Should I Wash New Sheets Before Using?

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The answer is yes. There are many reasons why you should wash your new sheets. First of all, it removes any stains that were left during the manufacturing process. These stains could be blood, ink, or other colors from the dyeing process.

Second, it removes allergens that might be on your sheets before you use them for the first time.

Thirdly, washing new sheets will help get rid of any dust mites in your bedding which can cause allergic reactions like redness and itchiness.

Keep reading to find the best tips for washing new sheets and how to look after your sheets to make them last longer.

What Happens if You Don't Wash New Sheets?

If you decide not to wash your new sheets before using them, you risk exposing yourself to allergens that could cause allergic reactions, like redness and itchiness. In addition, if your sheets have been in contact with toxic chemicals during the manufacturing process, it is important to wash them before using them as well.

Do I Still Need to Wash New Organic Sheets?

If you are using organic sheets, it is still important to wash them before use. You might be wondering why this would be the case when people think that because they're organic, there's no need for washing, but in fact, your new organic sheets should receive more care than conventional ones.

Washing organic cotton and linen sheets will help to remove any substances they could have come in contact with during the manufacturing process, as well as soften them and make them feel more comfortable on your skin.

How Do You Wash New Sheets in the Washing Machine?

To wash your bed sheets in a washing machine for the first time, follow these steps:

You can wash new sheets better if you give them enough space in the washing machine, so be sure not to overfill it. If you have a top load washer, make sure to put the sheets in so they don't get caught on the agitator.
Always wash your sheets separately so they don't get tangled up with other things in the laundry. This way, you'll avoid potential damage to your new sheets.
When washing sheets, the best thing to do is to check the care label first. But if you are not sure what cycle is best, it is usually safe to use the gentle cycle.
The best temperature to wash your sheets is warm water. Hot water will fade colors and can be harsh on the threads. Cold water may not clean your sheets well enough.
There are special detergents that are non-toxic. I recommend Seventh Generation Detergent. You should not use too much detergent, as this will make your sheets wear out faster than they normally would. You only need about a quarter cup of liquid detergent for a normal load of sheets.

How to Dry Your New Sheets?

To dry your bed sheets, follow these steps:

Hang sheets on the clothesline, or place them in a dryer with low heat and no fabric softener. Dry your new sheets for about 40 minutes to an hour.
You can also put the wet sheet into a mesh bag (or buy one) before placing it in the dryer to help keep it from clumping. Be sure to shake out the wet sheets after removing them from the washer and before placing them in the mesh bag.
You can also hang your new sheet outside if it's not too hot in the summertime.

FAQs

How to Care for Organic Sheets?

In this section, you'll find out how to care for sheets made from natural fabrics:

Cotton Sheets: Cleaning your organic cotton sheets is easy. Wash them with a mild, natural detergent in a warm water setting and then dry on low or medium heat to avoid wrinkles. All you have to do after that is remove it from the drier promptly so as not to get any more creases.

Bamboo Sheets: Bamboo sheets should always be washed in cold water on a gentle cycle, and it's best to wash them separately from other items to avoid damage. For the washing detergent, you'll want to stay away from bleach because of its harsh chemicals.

Make sure if using your dryer (which is recommended) that you use low heat so as not to ruin the fibers or color of your bamboo bedding with excessive heat.

Silk and Sateen Sheets: Satin and silk sheets should be washed on a gentle setting in cold water to minimize any damage. It is also important not to use bleach or fabric softener, as they are harsh chemicals that can have negative effects when interacting with the delicate fabrics of these types of sheets.

Avoid putting them through the dryer, because heat may cause irreversible damage such as shrinking and yellowing over time. Instead, line-dry them outdoors or put them in your drier but make sure you do so at low temperatures (no heat).

Linen Sheets: Although linen sheets are somewhat similar to cotton sheets, due to the weaker fibers of linen, special care is needed for cleaning. Use a gentle detergent in cold water and carefully tumble dry at a low heat level so as not to damage your linens.

How Often Should You Wash Bed Sheets?

You've probably heard some conflicting advice when it comes to how often you should wash your bed sheets. Some people say that washing them frequently isn't necessary, while others insist on daily washes. Actually, there is a science behind the frequency of washing your sheets that is based on the type of fabric and where you live.

If you're living in a hot, humid climate, then it's absolutely essential to wash your bedding at least once every two weeks because this will help avoid outbreaks of dust mites and other allergens (especially if you or someone else suffers from allergies). Having clean sheets will also prevent the development of mold and mildew.

If you're not living in a cold climate, then you can probably get away with washing your sheets every two to three weeks or so. But if you're living in a humid climate, then it's not advisable to wash them less than once per week because the fabric will start smelling musty and sour-smelling due to bacteria growth on wet surfaces.

If you're using natural fiber sheets, they should be washed every few weeks because they're more absorbent and will trap body oils, sweat, dirt, dust mites.

Synthetic fabric sheets, such as polyester or microfiber sheets, should be washed every week to two weeks, but should never be washed more than three times a month.

Is It Bad to Not Wash Your Bed Sheets?

If you don't wash your sheets often, it can cause a lot of health problems. Bacteria like to live in the nooks and crannies of sheets. This can cause bad odors, skin irritations and rashes.

Dirty sheets can also cause sleep to be poorer and can lead to allergies.

Even natural fibers like organic cotton sheets need to get washed once per week because the fabric will start smelling musty and sour-smelling due to bacteria growth on wet surfaces.

How to Avoid Sheet Pilling?

Pilling is what we call those pesky little balls of material that develop on sheets and pillowcases after they have been slept on and washed several times. These uncomfortable, tiny fabric balls can be avoided with these tips:

Don't let them get so bad by avoiding hot temperatures when washing or drying your bedding, this weakens the fibers in a way pilling will start to happen more quickly than normal.
Avoid bleach or other products which are harsh chemicals because while normally great for cleaning stains out of clothes before laundering it may cause you trouble as well - weakening fabrics like cotton leads to breakage at points where certain strands cross each other called "fuzzing" (or eventually balling up into small lint-like fuzz) which then causes sheets to start pilling.
If you must use bleach, make sure the product is non-chlorine or oxygen bleaches (look for sodium perborate in the ingredients). If you want to avoid using chemicals at all, choose a natural detergent such as Seventh Generation's Detergent.
Last but not least, try not to over-dry your sheets by using a lower heat setting. This will help to keep the fabric fibers from shrinking and twisting, which leads to weak spots in sheets over time.

How Long Do Sheets Last?

Sheets can last for years with proper care, but the lifespan will vary depending on how often you use them, whether or not they're exposed to sunlight and what materials they're made of.

If you want long-lasting sheets, buy organic sheets. Their fibers have not been treated with harsh chemicals, which means, they're much stronger and last longer than synthetic or non-organic sheets.

Conclusion

You should always wash your new sheets. It's not only important for you to have clean sheets, but it also protects the fibers of your new purchase and prolongs their lifespan. Washing is important because laundry detergent can rinse away fabric softeners or optical brighteners from a sheet's surface, which prevents it from effectively fighting bacteria that could otherwise build up on the fabric.

We recommend using a natural detergent instead of most mainstream brands, which can contain harsh chemicals that are corrosive to fabrics and cause skin irritation. We also suggest you use organic sheets if possible because they last much longer than microfiber and polyester sheets and they won't expose you to pontentially harmful chemicals.

Should I Wash New Sheets Before Using?

What Happens if You Don't Wash New Sheets?

Do I Still Need to Wash New Organic Sheets?