If our bedrooms are our sanctuaries, then our beds must be our safe havens. There’s nothing like curling up in your nice, warm, clean-smelling bed at the end of the day. Certain smells can get us to relax and lower our anxiety levels—something we sorely need because of the current pandemic.
We know the basic rule of separating whites when doing laundry, but keeping our bed sheets clean and smelling nice can be trickier than expected. Considering how much time we spend asleep in our beds, it’s paramount that we learn how to properly take care of our sheets to get the best night’s sleep possible.
Mistake 1: Not washing your sheets often enough
Changing our bed sheets can be a daunting task, and it’s likely that you’re not changing your sheets often enough. It’s understandable to want to put off this chore but because we use our sheets often, they can easily accumulate dead skin cells, dust mites, and germs. It’s recommended to change our sheets once a week with the longest time you can wait between washes is two weeks. If it’s particularly hot and humid, you may choose to wash and change your sheets more frequently.
Mistake 2: Not washing your duvets together with your sheets
You should wash your duvet together with your sheets. Some people think that as long as they change their sheets and pillowcases then they’re good to go. But that’s not the case at all! Dead skin cells and other gunk can certainly accumulate on our duvets. Don’t wait for visible stains before taking them for a wash.
Mistake 3: Using harsh detergents
After stressing the importance of clean sheets, you might believe that the best course of action would be to use a strong detergent to make sure that all germs are killed. But using too harsh of a detergent could be harmful in the long run. Harsh detergents can damage the fabric, something you want to avoid if your sheets are particularly expensive.
Mistake 4: Overloading the washer and using the wrong setting
As tempting as it may be to stuff your washer with your laundry, you should avoid overloading it when washing your sheets. Sheets need space inside the washer to properly circulate and if you overload the washer you might end up damaging more than just the fabric. Using the wrong setting can also be damaging, stick to gentler settings and avoid using heavier settings even if you think that your sheets need it. A gentler setting with the proper detergent can get the job done.
Mistake 5: Mixing in your sheets with other laundry
Even if your washer can handle a big load, you should avoid mixing up your sheets with other laundry. Washing them together with towels can have lint travel and build up on your sheets and the friction can exacerbate wear and tear. You want to avoid washing your sheets with stuff like workout clothes and your underwear, too, because of the germs. Consider investing in a hamper where you can easily separate your laundry for an easier time sorting through different loads.
