Fall Starts Here: Your Step-by-Step Bedding Refresh Guide

Your sheets might look clean, but are they truly fresh?

After a long, humid summer filled with open windows, extra sweat, and dusty fans, your bedding holds more than meets the eye. We’re talking sunscreen residue, pet dander, stuffy pollen, and shed skin cells—all of which can disrupt sleep and trigger sensitivities. [1,2,3]

While your closet might get a seasonal swap, your sleep space is just as important. We spend about ⅓ of our lives in bed, so let’s make sure it’s a clean, calm space that supports the rest you actually need. Here’s how to refresh your bed the right way for fall…

End-of-Summer Detox: 5 Steps to a Cleaner, Comfier Bed

Before you dive into fall routines, it’s worth taking a closer look at your sleep environment. Beyond the usual sheet swap, this is your chance to reset the layers you rely on night after night.

Step 1: Strip It All Down

‘Tis the season for a complete reset. Remove everything—even the layers you usually overlook.

Start with anything that touches your skin directly, and check the care labels. If it hasn’t been washed recently (or ever), it’s going in the laundry. If it’s stained, musty, or falling apart, it might be time to let it go.

• Pillowcases and zippered pillow protectors

• Fitted sheet and top sheet

• Duvet cover or comforter cover

• Mattress protector

Struggling to keep bulky bedding clean?
If your duvet cover is hard to wash or never quite feels clean, upgrade to one that’s made for frequent washing and can stand the test of time, like the Luxury Duvet Cover Set (soft, smooth, and hotel-worthy).

Step 2: Wash Smarter, Not Harder

Now that everything’s stripped off the bed, it’s time to wash the layers that work hardest, especially during the summer.

Hot, sticky nights mean your bedding likely absorbed more sweat, body oils, skin cells, and moisture than usual. And that can lead to musty odors, fabric wear, and lingering irritants if you don’t give each layer the care it needs. Start with the items that protect your health (and your mattress):

• Duvet covers & pillow protectors: Needs to be washed every 2–3 weeks

• Mattress protectors: Needs to be washed every 4–6 weeks

• Use a gentle, fragrance-free detergent to avoid skin sensitivity and preserve fabric fibers.

Next, tackle the basics:

• Fitted sheets & top sheets (every 1–2 weeks)

• Throw blankets (every 3–4 weeks if regularly used)

• Lightweight quilts or duvet inserts (as needed—check care tags)

• Wash bedding separately from towels or clothing to prevent pilling and preserve softness.

Upgrade laundry day with All-Natural Wool Dryer Balls
Unlike single-use dryer sheets, these hand-felted, biodegradable balls:
✔ Cut drying time by up to 30%
✔ Reduce static, wrinkling, and fabric wear
✔ Lasts for up to 1,000 loads (about 3 years)
✔ Contain no chemicals, fragrances, or synthetics

Make laundry day even easier with bedding designed for frequent washes, without sacrificing comfort:

• Luxury Waterproof Zippered Pillow Protector – Defends against sweat, spills, and everyday wear.

• Luxury Mattress Protector – Breathable and machine washable, made for 100% waterproof, clean comfort year-round.

• Luxury Quilt Set – A lightweight, easy-to-launder alternative to bulky blankets.

• Everyday Pillowcases – Naturally soft, rip-resistant, and perfect for sensitive skin.

Step 3: Deep Clean What Can’t Go in the Wash

Your sheets may be fresh, but your mattress, pillows, and duvet insert could be holding onto months of sweat, dust, and odors. While most of these can't go through the washing machine, they still need a seasonal refresh.

Natural Mattress Refresh Routine:

1. Sprinkle baking soda across the entire surface

2. Let it sit for 30–60 minutes to absorb odors

3. Vacuum thoroughly using a hose or upholstery attachment

4. Open windows or run a fan to help it air out

Bonus tip: If you get good natural light, expose the mattress to a few hours of sunlight to help reduce surface-level microbes and moisture.

🔁 And don’t forget to rotate or flip your mattress if the manufacturer recommends it—this helps prevent sagging and keeps your sleep surface supportive for longer.

What about your pillows and comforter?
These layers often get overlooked, but they need just as much attention. The good news? Unlike many bulky or delicate options, ours are made for easy, routine care:

✔ Luxury Down Alternative Comforter
Breathable, hypoallergenic, and fully machine washable.
Care tips: Wash separately in cold water on a gentle cycle with mild detergent. Tumble dry low and remove promptly. Avoid bleach, high heat, and dry cleaning.

✔ Luxury Pillow (Removable Case)
Comes with a bamboo viscose outer cover that’s soft, breathable, and easy to clean.
Care tips: Unzip and machine wash the case in cold water on a gentle cycle. Air dry or tumble dry on low. Avoid bleach and high heat to protect the fabric.

Step 4: Rebuild with Breathable, Fall-Ready Layers

As the temperatures drop and nights get longer, your bedding should evolve too. But cozy doesn’t have to mean bulky—or difficult to clean.

Rather than piling on heavy comforters too early, focus on creating a breathable, layered bedding system that keeps you warm on chilly nights and cool when temps swing back up (as they often do in early fall).

This not only improves sleep quality—it also extends the life of your bedding and makes laundry seasonally easier.

Bedding Blueprint for Better Sleep:

• Start with a fresh, fitted Luxury Mattress Protector – It adds an essential layer of softness, shields your mattress from sweat and spills, and helps regulate airflow from the bottom up.

• Add breathable sheets – Look for lightweight, tightly woven polyester blends that feel silky-smooth and stay fresh. Our Everyday Sheets are a top pick for soft, breathable summer comfort.

• Use a washable duvet insert inside a Luxury Duvet Cover – This makes layering simple and laundry-friendly as seasons shift.

• Add a mid-weight top layer, like our Luxury Quilt Set, for that extra warmth without the bulk.

• Keep a soft throw blanket folded at the foot of the bed for cold snaps or mornings when you want to linger under the covers.

• For cold sleepers: Add a second layer with brushed flannel sheets under your duvet for extra insulation as fall deepens.

💡 Why it matters: A layered sleep setup allows you to adjust for nightly temperature swings without disrupting your rest. It also makes laundry and seasonal bedding swaps easier—no bulky blankets to wrestle with, just smart, washable layers that work with your body and your lifestyle.

Step 5: Maintain the Fresh-Bed Feeling

You’ve reset your bed—now let’s keep it fresh, cozy, and sleep-ready as the seasons change.

The shift from summer to cooler weather means more time bundled under the covers… and more opportunities for dust, moisture, and daily wear to creep back in. But with a few simple habits, you can extend that clean, just-washed feel well into fall, without overhauling your routine.

• Keep an ultrasonic diffuser by your bed with calming, seasonal scents like lavender, cedarwood, or chamomile.

• Rotate in a second set of sheets or a fresh duvet cover so you always have a clean backup during cooler weather.

• Set a monthly reminder to wash pillow protectors and your mattress protector—especially once you start layering up.

• Air out your duvet and pillows on dry fall days to prevent trapped moisture and that “musty” smell.

• Vacuum your mattress and headboard regularly to keep dust, dander, and lint from building up.

• Crack the windows for 5–10 minutes a day to circulate fresh air and reduce stuffiness—even when it’s chilly outside.

Even better? Pair a cleaner bed with a calming nighttime ritual. Try sipping herbal tea, reading a book, or journaling instead of scrolling—these small habits can help your brain wind down naturally and cue deeper, more restful sleep.

Ready for a Cleaner, Comfier Bed?

Breathe easier. Sleep cleaner. Wake up cozier.
Your best night’s sleep of the season starts here. Because comfort should never take a season off.

Use code BLOG10 at checkout to save 10% on your first Cosy House order!

Resources: 

1. Wheeler, R. B. (2023). Health Hazards When You Don’t Wash Your Sheets. WebMD. https://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/ss/slideshow-dirty-sheets-skin-problems 

2. Irish LA, Kline CE, Gunn HE, Buysse DJ, Hall MH. The role of sleep hygiene in promoting public health: A review of empirical evidence. Sleep Med Rev. 2015 Aug;22:23-36. doi: 10.1016/j.smrv.2014.10.001. Epub 2014 Oct 16. PMID: 25454674; PMCID: PMC4400203. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4400203/ 

3. Daniel Noyed, Sleep Foundation. Jan 31, 2023. How Often Should You Wash Your Sheets? https://www.sleepfoundation.org/best-sheets/how-often-should-you-wash-your-sheets