Few things are as satisfying as crawling into a freshly made bed – complete with clean, fresh sheets.
Seriously – it is the best. In fact; I am not surprised at all that Oprah Winfrey allegedly has someone change her bed sheets for her every single day – and trust me; if I had someone change mine for me, I’d probably do the very same thing.
However, washing and changing bed sheets is not only time consuming, it is also pretty hard work, especially if you have more than one bed you have to change. Meaning, for many, it is a chore that keeps being put off, with many of us assuming that surely they can’t need to be changed that often…?
However, while Oprah’s daily sheet change might be a bit excessive, you might just want to change those sheets a tad more often than you already are, says Ariel Kaye, the founder and CEO of bed sheet emporium Parachute.
Speaking to MyDomaine.com, Kaye explains: “It’s important to approach the process intentionally to extend the life of your bedding, while also maintaining cleanliness,” she says.
When it comes to how often you should wash those sheets, Kaye says it properly more often than you think.
“We suggest washing your bedding every seven to 10 days.”
And it doesn’t stop there: “Mattress and pillow protectors should be washed every month, and inserts should be washed every three to six months.”
If you really want to make your bedding last and make your whole sleep experience even more luxurious, Kaye has some tips on not just how often you should be washing your sheet, but also how you should be doing it:
“Fill the washer with cool water and add liquid soap—less than the manufacturer calls for,” the bedding designer notes. “Avoid hot water, powdered detergent, bleach, and fabric softener: They weaken natural fibers, and excess detergent can cause unpleasant buildup on your bedding. Allow the detergent to dissolve before loading your bedding into the washer. To further protect your linens, only wash similar items together—so, linens of the same color and fabric—and never add clothing to your load, because zippers, hooks, and the like can cause pilling and abrasion.”
And if you use a dryer, there are some ways to do this more correctly too:
“To dry, load the machine halfway to avoid twisting, and allow the fabric to fluff up,” Kaye continues. “We suggest using low heat, as overheating the fabric causes the fibers to get brittle and the color to fade. If applying the linens directly to the bed, pull them out just before they’re dry. Slightly damp sheets will prevent wrinkles—no iron needed.”
(Feature image via H&M Home)
