How Often Should You Wash the Things You Rarely Think About Washing?

Plenty of washable things around the house don’t make it into the regular cleaning routine. Some collect sweat and body oils, while others pick up food, dust, pet hair, dirt, or moisture. Because they don’t always look dirty, it’s easy to forget about them for months or even years.

There’s no perfect cleaning schedule that works for every household. How often you need to wash something depends on how often you use it, whether you have pets or kids, whether someone has allergies, and how quickly it gets dirty. Always check the care label or manufacturer’s instructions before tossing something into the washing machine.

Here’s a good starting point for some of the things you may not be washing often enough.

Key takeaways

• Wash frequently used bedding and household textiles more often than decorative or rarely used items.
• Anything exposed to food, sweat, moisture, pets, or outdoor dirt may need more frequent washing.
• Don’t assume something can go into the washing machine just because it’s made of fabric. Check the care label first.
• Pillows, mattress protectors, shower curtains, bath mats, and other overlooked items should be part of your occasional cleaning routine.
• Reusable bags, pet bedding, and cleaning tools can carry dirt back into your home if they’re never cleaned.
• Wash items before putting them into long-term storage, and make sure they’re completely dry before packing them away.

Pillows: Every three to six months

Your pillowcase gets washed regularly, but what about the pillow underneath it? Pillows can collect sweat, body oils, drool, dust, and other debris over time.

A general goal of washing washable bed pillows about every three to six months works for many households. You can work them into your spring cleaning schedule and then wash them again before the holidays. Though you may want to wash them more often if you sweat heavily, sleep with pets, or notice odors or stains.

Always check the care label first. Some synthetic and down or feather pillows may be washable, while foam pillows often require different care. Make sure a washable pillow dries completely before putting it back on your bed. Moist pillows can grow mold and get sour smells.

Mattress protector: Every one to two months

A mattress protector sits between you and your mattress, so it can collect some of the sweat, body oils, and other debris that make it through your sheets. Consider washing it every month or two, depending on use. Wash it sooner after spills, accidents, illness, or other messes.

Check the care label before washing and drying. Waterproof protectors, in particular, may have specific temperature and drying instructions. They may not be able to take the high heat of a dryer without cracking or tearing.

Duvet cover: Every one to two weeks

If your duvet cover touches your body while you sleep, treat it more like a sheet than a decorative bed covering. Washing it every week or two is a reasonable starting point. If you always use a top sheet between yourself and the duvet, that changes things. You may be able to stretch that schedule depending on your preferences and household.

Comforter or duvet insert: A few times a year

Your comforter or duvet insert usually doesn’t need washing as often as the cover, especially if you use both a top sheet and duvet cover.

For many households, washing it a few times a year may be enough. Wash it sooner if there are spills, stains, odors, pet messes, or other obvious reasons it needs cleaning.

Check the care label before putting a bulky comforter in your washing machine. Some require professional cleaning, and others may be too large for a standard home washer. You may need to take it to the laundromat and use an industrial-size washer and dryer.

Throw blankets: Every few weeks to every few months

The blanket folded over the back of the sofa may be getting a lot more use than you realize. If your household curls up under it every night, consider washing it every few weeks. A decorative throw that’s rarely touched may only need washing every few months or when it becomes dusty. 

Homes with pets may need to wash throw blankets more frequently, especially if the sofa blanket is also the dog’s favorite bed. A sniff test is usually all you need to tell if the blanket has the pet stinkies. 

Decorative pillow covers: Every one to three months

Throw pillows can collect dust, hair, skin oils, food crumbs, and pet hair even if nobody sleeps on them. Frequently used pillow covers may benefit from washing every month or so, while mostly decorative ones may be fine with less frequent cleaning. Wash them sooner if they look dingy or have visible stains.

Check for removable covers. You may be able to wash the cover without cleaning the entire pillow insert. For nonwashable decorative pillows, follow the manufacturer’s recommended cleaning method.

Mattress: About every six months

You can’t exactly shove your mattress into the washing machine, but it still needs occasional cleaning. About twice a year, strip the bed and vacuum the mattress surface using an upholstery attachment. Pay attention to seams and crevices. 

Address stains according to the mattress manufacturer’s cleaning instructions, and avoid soaking the mattress. You don’t want to introduce mold to a place where you spend a third of your time. 

This is also a good opportunity to clean underneath the bed and wash your mattress protector.

Bath mats: About once a week

Bath mats spend a lot of time getting damp, especially in a busy bathroom. For a frequently used bathroom, washing the bath mat about once a week is a good starting point. You may need to clean it more frequently if it stays damp, gets visibly dirty, or several people use the bathroom.

Check the care label first. Mats with rubber or non-slip backing may have special washing and drying instructions, and high heat can damage some materials. Thicker bathmats should be air-dried. Putting them in the dryer can possibly damage the dryer and the rug.

Fabric shower curtain: About once a month

Fabric shower curtains can collect soap residue and stay exposed to a damp environment day after day. Wash yours about once a month, or whenever you notice visible buildup. Some fabric shower curtains can go directly into the washing machine, but check the label before dropping it in a load. To dry it, just hang it back up and spread it out along the rod so all of the fabric can get airflow. 

Shower curtain liner: About once a month

Your shower liner is even closer to all that water, soap, shampoo, and other bathroom residue. Check it about once a month and clean it according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Wash or clean it sooner if you notice visible buildup, discoloration, or mildew.

If the liner is damaged, heavily stained, or can’t be cleaned effectively, it may be time to replace it.

Hand towels: Every few days

Hand towels can become damp and get used repeatedly by several people throughout the day. Swap them out every few days, or sooner if they’re visibly dirty, smell musty, or remain damp between uses. A guest bathroom that rarely gets used may not need the same schedule as your household’s main bathroom.

Give towels enough room to dry between uses rather than leaving them crumpled on a counter or hook.

Kitchen towels: Every day or every few days

If you use a towel heavily while cooking, replace it daily. Lightly used towels may last a little longer. Remember, kitchen towels may harbor bacteria that can cross-contaminate whatever you’re cooking, so better safe than sorry. Wash a towel immediately if you use it to clean up raw meat juices or another potential food safety hazard.

Oven mitts and pot holders: Every one to three months

Oven mitts and pot holders are easy to ignore until you suddenly notice they’re covered in old food stains. For washable ones, cleaning every month or two may make sense in a kitchen where you cook frequently. Wash them sooner after spills or if grease and food are building up.

Usually you can just toss them in the washer, but always check the care instructions because the heat-resistant materials inside some mitts and pot holders may require special cleaning.

Reusable shopping bags: After messy trips or every few uses

Reusable bags can carry produce, packaged food, raw meat, household supplies, and whatever gunk was in your trunk before you put the bags there into your home. Wash washable bags regularly, especially those used for groceries. Clean them immediately after leaks, spills, or contact with raw meat. You may also want to designate certain bags for food and others for nonfood purchases.

Check the bag’s care instructions before machine washing. Insulated bags and bags with rigid inserts may need to be wiped or hand-cleaned instead.

Backpacks: A few times a year

Backpacks go onto floors, car seats, school hallways, public transportation, and plenty of other surfaces, yet they can go years without being washed. Give frequently used backpacks a thorough cleaning a few times a year and spot-clean them whenever needed. A good time to clean kids’ backpacks is during school breaks or at the end of the school year.

Reusable water bottles: Daily

A reusable water bottle shouldn’t wait for deep-cleaning day. Wash bottles used every day on a daily basis, paying attention to the lid, straw, mouthpiece, gasket, and other small parts. Those little components can trap moisture and residue even when the bottle itself looks clean. You’d be surprised how quickly mold can grow in these easy-to-overlook areas.

Pet bedding: Every one to two weeks

Your pet’s bed collects hair, dander, dirt, saliva, and whatever your pet tracked in from outside. Washing removable covers or washable bedding every week or two is a reasonable starting point for many homes. You may need to do it more often if your pet sheds heavily, spends a lot of time outdoors, has an accident, or sleeps in the bed every day.

Vacuum loose hair before washing, and check the care label for temperature and drying instructions.

Pet blankets: About once a week

That blanket your dog or cat has claimed as their own deserves a regular spot in the laundry pile. Frequently used pet blankets may need washing about once a week. Wash them sooner if they’re visibly dirty, wet, or smelly.

Pet collars and harnesses: About once a week

Collars and harnesses can become dirty and stinky fairly easily, especially if your pet likes to hop in puddles or roll in questionable items. Check them weekly and clean as needed. A good habit is to switch the collar out during bath time for a fresh one. 

Curtains: Every three to six months

Curtains can quietly collect dust for months because you rarely touch them. Vacuuming them periodically with an upholstery or brush attachment can help between deeper cleanings. Wash washable curtains every few months or according to their care instructions. Homes with pets, smokers, lots of cooking residue, or open windows may need to clean them more frequently.

Some curtains require dry cleaning or other special care, so check the label before removing them.

Washable rugs: Every few months

Even with regular vacuuming, washable rugs can collect dirt deeper in the fibers. How often they need washing depends heavily on where they’re located. An entryway or kitchen rug may need cleaning much more frequently than a decorative rug in a low-traffic bedroom.

Follow the care instructions and make sure the rug is fully dry before returning it to the floor.

Couch cushion covers: Every three to six months

If your sofa has removable, washable cushion covers, they don’t have to wait until someone spills a drink. Consider cleaning them a few times a year, especially on a heavily used sofa. Homes with kids or pets may need to wash them more frequently.

Before washing, check the furniture manufacturer’s instructions. Some covers that have zippers still aren’t intended for machine washing, and washing them incorrectly can cause shrinking or color changes.

Slipcovers: Every one to three months

A washable slipcover is basically a giant piece of clothing for your furniture, and it can collect many of the same things: body oils, pet hair, crumbs, dust, and stains.

For heavily used furniture, washing the slipcover every month or two may make sense. Less-used furniture can go longer. Follow the care label carefully so the cover still fits after washing.

Reusable cleaning cloths: After every use

The cloth you use to clean shouldn’t sit damp in a bucket waiting for its next cleaning assignment. It will grow bacteria fairly quickly, and you don’t want to wipe bacteria around on your counters.

Wash reusable cleaning cloths after use, particularly if you’ve used them in bathrooms, kitchens, or on especially dirty surfaces. Let them dry if you can’t wash them immediately, rather than leaving them wet and balled up.

If you use different cloths for different cleaning jobs, keep them separated so a bathroom cloth doesn’t become tomorrow’s kitchen cloth.

Mop heads: After every use

A dirty mop head can spread yesterday’s grime across today’s freshly cleaned floor. Wash or rinse reusable mop heads after each use, following the manufacturer’s instructions, then let them dry completely before storing.

Periodically inspect them for wear, lingering odors, or buildup that doesn’t come out during cleaning. At some point, washing isn’t enough, and you need to replace the mop head.

Reusable duster heads: After several uses

A reusable duster can only hold so much dust before you start moving dirt around instead of picking it up. Clean washable duster heads after several uses or whenever they’re visibly loaded with dust and hair. Homes with pets or heavy dust may need to do this more often.

Follow the manufacturer’s instructions so you don’t damage materials designed to trap dust.

Stuffed animals: Weekly to three months

Stuffed animals can collect dust, drool, food, dirt, and plenty of love. Favorites that go everywhere with a child may need weekly cleaning, while stuffed animals that mostly sit on a shelf can go much longer. Wash immediately after spills, illness, or other messes.

Always check the tag. Some stuffed animals are machine washable, while others have electronics, glued-on pieces, delicate fabrics, or stuffing that requires another cleaning method.

Decorative baskets and fabric bins: Every few months

Storage containers need cleaning, too. Fabric bins and baskets can collect dust, pet hair, crumbs, and debris, particularly when they’re stored on the floor or open shelves. Empty them every few months, vacuum or wash them according to their care instructions, and clean the shelf or floor underneath.

This is also a convenient time to look at what’s inside. If you’re storing things you forgot you owned, you may be able to declutter the contents before putting the bin back.

Washing FAQ

What household items should you wash more often?

Frequently used items exposed to moisture, food, sweat, pets, or outdoor dirt usually need the most attention. Bath mats, kitchen towels, reusable water bottles, pet bedding, cleaning cloths, and lunch bags are examples that can get dirty quickly.

How often should you wash pillows?

A good starting point for washable bed pillows is every 3 to 6 months. Check the care label because foam, down, feather, and synthetic pillows can have very different cleaning instructions.

How often should you wash throw blankets?

Frequently used throw blankets may need washing every few weeks, particularly if pets use them. Decorative throws that are rarely touched may only need cleaning every few months or when they’re dusty or dirty.

How often should you wash bath mats?

About once a week is a reasonable starting point for a bath mat in a frequently used bathroom. Wash it sooner if it stays damp, smells musty, or becomes visibly dirty.

How often should you wash curtains?

Many curtains only need deeper cleaning every three to six months, with periodic dusting or vacuuming between washes. Always check the care label because some curtains can’t be machine washed.

How often should you wash pet bedding?

Frequently used pet bedding may need washing every one to two weeks. Pets that shed heavily, spend time outdoors, or get dirty often may need more frequent washing.

Should you wash reusable grocery bags?

Yes. Wash or clean reusable grocery bags regularly, especially after carrying food that leaked or spilled. Bags used for raw meat should be cleaned after contact with leaks or residue.

Should you wash clothes and bedding before putting them in storage?

Yes. Clean washable textiles before long-term storage so you don’t pack away body oils, food residue, dirt, or stains that could attract pests and damage your items. Make sure everything is completely dry before storing it to help prevent odors and moisture problems.