How To Wash Your Sheets & How Often!
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Dear homemaker, do you remember the last time you washed your sheets? Don’t worry if you can’t remember. We’ve all been there. Cleaning your sheets regularly not only creates a healthier sleeping environment but also helps extend the life of your lovely bedding! If you’ve been wondering how to wash sheets and how often, I have you covered.
This post is all about how to wash sheets and how often!
When I started my homemaking journey years ago, you could say I flew by the seat of my pants. I had no rhythm, rhyme, or reason for how I took care of our home.
I had no plan of attack for regularly washing our sheets, it only happened if and when I thought of it, and there wasn’t already a pile of laundry to do.
Years ago, I decided to start making the bed daily to help motivate me to keep our home tidy. Making the bed each day didn’t help motivate me how I thought it would, but in the process, I found that my sweet husband and I loved slipping into a made bed each night.
The new habit of making the bed daily nudged me to create this simple routine/plan to keep our sheets and bedding fresh.
HOW TO WASH SHEETS
1) Plan To Wash Your Sheets Every Week:
It might seem strange to plan to wash your sheets, but having a plan ensures you have the time to complete the task.
Because we spend so much time in our beds and good sleep hygiene is vital, I recommend washing your sheets at least once weekly. If that doesn’t feel approachable for you in your current season, meet yourself where you are, it’s totally okay if you can only wash your sheets every two weeks or once a month. It is important to remember that you want the task to be sustainable. Sustainability will equal consistency!
Once you decide on frequency, make it a date! Pick a day that you dedicate to making sure you complete the task. I follow the FlyLady Method, and she suggests washing your sheets when doing your weekly Home Blessing (basically a weekly reset). So, every Monday, I make sure to wash our sheets!
Quick Tip: Consider investing in just one quality sheet set (I like to have a dedicated sheet set for spring/summer and then one for the fall/winter). You'll keep your washing routine simple and streamlined by only having one sheet set you are currently using. Because you’ll be putting it back on the bed after you wash, you’ll rarely, if ever, have to try and fold or store a fitted sheet. Lol. This might be the real reason we all avoid washing our sheets!
2) Check The Care Instructions:
Know your sheets! Most are really simple to care for and straightforward but always check the care instructions. When purchasing, I look into how easy the item is to care for. If it’s high maintenance, I’ll avoid it! Simple and sustainable is the goal. We don’t want it complicated.
If, for some reason, you can’t locate care instructions, it’s typically a safe bet to wash them in cool water on a regular cycle.
3) Strip The Bed:
Remove all blankets and pillows from your bed and place them off to the side
Strip off your sheets. Include any pillowcases that you sleep on.
Quick Tip: Once you get your sheets into the wash, this is a great time to refresh your mattress! If you can easily vacuum the bed, take a few minutes and do that now. If it is a hassle, save this deep cleaning task for later.
4) Pre-Treat Stains:
You’ll find that the more often you wash your sheets you’ll hardly ever have to pre-treat stains, but on the occasion that you do, you always want to pre-treat before washing and give the stain remover time to work before washing. You can grab my favorite stain remover from Amazon. It lasts forever, removes blood, and is a safer swap from traditional stain removers filled with toxic chemicals!
5) Load The Washing Machine:
Place your sheets into the washing machine and distribute them evenly if you have a top-loading machine. This will ensure a balanced load.
Most washers can only handle one set of sheets. Avoid washing multiples or adding any other garments while washing your sheets. Overloading your machine can prevent proper cleaning and rinsing.
6) Select A Gentle, Non-Toxic Detergent:
Add your selected detergent to the washer
You spend a good deal of time in between the sheets. It is imperative to your health and well-being that your sheets not be coated in toxic chemicals. Unfortunately, most traditional laundry detergents you can grab at the store are unsafe.
Never is it my intention to scare, shame, or stress you. But you have to know that there are safer options out there that won’t wreak havoc on you and your family’s health.
Safer laundry products are something I’m very passionate about, and I would encourage you to swap them for a less toxic option as soon as you can.
Branch Basics is my favorite Non-Toxic Laundry soap. I also use Branch Basics for almost all my other cleaning needs. I’m not affiliated with them, but I have a friend-to-friend code! Where you can get $10 off your first purchase from Branch Basics.
Non-Toxic Laundry Options From Amazon
*I adore Branch Basics and have had great luck with it working for our laundry needs, but I have heard others can’t get it to work for them. This laundry detergent from Truly Free is a safer swap if you want something that performs like conventional laundry detergent.
* Truly Free would be my last choice. The user experience feels scammy to me, and though it worked really well, something just felt off/wrong about it. As an HSP, I try to listen to and honor my subtle insights (even if they don’t make sense, lol). Many other homemakers love and swear by Truly Free, so if you’ve struggled to find a less toxic laundry detergent, check them out.
7) Use The Right Temperature Water:
Most cotton and linen sheets can withstand hot water, while synthetic fabrics like microfiber require a cool water setting.
Don’t forget to refer to the care instructions to determine the proper water temperature for your sheets. Your best bet is to use the cool water setting if in doubt. Using extremely hot water can cause shrinking or color fading, which you don’t want!
8) Choose A Wash Cycle:
Choose the best cycle for your sheets. I’ve found that I like to wash our sheets on a heavy cycle with an extra rinse. Our current washer has a wash cycle for bulky/bedding that I use!
If you have sheets made of delicate fabrics like silk or satin, check the care instructions, and you’ll want to choose a gentle or delicate cycle.
Start the washer!
9) Dry Your Sheets:
Don’t forget to dry your sheets! Once the wash cycle is complete, remove your sheets from the washing machine to minimize wrinkling.
Always check the care instructions, but depending on the fabric, you can tumble dry them on low.
Skip dryer sheets and opt for wool dryer balls instead. Sadly, conventional dryer sheets are filled with toxic chemicals and release harmful VOCs (volatile organic compounds). Something you don’t want to be breathing in or have against your skin. Wool dryer balls keep toxic chemicals out of your home and bed and are economical and eco-friendly.
Wool Dryer Balls From Amazon
10) Make Your Bed:
The last step to washing your sheets is to make the bed. It’ll be so nice when you slip into freshly washed sheets and a made bed!
Quick Tip: Invest in spring/summer + a fall/winter sheet set! We started with a quality sheet set that we could use year-round and then added an organic flannel set for the cooler months. It’s a small detail but a beautiful and cozy way to welcome our cold northwest winters. I love finding small ways to embrace each season! Bonus: if you ever get sick and need a fresh set of sheets immediately, you’ll have them on hand.
FAQ’S
What setting do you wash sheets on?
Most sheets can be washed on a regular cycle. Some washers have a particular cycle for bedding that would be ideal for sheets. It’s always wise to peek at the care instructions on the tag to see if your sheet set has any special requirements. If you don’t have care instructions, your best bet is to use a regular cycle!
Do you wash sheets in hot or cold water?
When in doubt, wash your sheets in cold water! Always check the tag on your sheets for care instructions. Most sheets (unless they are extra grubby) will wash up beautifully in cold water.
Can you put sheets in the dryer?
Absolutely! I don't want to sound like a broken record, but always check the care instructions on your sheets' tag. The suggested dryer setting for your specific sheets will be there. When in doubt, tumble dry on low or medium heat.
Is it okay to wash sheets in cold water?
Absolutely! In fact, cold or cool water is typically preferred!
Can you wash sheets and clothes together?
You can wash sheets and clothes together, but I wouldn’t recommend it. Here is why, sheets are bulky and awkward. By adding clothes, you run the risk of overloading the machine. Overloading the washer can damage the machine, and the load you are currently washing can’t be properly cleaned. So you risk having to re-wash!
This post was about how to wash sheets.
Keeping your sheets fresh and clean doesn’t have to be daunting. If you can adopt this simple routine on how to wash sheets, it’ll become second nature in no time! Hugs.
Updated on: 2/10/2024
