How to Wash Bed Sheets

You spend a third of your life in bed. All that time adds up to a lot of dust mites, dead skin cells and body oils building up in and around your bed sheets. It makes sense, then, that leaving your sheets unwashed isn’t the most hygienic way to live; not to mention, it just plain doesn’t feel good. The general recommendation is that sheets should be washed once a week – and while that might sound like a lot of strenuous time and effort, the reality is that washing sheets is actually simple and easy. Here’s exactly how to do it.

How to Wash Bed Sheets the Right Way

1. Check the labels. Check the labels on the sheets and washer. First, check the sheets; different materials will require different care. Then, check your washer’s instructions (usually located under the lid) for any specific instructions about load amount – if there’s a limit, you’ll want to wash separate sets of sheets separately.

2. Add stain remover if needed. If your sheets are heavily soiled and need a little extra cleaning power, pretreat them with a laundry stain remover before throwing them in the wash.

3. Load the washer. While it might seem like you can’t go wrong with washing sheets, actually, you can. Throwing in too many sheets or sheets mixed with different types of garments can cause the load to tangle when washing – and as a result not get thoroughly cleaned. The point here is to load only the sheets, save your towels and clothes for a separate wash. Also, pay mind to your temperature settings: hot will kill bacteria, but go a tad cooler depending on your material. Generally, cotton sheets are the only ones that can stand up to the hottest setting.

4. Measure the detergent. Most laundry detergents have a cap that can be used to measure out the right amount for your load. For sheets, though, it may be wise to go a little lower than the “recommended amount” (oftentimes, the recommended amount is more than enough, so it may take some trial and error to get the perfect amount for bed sheets). Using too much detergent can cause sheets to wrinkle, stiffen and wear out more quickly. Once you have it measured, pour the detergent into the designated receptacle.

5. Repeat once every two weeks, at least. You’ll experience a cleaner, more comfortable and fresher-smelling night’s sleep!