Bedding is essential when you want good sleep. During 2021, data shows that $87 billion of new bedding had been bought worldwide. Although many Americans are still using flat sheets, many Gen Zers are open to alternatives. These days, several people go to sleep with three pillows coupled with either a comforter or blanket.
Washing your bed sheets is also an essential part of your sleep. A little over 30% of Americans clean their sheets once a week with a majority of them being women. About half of American couples switch out sheets every two weeks while almost 70% of Americans admit it’s hard to find time to regularly change their sheets.
Q3 2022 hedge fund letters, conferences and more
Find A Qualified Financial Advisor
Finding a qualified financial advisor doesn't have to be hard. SmartAsset's free tool matches you with up to 3 fiduciary financial advisors in your area in 5 minutes.
Each advisor has been vetted by SmartAsset and is held to a fiduciary standard to act in your best interests.
If you're ready to be matched with local advisors that can help you achieve your financial goals, get started now.
Washing Your Bedding
When it comes to knowing if you’re washing your bedding frequently enough, experts say that pillowcases and sheets should be washed pretty often while blankets can be cleaned every couple of months.
In the case of the pillows themselves, they can actually be washed about every six months. Interestingly enough, more than half of Americans don’t believe in experts when it comes to changing the bedding with 19% believing showering before going to bed is enough.
Research has actually shown that people who change their sheets on a regular basis are able to experience more satisfying sleep. Those who used their sheets for about 20 days between washes were the most unsatisfied with their sleep.
In fact, more than half of Americans today have trouble falling asleep at least once every week, but this could be helped by changing the sheets. If you're seeing holes or seams splitting, smelling a noticeable odor, or waking up with itchy skin or a stuffy nose, it’s probably time to get new sheets.
Choosing your sheets can involve considering several factors, such as the material used. You can choose between linen, sustainable plant-based fibers, polyester, silk, or cotton depending on your needs and preferences.
Linen is usually the most breathable while polyester is the most affordable and cotton maximizes comfort for all seasons. It’s also important to consider the cotton quality as long staples (which are usually sourced from India and Egypt) result in softer, more durable sheets compared to short staples (usually labeled as “100% cotton”).
In terms of the weave, there are three you can choose from: percale, sateen, and twill. The weave you choose determines the amount of softness and durability your sheets have. This also applies to the thread count as the higher thread counts are usually more smoother and resilient.
When choosing between single- and two-ply, single-ply means that the sheets will be softer and more durable while two-ply have looser weaves with a rougher feel.
There are a range of colors you can choose from when getting sheets, but picking the color that matches your preferences is the best. For example, if you like a crisp, clean look, white would do the trick while those who are more interested in getting soothing nighttime colors would pick different blues. You can also combine bright colors with neutrals to mix things up!
Comfort and quality are necessary to consider when choosing sheets that will help you get the restful sleep you need.
Infographic Source: PizunaLinens.com
