Ah! That feeling you get when you climb into a newly-made bed with freshly washed sheets. There’s nothing quite like it, is there?
That’s until you notice that strange smell coming from your bedding. You see, even though you make sure you keep up with your laundry, it might not be enough.
There’s a right way to wash bedsheets so they look great and smell even better!
Whether you’re wondering how to handle brand-new sheets or how to wash bedsheets that you’ve had for a while, we’ve got some tips to help you get your sheets cleaner, smell better and last longer too!
How Often Do I Wash Bedsheets?
In general, it is advisable to wash your bedsheets once every week. Depending on their lifestyles, some people might need to do this even more often. If you have pets – particularly if you let them sleep in your bed – we recommend a wash every 3-4 days.
To keep seasonal allergies at bay, you might also need to wash your bedsheets more often in spring and then in summer, too, since the warm weather could result in you sweating a little more.
When it comes to newly purchased bedsheets, before putting them on your bed, you should wash them first. Since they were sitting in the store or sent via a delivery service, they could have attracted dust, dirt and harbour a stale smell.
The Benefits Of Fresh, Clean Bedsheets
The idea of washing sheets once a week seems excessive and tiring too – but it’s really worth it.
- Better Sleep
Believe it or not, clean bedsheets can improve your quality of sleep.
According to the 2012 Bedroom study by the National Sleep Foundation in the US, most sleepers are more excited to go to bed when they have freshly scented sheets.
- Improved Health
As we sleep, we shed a large number of skin flakes each night. These flakes attract dust mites – which in turn can lead to several health issues like asthma, allergy flare-ups, coughing, runny nose and sneezing.
Regularly cleaning your bedding will help eliminate dust mites and keep your sheets as clean as can be.
How To Wash Your Bedsheets
How you wash your bedsheets depends on your bedding, so it’s advisable to look at the label to see if there are any specific instructions.
- Remove the covers from your pillows, duvet and mattress. To avoid colour bleeding accidents, separate them if there is a mix of light and dark colours.
- Choose a good-quality detergent and a fabric conditioner for added softness. Use only the amount recommended on the detergent container – the more you use, doesn’t lead to cleaner laundry but to a clogged machine.
- Generally, a cold wash is enough to clean your sheets – just make sure you wash bedding separately from other laundry items. This is to avoid having your clothing get clumped up in the sheets, causing damage to your clothing items.
- As much as we are stressing that you should wash your sheets once a week, make sure you do not over-wash your sheets since this can lead to wear and tear and colour fading.
Helpful Tips
- Sheets and duvet covers are bulky items which are why you shouldn’t overstuff your washing machine. When there are too many items inside the washing drum, the machine will not be able to clean the sheets properly.
- Depending on how dirty your bedsheets are, choose an appropriate cleaning cycle.
- Follow the instructions on the label. This is because the wash and drying care label will provide useful information on the temperature and type of cleaning the item needs.
- To keep sheets drying evenly, toss in wool or rubber dryer balls or a couple of tennis balls tied in a cotton sock.
- Clean your duvets, mattress toppers and pillows at least twice a year.
How To Maintain Your Bedsheets
Taking good care of your sheets post washing is just as important as the washing process itself. When you maintain your sheets well, they last longer, saving you from frequently re-purchasing bedsheets.
Dry bed linen thoroughly.
Dry your bedsheets immediately; don’t let them sit in a damp environment for too long.
You can also dry your linen outside. Drying sheets outdoors saves energy, and the sunshine helps eliminate any residual bacteria.
Storing bedding correctly.
Ironing your sheets will remove wrinkles and make your bed look just like they do in hotels!
To help keep them clean and dust-free – and for an organised linen closet – store your folded bedding inside a pillowcase.
Airing your bedding.
To keep your bedding and sheets fluffy, it’s important to air everything out regularly. This helps prevent bad odours and dampness from forming in your bed.
- Remove the covers off your duvet and hang it up outside or in any area where they can have some room to breathe.
- Plump and knead your pillows back into shape and space them out from each other to air them out properly.
- Give your mattress some breathing time when changing your bed sheets, and remove the mattress topper. You should also flip your mattress over every couple of months to prevent the mattress from becoming lumpy.
Keep it smelling fresh between washes.
If you don’t use a scented detergent or a light fabric softener, you can also try using fabric sprays (available in most stores) to freshen your sheets in-between washes.
Or, you can add the following to your washing machine – washing detergent, ¼ cup bi-carb soda, ¼ cup vinegar and five drops of lavender essential oils.
Why?
- The vinegar – In the rinse cycle, it acts as a fabric softener.
- The baking soda – Is perfect for a deep clean due to its mildly abrasive nature.
- The lavender oil – To leave your sheets smelling perfect and help you get a good night’s sleep.
Not only does this washing routine work flawlessly on sheets, but it also works just as well as most other ways of washing other laundry items.
