With a Top Sheet, Beds are More Hygienic and Allergen-Free

When it comes to beds, there are two types of people: those who make the bed every morning and those who don't. However, you may not realize there's another divide in bedding: those who sleep with a top sheet and those who don't. For those who don't, you may want to rethink your bedding. A top sheet on beds (or flat sheet, whichever you prefer) is necessary to make it properly and get a good night's sleep.

Who Uses a Top Sheet?

According to a survey from the bedding company Casper, the majority of people don't use a top sheet, and there's a significant generational difference as to who uses one. Just 26% of people ages 18 to 34 make their bed with a top sheet, compared to 30% of those ages 35 to 54 and 43% of people ages 55 and over.

Another bedding company, Parachute, explains that internal data reveals about 40% of Americans don't use a top sheet. Since the brand's launch in 2014, the company has always sold its sheet sets without one. (However, you can purchase one separately, starting at $60.). Ariel Kaye, founder and CEO of Parachute, personally forgoes a top sheet. "Making my bed every morning is a ritual of mine, and doing so with just my duvet and pillows keeps the process quick and easy," she writes in an email. "When it comes to comfort, I find that the top sheet often ends up tangled at the foot of my bed and feels like an unnecessary layer."

Reasons to Use a Top Sheet

While not everyone believes that top sheets are necessary, there are good reasons to use top sheets. First off, hygiene. A 2005 European Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology study revealed that bedding has a "substantial load of many species of fungi." It's easy to toss your sheets and pillowcases in the washer, which you should do weekly, but washing your bulky comforter, duvet cover, or quilt is far more arduous. The top sheet protects against dried sweat and dust mites, which are found more often in the bedroom than anywhere else in your home, according to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America.

Except for a few brands, including Parachute and Crane & Canopy, most manufacturers sell sets with the top sheet included, so why not use a top sheet when you're paying for it anyway? Plus, a bed often looks more put together when there's something between the fitted sheet and top layer.