Comments on: Ch-ch-ch-changes...

Question: Ch-ch-ch-changes...

Sinner — Wed, 21 Dec 2005 22:44:15 -0800

How often do you you change your sheets? (I'm specifically interested in single apartment-dwellers - if you're married, please feel free to contribute, but make a note of your marital status ... or ideally, note the difference between you as part of a married couple and as a single person). Thanks!

By: slater

slater — Wed, 21 Dec 2005 22:59:06 -0800

i live alone, and i wash my sheets every 2-3 weeks. And before the gf is here (long-distance relationship)

By: unmake

unmake — Wed, 21 Dec 2005 23:05:44 -0800

Usually some time after I notice they aren't white any more. Of course I live alone.

By: fshgrl

fshgrl — Wed, 21 Dec 2005 23:06:19 -0800

Every week when I go to the laundromat. I change my pillowcase every 2-3 days.

By: damnjezebel

damnjezebel — Wed, 21 Dec 2005 23:11:48 -0800

I change out my sheets (NOT just wash) every week. I would go longer, but my dog sleeps under the comforter with me, so it tends to smell like mutt after a while. I'm single now, but I did the same thing when I was with my boyfriend.

Now.... pillowcases? They're changed out every other day or so (yes, I'm that anal).

By: Radio7

Radio7 — Wed, 21 Dec 2005 23:15:00 -0800

Every 1-2 wks.

By: headlessagnew

headlessagnew — Wed, 21 Dec 2005 23:17:17 -0800

I wash my sheets every 2 weeks or so, longer if I would have to do a wash ($2.25) all by itself for them. I live alone. Before the girlfriend, washing was ... less frequent.

By: Happydaz

Happydaz — Wed, 21 Dec 2005 23:23:24 -0800

I'm single, in a long distance relationship. I probably wash my sheets once a month when the woman isn't around and once a week when she is. I have a Rottweiler/Shepherd who sleeps in my bed with me, so when I used to date more I washed my sheets before every date... some people are weirded out by dog hair ... I usually forget it's there.

By: SuperNova

SuperNova — Wed, 21 Dec 2005 23:38:12 -0800

I'm in college. When I'm not at home, I probably do it once a month or so, but I'm slack about it. I waited too long last time and I seriously thought for about a week something had gone bad, either in the fridge or something of the roommate's or who knows. Turned out the sheets smelled. AFAIK nothing died in them, though I might have had I been given a few more days of that smell.

But aside from the TMIFilter you just got, here's my word of warning that I will begin washing my sheets religiously at least every couple weeks.

By: mr.dan

mr.dan — Thu, 22 Dec 2005 00:33:53 -0800

I'm in college is well, and I go with once a month. Plus, mine are t-shirt sheets, and to me they lose some of their feel every wash, so I try and wash them as little as possible.

By: Jofus

Jofus — Thu, 22 Dec 2005 00:38:58 -0800

Before I met her: Once a month. Now: Every seven seconds.

By: Joseph Gurl

Joseph Gurl — Thu, 22 Dec 2005 00:43:05 -0800

Whenever my girlfriend complains about them - like once a month or so. Pillowcases maybe twice as frequently.

By: scody

scody — Thu, 22 Dec 2005 01:00:49 -0800

Single female here. Every 1-2 weeks, though in part that's because I spend at least 3 nights a week at my boyfriend's. If I (we) were here every night, it would definitely be weekly.

Incidentally, my bf washes his sheets ~weekly, too, and without any prompting from me -- he's a total slob, god love him, but washing the sheets regularly is the one clean habit he clearly picked up somewhere along the line before I ever came along.

By: mummimamma

mummimamma — Thu, 22 Dec 2005 01:05:45 -0800

Single, mostly partner-less. I wash mine every two weeks, which happily coincides with my laundry half-week. Oftener if needed - occasionally I have these horrible sweating bouts and have to change my sheets during the night. And of course after sex - once every blue moon...

By: essexjan

essexjan — Thu, 22 Dec 2005 01:46:43 -0800

I have four pillows on the bed, and move them round so I have a fresh pillow every couple of days, and then once a week I wash the sheet, pillowcases & duvet cover.

In the summer, when I'm able to dry them outside, I'll sometimes put the same set back on the bed, because there's nothing nicer than the smell of sun-dried bed linen, but where they're tumble-dried, I'll usually put a different set on each week.

By: SpecialK

SpecialK — Thu, 22 Dec 2005 01:54:39 -0800

Single fussy bachelor here. I change my sheets once a week, but I have 3 sets. I'll wash them whenever I'm doing a load of that color. I can't go longer because I'm allergic to skin oils, including my own. If I get too much skin oil into my eyes, the pain starts...

By: scodger

scodger — Thu, 22 Dec 2005 02:02:09 -0800

I aim to change my pillowcase twice a week, bottom sheets every week, and top sheet/duvet cover every 2 weeks.
I'm not too fussy abouty it though, so they can often go twice this long.

By: Meatbomb

Meatbomb — Thu, 22 Dec 2005 02:51:46 -0800

I do without sheets and pillowcases, then you don't ever need to wash them.

By: booksandlibretti

booksandlibretti — Thu, 22 Dec 2005 02:55:52 -0800

I'm in college. I try to wash my sheets (both flat and fitted) every week. I do other laundry every week, but sometimes the sheets don't make it in and they go two weeks instead. I have a ridiculous amount of dollar-store pillowcases and change them every day, and wash them all whenever I do the sheets.

By: Corky

Corky — Thu, 22 Dec 2005 03:38:04 -0800

I change the sheets every week. I have three sets. I always wash the sheets and pillowcases together, so they fade at the same rate. Nothing bugs me more than when the pillowcases don't match the sheets. Same thing with towels. I have towels and washcloths that are easily eight years old, but look fairly new, because they are the same color.

I semi-live with The Boyfriend™. He now changes the sheets on his bed once a week, too. Of course, it helps that I told him early on that clean sheets are an aphrodisiac for me...

By: pollystark

pollystark — Thu, 22 Dec 2005 03:51:45 -0800

Single girl, live alone. About once every two weeks, or the next day if I sleep with someone.

By: dpx.mfx

dpx.mfx — Thu, 22 Dec 2005 05:14:20 -0800

Married. But this was the same when I was single: sheets get changed every other Tuesday, when the cleaning lady comes. Becuase I HATE changing sheets/making beds. When I was in college, it was probably every three weeksish, depending on how often I slept in the bed.

I sort of think I should probably change the pillowccases more often. But no matter how hard I think, it just doesn't happen.

By: Makebusy7

Makebusy7 — Thu, 22 Dec 2005 05:21:30 -0800

Once a week !

By: bilabial

bilabial — Thu, 22 Dec 2005 05:23:14 -0800

I live with two cats. The allergy doc says the cats must go, so instead I strip and remake the bed daily (ok, ok, sometimes I leave it for a week, then I pay dearly) because my allergies to dust and cat hair are pretty severe. I have the sinus infection to show for my laziness right now.

Since I don't have a washer/dryer, I have many sets of sheets and pillowcases. Not enough blankets though, I'm learning.

By: provolot

provolot — Thu, 22 Dec 2005 05:31:35 -0800

Two weeks, pillowcases and sheets.

Can I just say that I like your bowie reference?

By: emelenjr

emelenjr — Thu, 22 Dec 2005 06:04:05 -0800

Until this question came up here, I'd never before heard of the practice of washing pillowcases on a separate schedule. I understand the reasoning behind it, but it still seems kind of excessive. That said, I wash my sheets once a week and usually change them out for a different set.

By: tetsuo

tetsuo — Thu, 22 Dec 2005 06:10:52 -0800

Married, three sets of sheets, they get changed every week.

By: different

different — Thu, 22 Dec 2005 06:11:02 -0800

Single; I change the sheets every week. Always have done.

I'm hardly a clean freak, but I'm a little shocked at the number of people who change their sheets every month! Don't they start to smell? I guess I just prefer getting into a clean (non-smelly) bed every night. No judgement, just a comment.

By: bibbit

bibbit — Thu, 22 Dec 2005 06:44:18 -0800

Ideally, every week to 2 weeks. Realistically, every 3-4 weeks because I'm that lazy. My boyfriend changes his probably less, which is...not pleasant. I haven't found a way yet to tell him that without sounding like a nag.

I have three sets of sheets - old ones (fitted, flat, pillow case) come off, get washed, get stored away. Fresh ones rotated in.

By: Mark5four0

Mark5four0 — Thu, 22 Dec 2005 07:00:17 -0800

24 year old male, with girlfriend.

About once a month? really I only change them if there's a noticable stain. usually I just movie the laundry to the floor and pass out.

By: zadcat

zadcat — Thu, 22 Dec 2005 07:14:09 -0800

Couple of times a month in winter, more often in summer. Single female with cats.

By: PhatLobley

PhatLobley — Thu, 22 Dec 2005 07:21:00 -0800

Mark5four0 : "About once a month? really I only change them if there's a noticable stain. usually I just movie the laundry to the floor and pass out."

That's pretty much where I am as a single guy. They used to get changed before the long-distance ladyfriend came to town, but she doesn't come to town any more.

By: Gooney

Gooney — Thu, 22 Dec 2005 07:42:43 -0800

Mine every few weeks.

Weird though, it has never crossed my mind to change out the pillowcases more frequently I do them all at the same time...

By: Seamus

Seamus — Thu, 22 Dec 2005 07:53:27 -0800

Bachelorhood - every 2 to 3 months (barring stains or sweaty bouts of sleeping)
Living together & Marriage - every two weeks religiously

I'm a stinky boy and my sheets rarely acquired a funk. I usually stink only when I'm awake.
ha

By: desuetude

desuetude — Thu, 22 Dec 2005 07:58:30 -0800

Now that I sleep at my bf's house many nights, it's about once a month. But in sleeping-nights, it equals about every two weeks or so, which is how often I changed them when I spent the majority of nights in my own bed. He does his sheets about every other week as well. No separate pillowcase schedule (what is this for?) -- they get washed with the sheets.

By: nicwolff

nicwolff — Thu, 22 Dec 2005 08:02:19 -0800

Single geezer w/ GF who sleeps over a couple nights a week and short-haired low-shedding pillow-sleeping cat. Apartment-dweller but have washer/dryer. I rotate the pillowcases every couple of days and wash the sheets once a week or so. When I was a young slob, I had colored sheets and probably washed them once a month or so, but in my thirties my tastes changed and I switched to white sheets which corrected my behavour.

By: jacquilynne

jacquilynne — Thu, 22 Dec 2005 08:02:24 -0800

I wash my sheets whenever I do significant laundry, which is usually every second week, but occasionally three.

By: Mitheral

Mitheral — Thu, 22 Dec 2005 08:21:43 -0800

Married, twice a week. Was every 5-7 days when I was living alone. Flannel in the winter and regular cotton in the summer. I can't beleve how many people go for a month at a time either. Then again I use just two bath sheets for a week's worth of showers and I know lot's of people are appalled that I don't use new towels everyday.

By: easternblot

easternblot — Thu, 22 Dec 2005 08:31:08 -0800

About every 2 weeks. That ends up being every laundry batch. Sometimes the schedule gets screwed up when I do a small load of laundry in between, and the sheets miss their turn. Then I just do the pillow-cases and flip the sheets around (two-sided, but the print on one side matches the pillows better)
(Girl, living alone, but/and/hence the cat also sleeps on the bed.)

By: iurodivii

iurodivii — Thu, 22 Dec 2005 08:50:29 -0800

married: approximately monthly, much longer when i was single

By: inging

inging — Thu, 22 Dec 2005 08:51:15 -0800

yeah, wow, i feel dirty. i change my sheets about once every four to six months. when i was young, my dad washed sheets weekly, but i just didn't pick up that habit.

By: blue_beetle

blue_beetle — Thu, 22 Dec 2005 09:09:10 -0800

single, male, hetro, 28: everything, every week

By: kirkaracha

kirkaracha — Thu, 22 Dec 2005 09:47:07 -0800

When I was single and living alone, I changed the sheets when they were visibly dirty if you were standing up, or if they were stinky. With a live-in girlfriend, they get changed magically pretty often.

By: porntips guzzardo

porntips guzzardo — Thu, 22 Dec 2005 09:59:30 -0800

Wow! This thread is really fascinating. I'm apparently behind the sheet-changing status quo.

My sleep situation is: myself (student, 25), significant other (recently graduated, now 9-5ing it, 24), and frequently one of our cats (Fido, spoiled domestic pet, 1). Since cohabitating earlier this year, sheet mileage has actually increased, which seems bassackward to me. "My" bed saw fresh sheets every 3-4 weeks; "our" bed is lucky to see any less than 5-6 weeks. Oh, we currently have jersey cotton (aka "t-shirt", as mr.dan said) sheets & pillowcases. So nice in the winter...mmm.

In all the time I've lived on my own, my only reason for buying new sheets has been sort of a "I'm bored with this color/pattern; I think I'll buy some ones" process. Reading this thread, however, I'm now suddently keen on the idea of keeping a second set of clean sheets on hand that are [more] frequently swapped for their unclean counterpart. I'm almost embarrased that it's taken me 7 years of not living under my mom's roof for this method to make sense to me, though.

By: KevinSkomsvold

KevinSkomsvold — Thu, 22 Dec 2005 10:11:53 -0800

Married - weekly. My wife saw something on Oprah about dust mites and completely freaked. For a week she boiled, steamed and re-boiled the sheets. She was convinced that we would be eaten alive if we didn't. Now it's back to weekly.

By: mojabunni

mojabunni — Thu, 22 Dec 2005 10:12:23 -0800

When single as a teenager: like every 2-3+ months!

Now, living with bf: every 3 to 8 weeks or so, but I probably should more often. But now I seem to have developed fairly frequent night sweats which makes the sheets stink :( It's just really hard cooking and doing laundry for two and cleaning up after 3 adults, 3 large dogs and 2 small children in this house, so the sheets take a lower priority.

Also in concern for not getting acne I put a hand towel over my pillow and change it weekly or so.

By: mmascolino

mmascolino — Thu, 22 Dec 2005 10:32:14 -0800

Married here...we swap out the sheets about weekly.

By: Captain_Tenille

Captain_Tenille — Thu, 22 Dec 2005 10:34:02 -0800

Married now, once or twice a week, but the wife always changes them. When I was single, I don't think I hardly ever changed them. Of course, there were often times I didn't actually have a bed, and I'd just buy new clothes rather than wash the existing ones.

By: aramaic

aramaic — Thu, 22 Dec 2005 10:34:42 -0800

Living alone, I change them weekly.

By: five fresh fish

five fresh fish — Thu, 22 Dec 2005 10:39:45 -0800

Married, weekly. The idea of leaving it longer than that just gives me the heebie-jeebies something awful.

By: orange swan

orange swan — Thu, 22 Dec 2005 11:03:40 -0800

Usually some time after I notice they aren't white any more. Of course I live alone.

Of course.

Female, live alone, usually sleep alone. The sheets get washed every Wednesday night when I do my laundry. I have four pillows on the bed, so there's no need for separate changes of pillowcases. I don't have a second set of sheets, though I would like that, because whenever I have the $50 to spare I've got something better to do with it. I have three cotton nightgowns and although usually in the winter I wear the same one all week, in the summer I tend to cycle through all three.

By: jefeweiss

jefeweiss — Thu, 22 Dec 2005 11:59:19 -0800

I'm married and we change the sheets about every two weeks. Usually when my wife says it's time. Back when I lived by myself I changed them once a month or so. I think that maybe changing them more often would probably help with allergies and such. I tend to change comforters and blankets much less frequently as they don't do well in the wash.

By: Lycaste

Lycaste — Thu, 22 Dec 2005 12:48:27 -0800

Single, female, 23. Weekly.

By: ch1x0r

ch1x0r — Thu, 22 Dec 2005 14:35:55 -0800

Just so no one thinks that it's only boys that are gross, this female NYC apartment-dweller with a not-live-in BF and two cats that shed constantly changes her sheets maybe... every 2 months? Every 9 weeks? Depends if I'm going to have guests that might see the filth. I would do them more often if it were really easy but it's such a pain in the ass to take them off, lug them to the cleaners (I still haven't quite figured out the pick-up thing), etc etc. Also: I never make my bed.
When I have a new boyfriend I do them more often, until I figure out his gross tolerence. Fortunately my current beau has about the same gross tolerance as me (although a higher gross tolerance for towels, which sucks. Towels I try to wash every 2-3 weeks).
Sometimes I will do my pillowcases more frequently, if I notice that I'm breaking out more and I am using a strong hair product whose pillowcase presence might be contributing.

By: vers

vers — Thu, 22 Dec 2005 15:16:05 -0800

Single, three cats, seldom seen bf; sheets, cases, duvet cover are washed each week when I do laundry.

I do feel a sinner for having an above average number of sheet sets. Buying linens comes too easily to me.

By: badlydubbedboy

badlydubbedboy — Thu, 22 Dec 2005 15:49:54 -0800

my flatmates once had a (unknown to me) bet on how long before I changed my sheets. of course, since they kept hogging the stairwell to air their sheets, I never got the chance to air mine. I think it was about six months.

Nowadays, if someone is coming round, it's for that weekend. Otherwise, it can be up to three months.

By: lynda

lynda — Thu, 22 Dec 2005 15:57:11 -0800

Married, female, 26 - sheets are changed out every Sunday when we do the laundry with very few exceptions. We have two sets of sheets, but only one set of pillow cases. I'd never thought to change out pillow cases more often. I probably wouldn't need it, but my husband sweats A LOT in his sleep and his side of the bed and his pillow never smell very good. In fact, due to my husband's profuse sweating, we really should change out the sheets every few days, but we both work and I really don't have that kind of time to do laundry.

When I was single and living alone, I would probably change the sheets every few months. This was a combination of laziness and the fact that the sheets took that long to get dirty.

Before I started doing the laundry every Sunday and making the bed every day, my husband and I could go several weeks without changing the sheets, but this was PURE laziness.

On a slightly unrelated note, I now have a hard time leaving the house if the bed isn't made. I go crazy when my husband is still in bed and I have to leave since he never, ever makes the bed without me begging him to do so (and sometimes then, he forgets). It's just so refreshing to get into a made bed at the end of a long day.

By: deborah

deborah — Thu, 22 Dec 2005 16:41:49 -0800

Single: weekly
Married: every two weeks

They're overdue. I hate doing laundry.

By: iconoclastic flow

iconoclastic flow — Thu, 22 Dec 2005 20:16:17 -0800

Hasn't anyone heard the racist cliche "Cool clean sheets, G.I.!" Well, it sells for a reason. I'm otherwise slovenly, but even I change the sheets once a week. Why? Because it feels awesome! If I were sober enough at bedtime (to either notice the sensation or accomplish the task), I'd do it twice a week.

By: gesamtkunstwerk

gesamtkunstwerk — Thu, 22 Dec 2005 21:14:25 -0800

I'm a little freaked out. I change my sheets a little more than once a week. Just as an incentive-- you neven know when you will meet some worth inviting home.

While I can't say I've left a great guy in bed for having dirty sheets, i can say that I've never gone back a second time on more than one occasion, and crackers weren't the issue.