Mostly, we'd like to think we're pretty clued up on how often it's acceptable to wear something before washing it: underwear = strictly a one-time wear before they head to the laundry basket. Bedding = every one to two weeks, depending on how much you sweat. But pyjamas? That's a bit more of a head scratcher...
Keen to get to the bottom of this debate-sparking question, Cosmopolitan UK reached out to Jamie Woodhall, UK Technical and Innovations Manager at Initial Washroom Hygiene, who revealed the answer to 'How often should you wash your PJs?' is actually a pretty surprising one...
"[It's all] down to how you manage your personal hygiene, with every two to three days considered a good baseline for swapping them out for a fresh pair," Woodhall explains.
"Skin particles, sweat and hair will accumulate on your pyjamas over time and, if left long enough, will eventually form a food source for bacteria and mites." (Yes, you read that correctly: food source for bacteria and mites. Gulp)
However, he also caveats, as long as you're up on your hygiene and washing regularly, once a week is probably fine too.
There are a few things you can do to maintain good hygiene before bed, Woodhall adds, which will also reduce the need to wash your pyjamas as frequently:
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- Shower or bathe just before going to bed: This reduces the amount of skin particles, sweat and hair that will accumulate on your pyjamas, and indeed your bedding. Even better if you can exfoliate too, to really buff away any dead skin.
- Change your bedsheet and pillow case weekly (fortnightly at the very least): If bedsheets and pillow cases are left too long they will accumulate dead skin cells and again, can become a food source for bacteria and mites. While this is unlikely to happen over the course of a week, keeping your bedsheets fresh can help to keep your pyjamas fresh, and vice-versa.
- Don’t go to bed with wet hair: A wet pillow provides the perfect environment for bacteria and fungi to grow, with skin particles, warmth and moisture encouraging microbial growth. By ensuring your hair is clean and dry when you go to bed, both your pyjamas, bedsheets and pillow case will stay cleaner for longer.
"If you follow these hygiene tips, it's perfectly healthy to wear your pyjamas for longer than a few days!" he says.
So, there we have it – and if all else fails, remember that the 'sniff test' for freshness is another handy way of telling whether your jammies urgently need to spend some time with your washing machine. Pronto!
This article is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice or diagnosis. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
Jennifer Savin is Cosmopolitan UK's multiple award-winning Features Editor, who was crowned Digital Journalist of the Year for her work tackling the issues most important to young women. She regularly covers breaking news, cultural trends, health, the royals and more, using her esteemed connections to access the best experts along the way. She's grilled everyone from high-profile politicians to A-list celebrities, and has sensitively interviewed hundreds of people about their real life stories. In addition to this, Jennifer is widely known for her own undercover investigations and campaign work, which includes successfully petitioning the government for change around topics like abortion rights and image-based sexual abuse. Jennifer is also a published author, documentary consultant (helping to create BBC’s Deepfake Porn: Could You Be Next?) and a patron for Y.E.S. (a youth services charity). Alongside Cosmopolitan, Jennifer has written for The Times, Women’s Health, ELLE and numerous other publications, appeared on podcasts, and spoken on (and hosted) panels for the Women of the World Festival, the University of Manchester and more. In her spare time, Jennifer is a big fan of lipstick, leopard print and over-ordering at dinner. Follow Jennifer on Instagram, X or LinkedIn.
