?

Strip the bed and vacuum the surface with an upholstery attachment. Treat spots with enzyme cleaner, blotting rather than soaking, then sprinkle baking soda over the whole surface, wait a few hours and vacuum again. Let it dry fully before remaking the bed. A washable mattress protector makes this a rare chore.

Keep the bed cleaner between washes

• Leave about 30-36 inches around the bed so shoes and pets aren't brushing the linens.
• Choose a nightstand roughly level with the mattress top and wide enough for a mug, so spills land on wood rather than bedding.
• Don't let a comforter drag on the floor.

Replace a flat, lumpy comforter even if it's clean. If you hold it to the light and see large gaps in the fill, no wash will fix that. For stubborn fabrics elsewhere in the home, this carpet stain guide follows the same blot-first logic.

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Frequently asked questions