How Often You Should Really Wash Your Pillow, Sheets, Towels, and Bra

Although most pillows have a tag with laundering instructions, few people bother to wash them. The good news is that laundering pillows is surprisingly easy. If you use a zippered pillow protector, you'll only need to wash the pillows themselves once or twice a year, though the protectors require monthly laundering. Check the care tag first (memory foam, for instance, usually isn't machine washable), use a mild liquid detergent rather than residue-inducing powder, set the machine to the gentle cycle, add an extra rinse cycle to make sure all the soap is gone, and dry on low heat for as long as it takes to get all the moisture out.

Surveys have repeatedly shown that people don't wash their sheets enough; more than half wash them just once or twice a month. Dust mites can wreak microscopic havoc because they feed on dead skin cells. Most experts agree weekly washing will suffice to maximize cleanliness, especially if you have pets, and more frequently if you've been sick.

For many people, a weekly towel change is the norm, but the average towel collects tens of millions of dead skin cells as well as any fungi or bacteria, and most toilets aren't far from the shower, so droplets of toilet water can reach your damp, hanging towel. Experts recommend not going more than three uses without washing thoroughly, using warm or hot water with detergent, and color-appropriate bleach for good measure.

Bras don't necessarily fall in the wash-after-every-use category, but they require more maintenance than they usually get. Washing every three wears is appropriate, but that doesn't mean every three days: if you wear a bra multiple days consecutively, the fibers in the elastic don't get a chance to rebound. When you find a bra that fits perfectly, buy three: one to wash, one to wear, and one to swap out. Exercise and workout bras should be washed more frequently, depending on activity level.