If you wear pyjamas to bed, you might think they need to be treated differently to daytime clothes.
However, many of us sweat at night, and we lose a lot of skin cells, meaning our pyjamas can get dirty pretty quickly.
But how often should you wash pyjamas? That’s the question we’ll answer in this article, along with some tips for keeping them as clean as possible.
How Often to Wash Pyjamas
You should try to wash your pyjamas every three to four wears, meaning you should get through around two sets a week.
If you wear underwear underneath your pyjamas, you can probably stretch it a bit further than if you go commando.
The same is true if you shower just before bedtime rather than in the morning. However, you should try not to go more than a week without washing them.
Although pyjamas can look and smell clean after a few wears, you should treat them more like underwear than outerwear.
Our bodies do a lot more work at night than we might think, and this generally leads to quite a bit of sweating.
The pyjamas’ material also plays a role in how often you should wash them. If they’re made from wool, they’re more resistant to moisture.
However, cotton and linen will keep you cooler, meaning you’re less likely to get as sweaty in the first place.
Considering there are numerous factors at play, it’s best to err on the side of caution and just wash them every 3-4 wears.
How to Wash Pyjamas
In theory, pyjamas should be fine to be chucked in with the rest of your normal laundry.
But if you want to be on the safe side, wash them at the hottest temperature you can without them shrinking. Bear in mind, though, that this can reduce the lifespan of most fabrics.
The exception to this rule is silk, which is a popular material for pyjamas. But as you might already know, it doesn’t tolerate heat well. As such, you’ll need to hand-wash them in cool water before hanging them to dry.
While it can be nice to sleep in silk pyjamas, the hassle of washing them might make you think twice!
How Many Pairs of Pyjamas Should You Own?
Although there’s not a single answer to how many pairs of pyjamas you should own, the general rule would be three to four sets.
Think about how often you should change them (twice a week) and how often you do a load of washing.
For most people, it’s weekly, so make sure you have at least two weeks’ worth of clean pyjamas.
Final Thoughts
When it comes to cleaning pyjamas and knowing how often to change them, the easiest rule is to treat them like a cross between underwear and outerwear.
Their washing cycle is probably most similar to shirts or other outer items, despite them making contact with your skin. This is because, for the most part, you won’t be wearing them outside. Of course, if you do, make sure you change them every day!
Jacob is a freelance writer based in Wales, where he lives with his partner and two dogs. All his work is fuelled by extensive research and buckets of coffee.
