My Mom Taught Me to Change My Pillowcases Every Night, and I’m So Glad She Did

There are two kinds of sleepers in this world: There are those who always make their bed with matching pillowcases and sheets, creating a cohesive and calm sleep space, and then there are those who have an abundance of pillowcases that don’t match their sheets, producing more of a mix-and-match aesthetic. I fall into the latter camp.

And sure, anyone peeking into my chaotic linen bin would probably widen their eyes and say, “Do you really need 30 mismatched pillowcases?” But there’s a reason why I never get rid of any old pillowcases. 

Ever since I can remember, my mom has been a frequent pillowcase changer. In fact, my mom taught me to change my pillowcase every night — or at least, she changes her pillowcase every other day, and then flips it over on the second day, meaning there’s a clean surface every night. Maybe it sounds a bit extreme, but this habit can have a couple of major benefits.

Generally, it’s recommended to wash your pillowcases as often as you do your sheets: once a week. However, if you feel like your pillowcases get dirty faster (whether you have sweaty or oily skin or sleep on your side so your skin presses on it nightly) you might want to change it out more than once a week.

That’s because all that dirt, oil, or even bacteria will sit on your pillowcase when you sleep — and all that stuff can be bad for your skin. Changing out your pillowcase every two to three days ensures you are sleeping on a clean surface, which is important in keeping your skin clean, too.

When I was a teenager, my mom got me into her daily pillowcase-changing schedule. The habit stuck with me into adulthood, and to this day, I definitely notice a difference in my skin’s clarity when I’m sleeping on a clean surface each night.

During allergy season, my mom constantly reminds me to take various precautions to reduce my pollen exposure. She tells me to put my hair up when I go outside, change out of my street clothes and shower when I get home, and, of course, put on a new pillowcase every night.

That’s because pollen and other allergens can get stuck in your hair when you go outside, especially in the spring. And then when you lay down — especially if you shower in the morning, rather than at night — the allergens can get on your pillow and make for a sneezy sleep.

As mentioned, I have several dozen pillowcases, meaning I can easily change the cases on my pillows as often as I’d like. That said, I do have a few pillowcases that I always reach for first. My favorite sheet set from West Elm came with the Organic Washed Cotton Percale Pillowcases, which have remained in perfect condition for several years. A more recent purchase was the OEKO-TEX Standard 100 certified sheets from The Company Store, which pair with the brand’s Classic Cool Cotton Percale Pillowcase Set.

I also make sure to wash all my laundry with fragrance-free laundry detergent, since sleeping on a pillow washed with fragrance can aggravate my skin and allergies. My favorite nontoxic detergents are the Free & Clear Detergent pods by Dropps, and the Free & Clear Laundry Detergent Sheets by Seventh Generation.