Five common mistakes to avoid when washing your sheets

You might think that your bed is the thing in your bedroom getting the most use, but, if you think about it, your sheets suffer more wear and tear than the bed itself. So it pays to take good care of your bed linens – and the best way to do that is by avoiding some of these simple, common mistakes when you’re in the laundry.

Keep an eye out for stains

Stains on bed sheets aren’t all that common, but it’s a good idea to check them over before throwing them in the washing machine. Pillows are especially susceptible to makeup and hair dye stains. If you notice any marks, use your usual pre-wash stain remover. Doing this will reduce the likelihood of your sheets needing to be re-washed.

Overloaded

As with all loads of washing, you need to leave room for things to circulate. If you overload the washing machine, there’s no space for the sheets to move around, which can impede the soaking and rinsing processes. It’s also best to avoid wrapping the sheets around the centre agitator (if you’re using a top-loader).

Too long between washes

While many people shower right before they go to bed, your sheets can still attract a build-up of sweat, body oils and other germs. To that end, the most amount of time you should leave between washes is two weeks. In the hotter months, weekly is recommended.

Wrong setting

While your sheets do take up a lot of space in the washing machine, don’t be fooled into thinking this makes them heavy duty. Unless there’s a need for some extra effort (like stains), you can use one of the shorter settings. Just try to use hot water whenever possible – you’ll banish more germs that way.

Detergent no-nos

There are two things you should be mindful of when washing your sheets, especially if they’re of a finer quality. Firstly, if you use too much detergent, you can cause damage to your sheets (and clothes for that matter). In the same way, using a harsh detergent can have a similar effect. If you like to splurge on luxurious linen, then consider using baby detergent to ensure your sheets last a little longer.

– stuff.co.nz