Why Do My Bedsheets Smell Bad So Quickly?
- May 29, 2024
- 5 min read
Maintaining fresh and clean bed sheets is essential for a comfortable sleep every night and a healthy body. As you spend many hours in bed, perspiration, moisture, and many other elements can dirty your bed. Dust and many other factors also contribute to the eventual unpleasant odours in your bedding.
Today, we explore the common causes of smelly bed sheets and tips on how to handle them better, as well as their proper care.
Moisture and sweat
Moisture and sweat are the main contributors to smelly bed sheets.
Sweat accumulation provides an ideal breeding ground for bacteria. As they multiply, they produce odours, which are the foul-smelling stench.
Your skin also produces natural oils, which can exacerbate the smell when mixed with sweat.
Some people may also experience night sweating, where they often wake up in soaked pyjamas even though it is not hot.
Tips: Consider using moisture-wicking sheets. Avoid 100% polyester sheets that have low breathability. Of course, change your bedding frequently.
Washing issues
Improper washing techniques can leave your sheets in a less-than-ideal cleanliness.
First, detergent use. Not using enough detergent will result in insufficient cleaning, while using too much detergent can leave residue on your bedding.
If you have a modern washer, use a hot water washing cycle whenever possible. Washing at low temperatures may not effectively kill bacteria.
The most common washing issue would be overloading the washing machine. Washers are designed to have ‘excess’ space in order for the laundries to have enough room to move around. Overloading your washer prevents your sheets from getting washed thoroughly.
Tips: Follow the care instructions that come with your bedding. Use the correct amount of detergent and temperature. Do not overload your washer.
Drying problems
Do not forget about the drying step, whether you are drying your sheets using a machine or air drying.
If you are using air drying in humid Singapore, dry your sheets in a dry and well-ventilated area. If you cannot dry them under the sun and have to do it indoors, do not shut the windows.
Sheets that are not fully dried retain moisture. A bad way to test for moisture is to use your hand to touch (although that is the most common way, it seems). This often leads to mildew and unpleasant odours.
If you are using a dryer to dry your sheets, sometimes, the low heat setting may not be sufficient to dry them thoroughly. Depending on the materials and thickness of your sheets, you may need to adjust to a higher heating cycle. Remember to refer to the cleaning labels to check for suitability as well.
If a higher heat is not possible, do not overload your dryer. In fact, try under-loading your dryer to increase drying efficiency. The more space there is, the better your sheets get dried.
Tips: Consider using dryer balls to help with air circulation and drying efficiency in your dryer. Do not overload your dryer. Make sure your sheets are completely dry before storing them.
Bedding material
The material of your sheets can influence how they smell. Serious.
How ‘breathable’ the material is greatly impacts how fast your bed sheet will start to smell.
Synthetic fibres such as polyester tend to trap odours more than natural fabrics. Although they tend to be cheaper, would they be better in the longer run? This would be something to consider when you first get them at the stores.
Natural fabrics like cotton and linen breathe better, inevitably reducing odour retention. With technological advancements, many natural fabrics used for bedding have antimicrobial treatments that further prevent microbial growth.
How about thread counts?
High thread counts in bedding usually signify a luxurious feel. But do not overdo it, especially in humid Singapore and if you are not sleeping in an air-conditioned environment.
A higher thread count feels smoother but can be stiffer and definitely traps bacteria more easily. Thread count is not everything in the pursuit of comfort; materials have a big impact as well.
Tips: Go for natural, breathable fabrics. They can help keep your sheets smelling fresher for longer.
Environmental factors
Let’s now take a look at your bedroom. The environment your bed is in plays a significant role in the freshness of your bed sheets.
High humidity levels in your bedroom can promote mould growth. Not just on your bed sheets, they can often grow inside your cupboard and behind your bed’s headboard as well.
Having air conditioning switched on can help lower the humidity in Singapore’s climate. However, most people do not keep it on 24/7 as it is a great waste of energy.
Therefore, it is important to keep your room well-ventilated. Open the windows during the day and leave a tiny gap at the very least when you leave your home for work.
If you still find your room having a musty smell lingering in your room, consider using a dehumidifier.
Do not make your bed first thing in the morning
Shocking truth.
Contrary to popular belief, making your bed immediately after waking up is not the best idea.
Let your bed air out, allowing the moisture from your body perspiration to evaporate and heat to dissipate first.
Airing your bed helps to reduce what makes the bacteria and dust mites thrive.
Go brush your teeth and get a cup of coffee before returning to make your bed instead.
How to make sheets smell good longer?
You should wash your bed sheets every week, a maximum of two weeks apart. We have discussed the various reasons in our previous article about how often you should wash your clothes in Singapore.
If you are really too lazy busy to wash your bed sheets, then you can try some of the following PERSONALLY TESTED, NON-SCIENTIFIC tricks:
Essential oils
Add a few drops of essential oils to a spray can filled with water. From experience, Eucalyptus, Tea Tree, or Peppermint work well—oils with the ‘astringent’ property.
Then lightly spritz your sheets immediately after you wake up and while the bed is still warm. Leave it to air-dry before making your bed afterwards.
Natural sunlight
Okay, this can be a little difficult if the sun does not shine directly onto your bed. But at least you can move your pillows and blankets to where there is direct sunlight and sleep under the sun.
Sun-parching your sheets and bedding can naturally deodorise them and kill bacteria.
Baking soda
To refresh your sheets between washes, try sprinkling baking soda over your bed sheets. Let it sit for half an hour, then vacuum it off.
Make sure that your sheet is not damp before sprinkling them, or risk them becoming a paste that will be difficult to vacuum off later.
Let me put a disclaimer here: I have made the above test only in the name of science. It has no association with whether I am a lazy person or not!
But we do sincerely hope that you wash your bedding frequently, as you spend a great deal of time on your bed every day resting. Keeping it clean and fresh will improve your enjoyment of it.
