How to take care of your bed sheets

 How to take care of your bed sheets

Few things feel as good as jumping into a freshly made bed and shaking off with fresh, clean sheets. Ahhhhhh, this is your happy place. Your sanctuary And where you basically spend a third of your life, it's time to give it the treatment it deserves. We spoke to Lindsey Boyd of The Laundress for her advice on making your sheets look and feel better.

- How to take care of your bed sheets and Bed Sheets Product

How often should you wash your sheets?

You're not in college anymore, so you don't have to wash the sheets once a month. "Body oils, sweat, and germs quickly build up on bedding," explains Boyd. His recommendation: run one load every week. If you're heavy in the sweating department, consider increasing the frequency to twice a week.

The best method to wash your sheets.

Compared to higher maintenance wool sweaters or lace bras, cleaning sheets is a breeze. Throw them in the washing machine on a heat to heat cycle and go make dinner. Note that hot water fades colored items faster, so use a cool-to-hot cycle for those patterned or dark outfits. However, if you are dealing with stains (eg, your child wet the bed) or have been ill, select the warmest cycle possible to kill germs. And when it comes to detergents, look at the labels: Boyd recommends using a cleaner with plant-based surfactants. "Otherwise, they'll say petroleum-based, which is what you don't want," she says.

Wash the sheets separately

As tempting as it may be to just pack one load and be done with it, wash your sheets separately from other items, especially towels. "The lint from the towel will get on the sheets, and that's not something you want to deal with," warns Boyd. Throwing a cotton t-shirt with your bedding is fine, but items like socks and shirts often get stuck inside the sheets and get lost or not cleaned properly. Another reason to wash clothes and sheets separately is to avoid snagging. "The blades catch on zippers and hardware, and you'll find mysterious holes and tears," says Boyd.

Stain Treatment Bedding

Who doesn't love a cup of coffee in bed or, you know, pizza? If you have food stains on your sheets or have oil or face cream marks on your pillows, Boyd recommends pre-treating the area with an oxygenated bleach stain solution. "For any heavy stain, I'd soak it before you throw it in the machine," she says.

The best way to dry the leaves.

"I stay away from really high heat for anything," says Boyd. She recommends a medium to low setting to dry the bed.

Ten minutes before the drying cycle ends, remove the sheets. If you love a crisp bed, iron them now, while they're a little damp. We suggest the Rowenta Eco Intelligence steam iron, which has a 25% energy saving, but always guarantees straight corners. It is more difficult to remove wrinkles once the sheets have cooled.

If you use fabric softener?

Who doesn't love the buttery-smooth feel of fabric softeners? But while it has many benefits - softening your garments, helping with static, adding fresh scents, and making ironing easier - it's really bad for certain materials, including sheets. "It is [traditionally] made from animal fat," explains Boyd, "which is so thick that it seeps into the fabric and weakens the fibers in the leaves, causing holes." Do not worry. More brands like The Laundress are using plant-based formulations, which wash off easily and are gentler on fabrics. When shopping for your fabric softener, look for canola-based options or try Laundress fabric conditioner.

Make sure to wash your pillows

Breaking News: Washing your pillowcase is not enough. To remove dirt, dust, slime, and more, Boyd recommends washing your pillows at least once a season. Put the pillow on a gentle cycle with warm or cold water and a detergent formulated for delicate products. When it's time to dry, set the machine on a light, not a high heat cycle, and add wool balls to dry the feathers so there are no clumps.

Pro Tip:  "I love pillowcases," says Boyd. “It's a case that covers the pillow and helps any extra oil or dirt to seep into the actual pen area of ​​the inserts. They are really inexpensive and very useful to maintain the longevity of the pillows ”.