Cleaning
Are You Cleaning Your Sheets Often Enough?
Plus, 17 other things we may or may not be neglecting around the house.
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83 Comments
Me
April 21, 2021
My widowed Nana used to wash her sheets every other week. Of course, she also switched the side of the bed she was sleeping on every week so the sheets would wear evenly. 😀
Hooverhoops
April 21, 2021
I wash the bed sheets once a week and the pillowcases more frequently if needed.
Margaret B.
April 21, 2021
If you take a shower before bed, you obviously don't ever have to change your sheets.
charlieo
April 21, 2021
I really enjoy reading everyone's comments. It's a look into the minds of other people. I enjoy the differences whether I agree with them or not - we are all entitled to our own beliefs and getting to know what others think and believe is essential to understanding other people. It's great that we are not all alike, we contribute to a wonderful world.
Patricia M.
April 21, 2021
How often do people clean the vents in dryer? Vents in bathroom? All air conditioner vents?
I have them cleaned once a year. It is amazing how much stuff is in them especially the dryer vent. Would be interested in hearing what others do.
I also have company come and clean washer, dryer, dishwasher and refrigerator ( underneath and back).
They will also take the glass out between doors in oven so you can clean.
Your appliances atay in great condition if you have this maintenance done once a year.
I have them cleaned once a year. It is amazing how much stuff is in them especially the dryer vent. Would be interested in hearing what others do.
I also have company come and clean washer, dryer, dishwasher and refrigerator ( underneath and back).
They will also take the glass out between doors in oven so you can clean.
Your appliances atay in great condition if you have this maintenance done once a year.
Objets D.
April 22, 2021
Oh my gosh! Would you mind sharing how you went about finding such a cleaning service that cleans your appliances? We moved to a house, which has all new appliances. I want to maintain them going forward. The space between the glass on an oven is impossible to reach!
Patricia M.
April 22, 2021
I contacted the local appliance repair man who is also an electrician. He was here to service refrigerator and I asked him if he could help me get the glass off oven doors so I could clean them. This all lead to me asking him to clean the other appliances which he said he would send one of his people out to handle. Now they come once a year. I set the self clean for stove whenever it needs it so it stays clean all the time. I find if you wipe it done regularly it helps. I also wipe the dishwashers down after every time it is emptied. We live in HI so you have to watch for rust. Good luck finding someone.
Objets D.
April 23, 2021
Thank you for this. Patricia...I get the impression that you have your act together!
LHFlynn
April 20, 2021
My comment is about grammar because it truly annoys me -- "Depending on how often you lay on them," you LIE on pillows and beds. Chickens LAY eggs, people LIE down, Lay is a verb that means “to put or set (something) down.” and is usually followed by a direct object. Lie is a verb that means “to be in or to assume a horizontal position”
Gary M.
April 16, 2022
My comment is about correcting adults in public, save it for the classroom Karen.
CottageGourmet
April 20, 2021
I love Food52! Such a wealth and breadth of information. It’s a shame some commenters exist solely to throw shade, because if you have an open mind (and heart) you can *always* learn something new. I’m Swedish, and cleaning is our cultural mandate (right, Mom?), but I still enjoyed reading this article even if it mainly served to reinforce my own neurotic cleaning patterns.
Thank you Food52 for keeping us neat & tidy.
Thank you Food52 for keeping us neat & tidy.
charlieo
April 20, 2021
Disgusting - aren't these things common sense?!? I think you forgot to tell them (?) how often to shower and brush their teeth. This article is beyond ridiculous.
Emhoober
April 20, 2021
How gross! As my mother taught me, we wake up every night and change the sheets mid-sleep. More than 4 hours in dirty sheets? Vile.
chaitea4ME
March 5, 2021
Today I'm just reading about cleaning instead of actually cleaning. It's almost the same thing, right?
[email protected]
March 4, 2021
I agree with Irene. Sheets once a week,towel se very other day. Washcloths or face towels daily. It is good hygiene after all. My mother worked a full work week in the 50’s & the only difference was the towels which changed out twice a week. In college, we were given fresh bedsheets every two weeks in the dorm but I discovered the men’s dorm it was weekly!
Kendall
March 4, 2021
I'm not saying anything is wrong with this information but I work 6 (long hours) days a week and while I wash my towels weekly, my sheets can go 2+ weeks without washing, I make it a habit to always shower before going to bed always leave my outside shoes at the door and wash my hand frequently. Be judgmental if you wish but I rarely if ever get sick ☺
Nanda G.
March 4, 2021
The self-clean feature of the oven can often hurt its electrical system. Many in the repair business would strongly advise against what this author prescribes above. Just clean it yourself twice a year unless you know your specific model is reliable for that. I had a very well-reviewed range and the repair bill was not pretty after using the self-clean feature.
Chantel A.
March 13, 2021
Agreed! I broke my gas oven twice using the self-cleaning feature. The repairman recommended cleaning it myself.
Margaret L.
March 4, 2021
How often towels need to be washed depends a lot on where a person lives. In high-humidity areas or bathrooms without a window or exhaust fan, towels don't dry and quickly get smelly and mildewed. One use may be plenty. In dry areas, it's less of a concern and towels can happily go longer, even a week, since they are presumably only used on clean bodies.
LionToes
March 4, 2021
Sheets and pillowcases once a week for sure! There is nothing more sublime then slipping into a bed made with freshly laundered (and ironed!) sheets and pillowcases. Just thinking about it has me sighing...
pattreid
March 4, 2021
OK, can you dumb this down for those of us who are not clean freaks? I was raised to do all cleaning/laundry and other tasks every week.
At my advanced age, I'm still healthy altho' my sheets get washed when I get around to it. I've been rebelling from Saturdays ever since my childhood discipline experience.
At my advanced age, I'm still healthy altho' my sheets get washed when I get around to it. I've been rebelling from Saturdays ever since my childhood discipline experience.
Tina D.
March 4, 2021
I love these comments!! I never ever re-use a towel. One use and they get washed. Lemon, unsweetened Kool Aid is a great cleanser for the dishwasher, by the way.
LionToes
March 4, 2021
Wow! Really?! Lemon unsweetened kool aid to clean the dishwasher? That’s a first for me. As is, sadly I now know, actually running the dishwasher to “clean” the dishwasher!
Margaret L.
March 4, 2021
I wonder what Kool-Aid and Tang do for the dishwasher? What else (baking soda? vinegar?) could accomplish the same thing?
Charlene V.
March 4, 2021
I believe they both contain citric acid, which provides the cleaning/scrubbing. It still seems strange to me that a dishwasher or washing machine needs to be cleaned! If they don’t stay clean on their own, how are they getting your dishes or clothes clean?
Margaret L.
March 4, 2021
According to my manufacturer's material, standing water is the problem in washers, especially front-loaders. It breeds mold and mildew. I run mine empty with bleach about monthly. I think dishwashers are the same. Deep in the drain, there is standing water, which over time makes slime.
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