Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Home Maintenance

How to wash your bed sheets to keep them clean and soft

21Oak Contributor
By

Do you wash your sheets often enough? How do you wash them? If you’re like most busy folks, you toss them in, wash them on whatever setting suits you, and dry them until they’re bone dry, leaving them in the dryer until you’re ready to throw them on the bed – usually minutes before bedtime. But what if we told you there was a better way to do it, with prime softness and cleanliness in mind, which could keep your sheets in great condition for years to come?

Come learn how to wash sheets like the pros, and never throw away a set of sheets again.

Recommended Videos

How often should you wash your sheets?

Under normal circumstances, you should wash your sheets weekly. If you can’t get to it that often, bi-weekly generally works too. If someone is sick in bed, however, washing them daily or every other day is in order — the same if you are particularly sensitive to dust or allergens. Dust, fungi, and bacteria build up the longer you leave sheets on the bed.

Related

What kind of sheets do you have?

Not all sheets are created equal — especially not where washing them is concerned. The first step to optimal sheet washing is to check your sheets for a care instructions label. This tag will normally tell you exactly how to wash them for best results. If you can’t find this tag, follow along here for how to wash cotton or cotton/polyester blend sheets. If you have another type of fabric, seek out instructions on that specifically for best results, i.e. satin, silk, flannel, weighted blankets, etc.

Choose the right temperature setting and products

For cotton and cotton/polyester blend sheets, hot water with a strong, name brand detergent is usually best. However, if you want softer sheets with a longer lifespan, opt for a gentler detergent and a little cooler water (usually warm is fine). You may wish to use a stain remover and fabric softener too. Our favorites are:

  • OxiClean versatile stain remover: this is our favorite stain remover. Just make a paste of it and massage into both sides of a stain pre-washing and let sit for several minutes. If the stain still isn’t out once taken from the washer, do it again before drying. *Always check for stains before drying your sheets. Don’t dry them if you see stains; hang them over the shower curtain rod until you have time to wash them again with more carefully applied stain remover.
  • Seventh Generation Free & Clear, fragrance-free: This is our chosen gentle detergent. Use as directed for best results.
  • For the fabric softener? We put in about 1/4 cup of white vinegar. No, your laundry won’t smell like vinegar. It will, however, be soft and fragrance-free! The vinegar helps keep your washing machine clean, too.

Make sure when choosing your detergent that bleach is not used. Only use detergents that were made to brighten whites, however not with chlorine bleach!

Choose the best cycle

If your washing machine doesn’t have a setting specifically for sheets, just select the normal or gentle cycle for best results. Wash your sheets and pillowcases by themselves instead of washing with towels or other items. You don’t need too much agitation to get sheets clean, and never use scalding hot water. It can cause unnecessary shrinkage.

If someone is sick in the house

Go ahead and wash your sheets in hotter water if someone is sick in the household, or if you have sensitivity to allergens, etc., as this kills the most germs.

Line drying or dryer

Even though she had a dryer, my grandmother always line-dried her sheets, towels, and clothing outside unless there was a storm coming — then she would air dry them with a line strung across the basement instead. This is a nice indulgence if you have the time and space for it — and it helps minimize shrinkage, too. Otherwise, dryers are fine as well, as long as you tumble dry your sheets on a low heat setting for a short time.

How to break in new sheets (or just cheap, un-comfy sheets)

If your new sheets feel stiff to the touch, soften them up a bit by washing them with a cup of baking soda instead of laundry detergent using a normal, casual cycle with warm water the first time. Follow up with a cup of white vinegar as your fabric softener, and turn the water to cold for that final rinse cycle.

Remove from the dryer right away and fold carefully

Your best bet for storing sheets is to remove them from the hot dryer as soon as they’re dry and fold them up carefully for safe-keeping. This minimizes wear and tear, discoloration, and shrinkage.

So, what kind of sheets do you need to wash? Will you be using any of our tips today? If you’re interested in more sleep-related topics, check out if there are benefits to sleeping without a pillow.

Editors' Recommendations

21Oak Contributor
21Oak Contributor
21Oak Contributor
How to prune a dracaena marginata (dragon tree) so your plant stays thriving
Dragon tree getting too tall? Here's how to prune it so that it flourishes
dragon tree on window sill with copper watering can

If you're a plant parent, you know incorporating a little extra greenery into your home isn't just for aesthetics. Many plants have benefits like purifying your home's air and increasing the humidity during dry winter months. Plus, keeping plants in the home is a surefire way to boost your mood. Dracaena marginata, commonly called dragon trees, are not only great purifiers, but they're also super low maintenance. To top it off, these plants are happy as both outdoor and indoor plants and they're incredibly easy to prune. Here are some dragon tree pruning tips for a happy, thriving plant.

Benefits of dragon tree pruning
Dragon trees grow fairly quickly and can become an unmanageable size before you know it. If left unpruned, they can reach up to 10 feet tall, which isn't ideal for an indoor plant. By pruning back your dracaena marginata, you can make sure it stays both beautiful and appropriately sized for your home.
Makes the plant fuller and bushier
Dragon trees are like the mythical Hydra snake that grew two more heads whenever one was cut off. Even if you cut off the whole head of your dragon tree, new shoots will grow where the cut was made. Instead of growing long but sparse leaves, pruning encourages new growth at the cutting point and makes the plant more voluminous in appearance.
Manages the height of the plant
Pruning your dragon tree takes significant height off of your plant without harming it in the process. If your plant is becoming too tall for your indoor space, snipping those canes will keep its size right where you want it.
Snipped canes can propagate your dragon tree
What's better than one dragon tree? The answer is, obviously, two or three dragon trees. When pruning your plant, use the snipped cane portions to grow even more gorgeous plants by propagating the cuttings. Simply plant the rooting end of the stem, the end that was pointed downward before you snipped it, into water or moistened soil. It will eventually grow roots and produce another gorgeous sprout.

Read more
How to kill dandelions and keep them out of your lawn for the entire season
how to kill dandelions featured resized

Dandelions may look pretty when they first grow, and kids sure love them once they turn to fluffy balls of seeds, but ultimately, they are bad for your lawn. If you have a yard, you have undoubtedly encountered these pesky weeds. So, how do you kill them without killing your grass and keep them from coming back over and over? We’ve got some easy lawn care tips for you below so you can kill dandelions and have a weed-free plot that all of your neighbors will envy that lasts the entire season.

Learn about the enemy
The first step to killing dandelions for good is to educate yourself. Dandelions are part of a subset of weeds called broadleaf perennials, and this variety of weeds is notoriously difficult to remove. The main problem is that once a dandelion plant fully establishes its 10-inch taproot, the weed will come back year after year, hence the name "perennial." Not only does the pesky plant come back year after year, but it also spreads its seeds around your lawn continually, thus creating more and more weeds.

Read more
A polka dot plant adds color and life to your home — here’s how to care for it
how to grow polka dot indoors shutterstock 1928834285 1

House plants offer a lot of benefits, like elevating your mood and purifying the air. Arguably their best benefit, though, is that they liven up a room with style and color. That's why the polka dot plant is so popular. It has bright, colorful foliage that comes in a variety of shades, like pink, white, green, and red, so the lovely plant it adds a splash of color to any decor.

While they certainly brighten up the room, polka dot plants can be finicky, and they do have a strict care routine. We'll discuss what you need to do to help your polka dot house plant thrive indoors.
How do you care for a polka dot plant when it's indoors?

Read more