How to Clean Sheets

Co-authored by Michelle Driscoll, MPH

Last Updated: March 11, 2023 References

Cleaning your sheets is beneficial for your body and mind. People sleep much better when their sheets are clean.^{[1]
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Research source} There is nothing like the feeling of slipping between clean sheets. It is best to clean your sheets on a regular basis but also in a way that fits into your schedule.^{[2]
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Research source} By taking good care of your sheets, you will be able to make them last a long time.^{[3]
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Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Washing Your Sheets

1
Wash your sheets once a week if possible. It is a good idea to wash your sheets once per week or at least every couple of weeks.^{[4]
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Research source} You should take your lifestyle, personal preferences and geographic location into account in deciding how often to wash your sheets.^{[5]
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- If you take a shower before going to bed and wear fresh pajamas, you may not need to wash your sheets as frequently.
- If you live in a place with limited water supply, it may be a good idea to avoid washing your sheets too frequently.^{[6]
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- If you have a very active sex life, you may want to wash your sheets more regularly.^{[7]
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- If you sweat a lot at night, it may be a good idea to wash your sheets more frequently.^{[8]
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2
Wash brand new sheets with baking soda and vinegar. Brand new sheets have chemicals added during manufacture that can prevent them from feeling soft. Detergent will lock in these chemicals and make the new sheets feel a little harsh. To avoid this problem, wash your new sheets with one cup (236 milliliters) of baking soda. Add one cup (236 milliliters) of white vinegar to the rinse cycle. After this first wash, you can use regular detergent. Feel free to sleep in your new sheets after the baking soda and vinegar wash.

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3
Remove the sheets from your bed and get ready to wash them. If you are washing your regular sheets (i.e., not new), follow the washing instructions provided on the care label of your sheets. The care label will offer specific washing instructions based on the material and brand.^{[9]
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- Avoid washing too many sheets together. If you try to wash too many sheets at once, they will not get as clean. Also, washing too much at once will strain the motor of your washing machine.^{[10]
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4
Place the sheets into a washing machine without other items. Only sheets and pillow cases should be washed together. Other bed linen should be washed separately from sheets.
- Avoid washing your sheets with towels.^{[11]
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  Research source} If you wash sheets with towels, you will end up with little lint balls all over your sheets. The friction from the towels will gradually wear down the sheets.^{[12]
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- Avoid washing your sheets with items of a different color. If you wash your sheets with other clothing items of a different color, you may discolor your sheets.^{[13]
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5
Measure out the required amount of detergent for the size of the load. It is best to be conservative when measuring out the detergent for washing sheets.^{[14]
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- Use 2 oz (1/4 cup) or half a cap full of liquid laundry detergent for a regular load.
- Use 4 oz (1/2 cup) or 1 full cap of liquid laundry detergent for a heavily soiled load.
- Follow the guidelines on the detergent packaging.^{[15]
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- Avoid using too much detergent. If you want your sheets to last a long time, you should avoid excessive detergent. Loads of detergent will wear down your sheets faster.
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Choose the right cycle. If your sheets are very soiled, you will choose a different cycle than if your sheets are only mildly soiled. If you always choose the strongest cycle, your sheets will deteriorate faster.^{[16]
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- Choose “sheet cycle” if your machine has such a setting. If there is no “sheet cycle,” use the regular cycle or the colors cycle.^{[17]
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- Use a warm water setting for regular washing. If the sheets are very soiled, you can use a hot water setting to kill more germs.^{[18]
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- Avoid using hot temperatures regularly. If you want your sheets to last a long time, you should generally avoid hot temperatures. A hot cycle will wear down your sheets faster.^{[19]
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- Use a hot temperature setting if you had a cold recently or if the sheets are especially soiled. The hot water will help disinfect your sheets and remove germs, viruses and allergens.
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Supplement the wash if you wish. You can add common ingredients to get rid of certain smells, enhance other smells and brighten your sheets.
- Add 1 cup (236 milliliters) of vinegar to the rinse cycle. By adding vinegar at the rinse cycle, you will get rid of any traces of detergent on the sheets.^{[20]
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- Use a quarter cup (2 oz) of lemon juice to the wash cycle to brighten your sheets. Use lemon juice instead of bleach or a whitening agent. This can make your sheets last a little longer.^{[21]
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Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Washing Special Sheets and Removing Stains

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Clean silk and satin sheets with gentle detergents. Silk is a delicate fabric, so you need to take special care. Use a detergent that is designed for silk. Choose a gentle, cold water cycle and avoid washing silks with heavier fabrics.^{[22]
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- Dry your silk sheets on a clothes line. If you must use a dryer, choose a no-heat setting.^{[23]
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- To clean your satin sheets, you should machine wash at 40° Celsius (104° Fahrenheit). You can use a fabric conditioner in the final cycle to help keep the sheets soft.
- Avoid using bleach. Using bleach frequently will eventually damage your sheets.
- Dry on a clothes line or tumble dry.
2
Wash your linen sheets on a cold cycle with minimal detergent. Linen is a durable, but tricky fabric. With linen sheets, you should use colder temperatures. Try to use natural detergents and use less detergent than normal. For example, if you usually use 1 cup (236 ml), try only using 3/4 of that amount. You can always wash the sheets again later if they are not clean.^{[24]
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3
Remove tough stains immediately. If you get a stain on your sheets, it is best to remove it immediately. As soon as a stain happens, quickly rinse the affected area of the sheet with cold water. After you have rinsed off the stain, you can move forward with washing your sheets.
- Remove stains from your silk sheets with a product designed specifically for silk sheets.^{[25]
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4
Take out blood stains with cold water. If you get blood on your sheets, rinse the stains out with cold water. Try to remove the stains as soon as possible to keep them from setting in.^{[26]
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- If cold water does not work, try treating the blood stain with shampoo. Squirt a small amount of shampoo on the stain, and then vigorously rub it with a brush. Keep brushing the affected area until you get most of the blood removed. You can then rinse the stained area, and wash the sheets.^{[27]
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5
Pre-soak sheets to remove body oil stains. Soak the sheets prior to the wash. Soak the sheets in the washing machine with 3 squirts of dishwashing soap, 1/4 cup (59 milliliters) of borax and 1/3 cup (80 milliliters) of white vinegar. Let the sheets soak in these ingredients for 30 minutes. Then, wash the sheets on a hot water cycle.^{[28]
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Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Drying Your Sheets and Making Your Bed

1
Dry your sheets on a clothes line to save energy. If it is a sunny day, you may choose to dry your sheets on the clothes line in your backyard. You will save energy and electricity use by using a clothes line.^{[29]
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- Hang white sheets in the sun and colored sheets in the shade.^{[30]
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- Hang sheets from the corners rather than in the middle. This keeps them from getting damaged in the wind.
- Wear an apron with pockets for clothespins to make the task easier. Alternately, bring a bucket of clothespins.^{[31]
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- You may also choose to use a combination of clothes line and dryer. Try drying the sheets on the clothes line and then putting them in the dryer for just a couple minutes. This way you can save energy while also getting the soft feel of sheets just out of the dryer.^{[32]
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2
Dry your clothes in a dryer for a shorter drying time. If it is raining or you do not have a clothes line, you may choose to use the drying machine. The dryer gives a nice soft feel to your sheets, and is also more efficient than a clothes line if you need dry sheets right away.^{[33]
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- Use a tennis ball tied in a cotton sock to make sure the sheets dry evenly. ^{[34]
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- Use a lavender dryer bag. Lavender oil can help you sleep and is a natural moth repellent and antibacterial agent.^{[35]
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  Research source} Fill a spray bottle with water and several drops of lavender oil. Shake the bottle to mix the oil into the water. Spray a clean washcloth with the solution and then toss the washcloth in the dryer with the wet laundry. The lavender scent will transfer to your sheets.^{[36]
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3
Choose the correct setting on the dryer. Generally, it is best to choose a medium or low heat setting. This makes your sheets last longer.^{[37]
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Research source} You may also want to choose an automatic setting that tells you when your sheets are dry.
- Use the less dry or damp alert settings to prevent over-drying of cotton sheets. ^{[38]
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- Avoid hot temperature settings. Hot temperatures will shorten the life of your sheets.^{[39]
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4
Place your sheets flat across your bed as soon as they come out of the dryer. If you place them flat across your bed while they are still warm, they will fit to the bed. Also, the sheets will look smooth and ironed, even though you have not actually ironed them.^{[40]
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- Avoid leaving your sheets in the washer. This causes wrinkles, since the spin cycle of the washer will suck the sheets against the washer wall. Instead, take out the sheets right when they are done and place them on the bed.^{[41]
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5
Remake the bed with fresh sheets. It is likely that you will get a better night's rest if you make your bed.^{[42]
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Research source} Start by stretching the elastic corners of your fitted sheet over each of the corners of your mattress. Then, stretch your top sheet over the mattress and tuck the 4 sides underneath. Last, place your duvet on top.
6
Store sheets in a cool dry place away from sunlight. You can store each set of sheets in a matching pillowcase. This will keep your drawers neat.^{[43]
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- Put the top and bottom sheets in 1 pillowcase. You can also put your second pillowcase in there.^{[44]
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- Store your sheets in a linen closet. If you own a linen closet, you can keep your sheets in there. It will give you more closet space in the bedrooms.^{[45]
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- Store your sheets in the room where they are being used. This way your sheets will be readily available when you need them.^{[46]
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Community Q&A

Question

How do I keep them from turning into a giant ball in the dryer?

Community Answer

You don't. The dryer will turn them over on each other, which will inevitably ball them up. There are some things that can be done to prevent excessive balling and wrinkling though. For example, watch how you pull them out of the washer. Remember that if you are putting them into the drier in a giant ball, they will be a giant ball when you pull them out. Make sure to pull out separate items from the washer one at at time to help sheets from getting tangled on each other. Dryer sheets aren't just for the smell -- they act to help soften and to eliminate static cling that keeps cloth bunched up, so make sure to toss one of those in too. Lastly, fold your sheets as soon as they're done drying to minimize bunching and wrinkling.
Question

How much baking soda and vinegar do I use?

Community Answer

You would use one cup of each, but don't add the vinegar until the rinse cycle.
Question

Can I put it to dry on steam mode?

Community Answer

Put the dryer on low dry. When you do that place them in there nicely and then start it.