Sleepwear Care: Tips to Keep Your Pyjamas Fresh and Clean

Let's face it - very few of us actually like washing and caring for our clothes and would like to go as long as possible between these chores. With sleepwear in particular, we tend to re-wear these items far longer than our normal, daytime clothing. If you want to know how to clean and care for your items with ease, read on!

According to studies, the average Brit changes their pyjamas after approximately seven days (or nights) of wear. Experts in clothing and hygiene range in length, but most scientists and cleaning experts recommend a median of around three or four wears.

This means a lot of us are wearing our pyjamas about twice as long as we should be, which is pretty gross, but can cause a number of problems, including:

• setting stains in, making them difficult to remove and wash out 
• skin infections, such as body acne or eczema
• unpleasant smells
• wearing clothes out far earlier than they should last
• in more serious (albeit far rarer) cases, infected cuts, cystitis, MRSA

Synthetic fibres need to washed more frequently than natural fibre clothing, as synthetic materials aren't as sufficient in wicking away moisture, dirt, and oils.

Synthetic materials that require frequent washes include:

• fleece
• polyester
• non-organic cotton
• nylon
• elastane

Examples of natural, breathable fibres that require fewer washes:

• silk
• organic cotton
• tencel
• wool

• Pyjamas, like any other article of clothing, should be washed with similar colours, or alongside a colour-catching sheet to prevent dyes from running and staining lighter colours.
• It is best to turn nightwear inside out to prevent the designs on the outside from becoming damaged.
• Clothes should ideally be washed and tumble dried on as low a heat as possible. not only is this better for the planet, you don't want to shrink your clothing. High temperatures are only really suitable for severe staining. As many homes don't have tumble driers, air drying in a dry space is an equally good, more sustainable option.
• Always refer to the washing instructions on the label. Some clothing is not suitable for machine use, and can only be washed by hand. Different fabrics will need different washing techniques and temperature washes.

• Like any nightwear, robes and dressing gowns should be turned inside out and washed on as low a temperature as possible.
• If washing with other items, they should be done with other similar colours, or with a colour-catching sheet to prevent dyes spreading to lighter clothing.
• Robes, especially fleecier ones, may require a slightly warmer wash to clean the fibres thoroughly.
• Robes will sometimes lose shape after machine wash, be sure to re-shape before drying.

Always read the attached label for instructions before washing slippers - especially to check if they are machine washable. If not, it would be better to wash by hand, using warm (not hot) water and a mild detergent. Do not wring out the slipper or it may lose its shape. If you think the integral structure of your slipper is particularly delicate, spot-treat any stains individually using a mild brush and warm detergent with cornstarch or specialist material stain remover, leaving it to dry after delicate cleaning.

If you have allergies, sensitive or acne-prone skin, or tend to sweat a lot in bed, you should be changing your pyjamas more frequently regardless of the standard recommendation. It is paramount for your health and wellbeing to change your pyjamas every few days to prevent irritation or reactions.