Between sleeping, relaxing and the occasional WFB (work from bed) days, we spend a lot of time in bed.
Unfortunately, with all that lounging, the area can get pretty gross. Things like dead skin cells, hair, dust mites and sweat can accumulate on your bedding, pillowcases and mattress over time, says Dr. Philip Tierno, a professor of microbiology and pathology at the New York University Grossman School of Medicine. While it's pretty disgusting to think about all those things hanging out with you in your bed, it's more than just the ick factor you should be concerned about: The particles in your bedding can also exacerbate allergies and asthma or even cause you to develop new allergies, Tierno said.
How often should you wash your bedding? | How often should you replace your bedding? | Sheet sets | Duvets | Pillows | Mattresses | How we chose | Meet the expert
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How often should you be washing your bedding?
To prevent this build-up, it's important to wash all your bedding regularly. Tierno recommends washing sheets and pillowcases every two weeks, and comforters every three months or so.
How often should you replace your bedding
Turns out, washing only goes so far. To maintain good bedroom hygiene and stay on top of the wear and tear that comes with frequent cleaning, you should also be upgrading your bedroom essentials pretty regularly. As previously reported by TODAY, you should be replacing your pillows every year, your mattress every five to 10 years and your bedding every 18 to 24 months.
With that in mind, we rounded up some of our favorite sheets, duvet sets, mattresses and pillows to shop when yours need an upgrade — because you really don't want to be thinking about those dust mites as you drift off to dreamland.
Sheets
Amazon Basics Microfiber Sheet Set
- Exceed reviewers' expectations for a simple sheet set
- Easy to care for
- Some had delivery issues with wrong sizes
- Not cooling; reviewers got too warm
Sizes: Twin to California King | Colors: 45 | Fabric: Polyester microfiber
Quality bedding usually comes with a pretty hefty price tag, but these bestselling sheets provide a luxurious level of comfort, without leaving a huge hole in your wallet. There are more than 40 colors and patterns to choose from, and the set includes a flat and fitted sheet along with two pillowcases. One Shop TODAY writer who put them to the test compared the soft feel to silk and said they held up even after multiple washes.
Mellanni Sheet Set
- Durable
- Most reviewers are repeat buyers, due to how soft they are
- Sizes are inconsistent with mattress sizes; size up
Sizes: Twin to California King, including "extra deep" pocket sizes | Colors: 40 | Fabric: Double-brushed microfiber
Shoppers truly cannot get enough of these bestselling sheets! They have more than 256,000 verified five-star ratings on Amazon, and reviewers say that they're not just a great price, but also "amazing quality." "These are the best sheets I've ever purchased," one shopper wrote. "I recently bought a new bed and wanted the best sheets I could find. These are it!! They are soooo soft and comfortable. I didn't realize how much sheets make a difference in sleeping but I feel like I'm well rested and as soon as I lay down I'm automatically comfortable and snug."
PeachSkinSheets Night Sweats Sheet Set
- Easy to clean and care for
- Best for hot sleepers, according to reviewers
- Thin material
Sizes: Twin to California King | Colors: 15 | Fabric: Breathable polyfiber
Sweaty sleepers will appreciate these moisture-wicking sheets, which are made from high-quality performance fabric. They’re designed to be quick-drying and breathable to keep you cool all night long. Plus, the fabric is said to be stain-resistant and pill-resistant, too, so the sheets will stay looking their best, even after plenty of nights of wear.
Brooklinen Luxe Core Sheet Set
- Ultra comfortable and soft, reviewers say it's worth the splurge
- High-quality, simple sheets
- Hem tends to wrinkle and twist throughout the night
Sizes: Twin to California King | Colors: 15 | Fabric: Cotton
Upgrade your sleep setup with these buttery-soft sheets from Brooklinen, beloved by several members of the Shop TODAY team. Choose from 10+ different color and pattern options, including a few fun limited edition releases. The best part? The fitted sheet has labels for the “short” and “long” sides, to eliminate the annoying process of figuring out which way to put it on.
Cozy Earth Bamboo Sheet Set
- Environmentally-friendly
- Soft, comfortable, cooling
- More costly than other brands
Sizes: Twin to Split King | Colors: 15 | Fabric: Viscose bamboo fabric
These sheets made Oprah's Favorite Things list in 2018, so you know they're bound to be good. Lightweight and breathable, they promise to keep you cool throughout the night. And according to the brand, they’re “the world’s softest bamboo sheets, guaranteed.”
You’re sure to love the luxurious feel, but if you’re not totally convinced, the company has a 100-night sleep trial policy. If you don’t love them, you can send them back (also for no cost).
Duvet sets
Nestl 3-Piece Queen Duvet Cover Set
- Thick, soft cover; doesn't wrinkle easily
- Still high-quality after many washes
- A little short on the sides
- Some of the colors are inconsistent with online photos
Sizes: Twin to California King | Colors: 40 | Fabric: Microfiber
Love sleeping next to your furry friend? This bedding set is designed to be pet-friendly, which means their paws won’t tear or snag the material and pet hair and fur won’t cling, the brand says. Plus, it’s super comfortable. “It is cushiony soft and almost cloud-like,” wrote one of the more than 65,000 people who gave the set a five-star rating.
Amazon Basics Duvet Insert
- Affordable
- Comfortable
- Dirties easily due to color
Sizes: Twin to King | Colors: 1 | Fabric: Polyester
For a hotel-quality duvet cover for an affordable price, associate editor Allie Wise recommends this easy-to-care-for option from Amazon Basics.
Not only does it have over 6,000 verified five-star ratings on the site, but it rivals fancy hotel comforters, according to Wise.
JELLYMONI Natural Cotton Striped Duvet Cover Set
- Sizing is consistent
- Soft, lightweight fabric
- Zipper sometimes malfunctions/sticks
Sizes: Twin to Oversized King | Colors: 34 | Fabric: Cotton
Bring a cute and casual feel to your room with this affordable, top-selling striped duvet cover set. It includes two pillowcases and a cover which has corner ties to secure your comforter in place.
Parachute Brushed Cotton Duvet Cover Set
- Breathable
- Durable
- Stains easily
- Color bleeds
Sizes: Full to California King | Colors: 6 | Fabric: Cotton
Made in a family-owned factory in Portugal, Parachute’s bedding delivers on quality and comfort. The lived-in feel of their duvet set is said to be like sleeping in your favorite t-shirt. The 100% cotton set comes in three different neutral color options that will easily match any bedding you already have.
Pillows
DreamyBlue Premium Pillow
- Adjustable; "most comfortable"
- High-quality
- Doesn't fully dry when washing
- Packaging and delivery issues
Sizes: Standard, Queen, King | Colors: 1 | Fabric: Memory foam
For a customizable option, look no further than this top-rated memory foam pillow. This one comes with shredded memory foam that can be added or removed, so you can find the most comfortable fit.
Osteo Cervical Pillow
- Good for side sleepers
- Felt a difference immediately
- Pricey compared to others
Sizes: Standard, queen | Colors: 1 | Fabric: Memory and polyurethane foam
Side sleepers unite! While the sleeping position is often advised against, this pillow helps provide support for those of us who still do it. From the first night, writer Emma Stessman felt a difference in the comfort and support this pillow provided compared to others she's used.
Plus, the incorporation of multiple amounts of foam allows it to hold its shape and remain comfortable and breathable, according to Stessman.
Pillow Cube Side Cube Pillow
- Long enough to turn from side to side
- Comfy memory foam but still firm enough to keep your head from sinking in
- Since it's such a long pillow, using any other pillow case than the one it comes with can be a little difficult
Sizes: "Ice cube," "Side cube" options; plus 4-, 5- and 6-inch options available | Colors: N/A | Fabric: Memory foam
Traveling often? Associate editor Kamari Stewart totes this as her "ride or die," no matter if she's in a hotel room or her New York City apartment. As a self-proclaimed side sleeper, Stewart appreciates the length of this pillow, allowing her to turn from side to side and remain on it.
"Since it’s a cube shape, it tucks in comfortably between your head and shoulder," she says. "It’s the perfect height to keep everything aligned throughout the night and keeps me from waking up with aches and pains."
Coop Home Goods The Original
- Easy to add or remove foam for comfort preferences
- Provides excellent support
- Has a weird smell to it
- Adjustable might not always be a perk, can be hard to find the perfect fit
Sizes: Queen, King | Colors: 3 | Fabric: Memory foam, microfiber
Searching for the perfect pillow can often turn into a Goldilocks situation. Firm pillows feel way too hard, but the softer options don’t provide enough support. This adjustable pillow solves all those issues. The inner fill, which is made with microfiber and memory foam, can easily be added or removed, so you can create the perfect size and shape to suit your sleeping style.
Tuft & Needle Original Foam Pillow
- "Uniformly shaped"
- "Cooling, soft, high-quality"
- Packaging and delivery issues
Sizes: Standard, King | Colors: 3 | Fabrics/Materials: Memory foam, microfiber
A cover can double the life of your pillow, and this one comes with one that’s said to be soft, breathable and machine-washable to make cleaning easier. The foam pillow is made with cooling beads which will pull heat away from your body to help prevent you from getting too hot during the night, the brand says.
Ostrichpillow Memory Foam Bed Pillow
- Ergonomic shape
- Effective for any position
- Awkard shape for pillowcases
- Too flat for some
Sizes: One size | Colors: 5 | Fabric: Memory foam
Rather than stack pillow on top of pillow to provide her with the utmost comfort while sleeping, senior editor Jess Bender opted for this one pillow to solve her sleeping woes.
"Since getting this memory foam pillow, though, I’ve never needed to worry about achy mornings," she says. "I especially adore that it perfectly hugs and positions my head, even when I toss and turn in the middle of the night."
Mattresses
Linenspa Memory Foam Mattress
- Some reviewers are repeat buyers
- Still comfortable after many years
- Didn't unfold properly for some
- Strong smell when un-packaging
Sizes: Twin-California King; 8, 10 and 12-inch options available | Colors: N/A | Fabrics/Materials: Bonnell Coil, comfort foam, memory foam
Finding a quality mattress that won't cost an arm and a leg sometimes seems like an impossible task, but this bestselling option has more than 99,000 perfect ratings and rings in at under $250. The hybrid mattress combines memory foam and inner springs to provide a medium level of firmness.
Allswell The Brick
- Has enough cushion to remain comfortable over time
- Not overly firm or hard, if that's what you're looking for
- Packaging and delivery issues
Sizes: Twin- King | Colors: N/A | Fabrics/Materials: High density foam
Just as the name would suggest, this Allswell mattress provides a high level of support, thanks to a two-inch layer of high-density foam and a firm top layer, the brand says. It also features individually-wrapped inner coils, to help minimize motion transfer, so you can sleep through the night even if your partner is tossing and turning.
Casper Original Mattress
- Easy to unpack
- Reviewers are "satisfied" with this brand and mattress; multiple of them are repeat buyers
- Packaging and delivery issues
Sizes: Twin-California King | Colors: N/A | Fabrics/Materials: Memory and polyurethane foam
The foam in Casper's Original Mattress is divided into three ergonomic zones to help keep your spine aligned. It also features thousands of miniature perforations throughout the mattress that allow air to circulate through, so you'll stay cool, the brand says.
How we chose
From side sleepers to constant travelers, the Shop TODAY team recommended bedding items that are not only comfortable from the moment you lay down, but will have you itching to return home from vacation to.
As an editorial team, we independently create content and determine coverage based on research, reporting and what we think TODAY.com readers would like to read about. The goal of our content is to provide a service and inform readers who are on the hunt for the latest products to help make their life better.
Meet the expert
- Dr. Philip Tierno, PhD, is a professor of microbiology and pathology at the New York University Grossman School of Medicine. He has more than 40 years of experience in the field of clinical and medical microbiology, and is the author of several books, including "The Secret Life of Germs" and "First, Wear a Face Mask."
