How often do you wash your sheets? The debate that's divided the internet.

Earlier this week, a Mamamia clip went viral. It was all about how often we wash our sheets and the comments were... mixed. 

Some said every Sunday. 

Others said once a fortnight. 

A few admitted they couldn't remember the last time they went through the torturous exercise. 

Watch the viral video: How often do you wash your bed sheets? Post continues after video. 

But according to science expert Dr Karl, you should be washing your sheets once a fortnight. 

"On one hand, [wash them] enough so you don’t get bad reactions, like coughing, or skin infections, or bed bugs and so forth," he told I’ve Got News For You podcast.

"The average recommendation is that you wash them at least once every two weeks, because each day you shed about 1.5 grams of dead skin, and that 1.5 grams can attract and feed a million dust mites.

"And in addition to the dead skin cells, there’s sweat and germs and body oils and pollen and allergens… So it varies a lot depending on your environment."

Well, then. So that's what we should be doing, but what do people actually do? 

As such, we reached out to our wider Mamamia community to ask how often they wash their bed sheets to make us feel better about our lack of... hygiene.  

Here's what 15 of them had to say. 

"Maybe once every six weeks. My partner would disagree but he doesn't know what he doesn't know." - Marcella. 

"At least once a week. I used to stretch it out to two weeks but then I got a cat and he has longer hair than me. I really don't have a choice but I, admittedly, side-eye people who don't wash their sheets regularly enough. Mostly because I'm jealous they likely don't have big ol' dirty pets." - Michelle. 

"I'm once a week on everything - doona cover included - because ya gal spent too much money and too much time on bed threads making sure everything matched, so the whole set has to be rotated. Olive green doona with lavender sheets rotates with rust doona with sage bottom sheet and rosewater top sheet. All that being said... my European pillows never get washed. Because they don't really get touched. Also, someone stole my bed threads off the line once!" - Billie. 

Read more: The baby oil trick, plus 15 other genius cleaning tips courtesy of the internet.

"Once a week on Sundays. It's my Clean Sheets Day. There's nothing better. And just to clarify - that is sheets and pillowcases - duvet cover… only when visibly dirty." - Cathy.

"I'm someone who changes my pillowcase twice a week, but as for my sheets - especially in winter - I probably change them every month or two months. As for the doona cover, that bad boy gets done even less..." - Isabella. 

"I'm twice a week. I have too much time on my hands and there is no better feeling than clean sheets." - Harrie. 

"I'm generally the type to wash once every 1-2 weeks. But it depends on what I've got on that weekend." - Maddie. 

"Once a week on both my sheets and towels. I'm lazy with most things but not this simply because we allow our dog on the bed (don't judge) and men are grotty. Every Monday morning (my day off), everything goes into the wash. It's a non-negotiable." - Charlie. 

"Once a week for sheets! Any longer than that and I think they feel (possibly psychosomatically) greasy and gross. I love a crisp sheet." - Pip. 

Listen to Mamamia Out Loud, hosted by Jessie Stephens, Mia Freedman and Holly Wainwright. Post continues after audio. 

"I'd love to say I wash every week - because I really love clean bed sheets - but I got a new bed and it is the worst thing in the world trying to stretch my sheets over my huge mattress. One time, I avoided changing my sheets for two months. When I'm in a good mindset, I'll change them weekly." - Shannen. 

"I am postpartum so I wash twice a week... Thanks, night sweats." - Emily.

"Depends on if one or two people are in the bed, how much sex is being had, if the sheets are stained or not, if you are a sweaty person, if you shower before bed or go to bed dirty, if you wear PJs or sleep naked, if you eat and spill food or drink on the sheets, if someone pees in the bed (babies and kids) etc. Obviously, if they get stained you wash them the next morning." - Ann.

"Every week. Without fail. Every single week." - Yanna.

"Usually once a fortnight or once a week depending on if I piss the bed or not. Kidding. It depends on if I'm bothered." - Karly. 

"Weekly. Mostly because I have to. NEVER because I want to." - Miley.

How often do you wash and change your bed sheets? Let us know in the comments below. 

Feature Image: Mamamia.

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