There is no feeling quite like slipping into a bed made up with brand-new sheets. Whether it's the fact that no one else has slept in them or that they're a little luxury just for you, there's something very inviting about new sheets.
Picking out new sheets is fun, especially when you challenge yourself to look beyond the thread count . What's less fun is having to wash, dry, and maybe even iron the new sheets and then make the bed. Even if you know every trick in the book for making it easy to make the bed , it's a bit of a drag to have to work for your reward of a comfy bed.
So, the question is whether you can save yourself a little time and effort and simply slip those brand-new sheets out of the package and onto a mattress, or should you wash new sheets before sleeping in them? To find out, we turned to laundry expert Patric Richardson.
Should You Wash New Sheets?
"You absolutely should wash your bedding
before using it," laundry expert Patric Richardson says. There are several reasons you should:
Get Rid Of Chemicals
"Many times fabrics are coated with something like very strong starch to make them stay crisp and neat in the store, they could be irritating to your skin,” Richardson says.
Additionally, manufacturers often use harsh dyes and chemicals when making sheets. This includes things like pesticides when growing cotton and formaldehyde to make sheets “wrinkle-free," and trace amounts could still remain on the sheets.
Your Sheets May Already Be Dirty
If your sheets came packaged in a plastic bag or were just neatly folded on the shelf, they may already be a little dirty. Dirt and dust could be trapped amongst the folds. “Secondly, someone in the store may have used cleaning chemicals on shelving or fixtures where the linens were stored and gotten on the fabrics,” Richardson says.
What Happens If You Don't Wash New Sheets?
If you don’t wash new sheets, odds are you’ll be okay. However, those chemicals coated on the sheets could potentially cause allergic reactions, skin conditions, or worse, especially if you have sensitive skin. Formaldehyde, for example, can cause contact dermatitis and asthma in the short term, with worse health effects after long-term exposure.
Also, your sheets won’t be as soft or relaxed as their final form until they’re washed a few times.
"Ultimately you want them to feel great on your bed,” Richardson says, so it’s best to just go ahead and wash your new sheets. (Besides, who wants to sleep on dirty sheets?)
How To Wash New Sheets
Richardson's tips for the most comfortable experience with new sheets are both very practical and very luxurious. Here’s what to do.
Step 1: Check The Sheets' Tag
Before tossing your sheets into the machine, though, check the tag for instructions. Different fabrics have different washing requirements. Cotton can handle hotter temperatures, for example, but microfiber sheets need cooler temps. Delicate fabrics like linen and silk should be washed in cold water with a mild detergent (you don't want to damage your brand-new silk pillowcase before you have a chance to rest your curls on it).
Step 2: Sort Your Sheets
Sort your sheets into a separate washing load from the rest of your laundry. Additionally, wash your sheets separately from the rest of your laundry. This ensures a better clean, as your sheets won't get tangled up with an errant pair of jeans. It can also help prevent lint transfer.
Step 3: Wash Your Sheets
Next, “wash them with a tiny bit of soap or detergent with warm water on the express cycle," Richardson says. If your new bed sheets aren't as soft as you like, washing them with a little baking soda and vinegar will make scratchy sheets feel more luxurious.
Step 4: Dry Your Sheets
"Toss them in the dryer with a wool dryer ball that you have sprinkled with a few drops of your favorite essential oil...freshly washed sheets that have a hint of lavender? You may never want to get out of the bed,” Richardson says. Set your dryer to tumble-dry on low. Or, if you have space and time, allow them to air dry to reduce wrinkles.
How Often To Wash Sheets
After that initial wash, get into the habit of washing your sheets
weekly to get rid of allergens, dead skin, and bacteria. Skin secretes oils and sheds at night, which can attract dust mites. Additionally, lotions, hair, sweat, dust, and, yes, drool all accumulate on bed sheets while we sleep. That makes an ideal breeding ground for bacteria. If you share your bed with a pet, sweat a lot, or have your kids in bed with you, you may consider washing your sheets more often.
Should You Wash Other New Bedding, Too?
Yes, you should wash all new bedding for the same reasons you want to wash new sheets. This includes your pillowcases , your duvets and comforters , your duvet cover , and your mattress cover . After that first initial wash, you should wash your pillowcases and duvet cover with the same frequency as your other sheets (once a week). However, things like your comforter, duvet insert , and mattress cover can be cleaned every few months, or as needed.
Read the original article on Southern Living
