Are You Washing Your Sheets Properly?

If hot water, bleach and fabric softener are your go-tos, you need to read this.

You’ve found the perfect bedding – the cotton feels great, the colour is right, you’re sleeping better – but that’s just the beginning.

To maintain the quality of your new bed sheets and ensure they last as long as they should, proper washing and drying techniques are paramount. At envello, we love caring for bedding and we want to share that love with you.

Tip 1: Do Not Overload the Washer

We know it’s tempting to make laundry day as quick as possible but throwing in bedding with other items is a no-no. Most king sets can take up a washer on their own and even smaller twin sets need space to make sure they get thoroughly cleaned.

Tip 2: Warm Water is Your Friend

Avoid the temptation of hot water. It will shrink and fade sheets, and break down the cotton so it is more prone to rips and tears. Warm water (our preferred temp is 104 degrees Fahrenheit or 40 degrees Celsius) is best for cleaning and longevity.

 Tip 3: Say No to Harsh Detergents

It’s time to bust the strong detergents myth – they do not clean sheets better! In fact, they can actually break down cotton fibres and shorten the lifespan of your sheets. Opt for a gentle liquid detergent without fibre-damaging whitening agents or bleach.

Tip 4: Don’t Over Dry

We love to hang our sheets and let them air dry but, let’s face it, that’s not always practical. When using the dryer, we keep the setting low and the cycle to 15 minutes.

Tip 5: Stop Static Safely

Not only do most liquid fabric softeners and throw-away dryer sheets contain toxic additives, they just aren’t good for high-quality cotton fibres. In addition, most dryer sheets are plastic-based and single-use—which means that we're throwing them away after each load of laundry as they generally aren't recyclable. We always use 100 percent re-usable wool dryer balls to safely and gently reduce wrinkling and speed drying.

Tip 6: Maintain a Wash Schedule

Always wash new sheets before using them and, after that, we recommend washing once a week to maintain cleanliness and prevent dust mites.