How to Wash and Care for Cotton Bedding
Prep
Before thinking about tossing your sheets in the washing machine, be sure to spot-clean and pre-treat any deep stains. Also be sure to check pillowcases for make-up residue. A pre-wash stain remover can help get stains out of the bed.
Detergent
Use a mild liquid detergent for cotton and cotton blend sheets. Washing powder can get caught in the fibers and reduce softness and lifetime of fabric. Strong and concentrated detergents can damage fibers. Avoid using bleach on bed linens. Bleach is harsh and can damage the fabric.
Do not overuse detergent. Too much detergent weakens fibers over time. Do not put detergent directly on the fabric as straight detergent can cause discoloration. Instead, fill the washing machine with water and detergent to dilute the detergent and then add the sheets. Lastly, do not use fabric softener since this also breaks down the fibers. Our sheets are already soft!
Wash Settings
Washing your cotton sheets on a cold setting is ideal, but if you have any stains on the sheets use warm water no hotter than 105 degrees.
Always wash your sheets in the washing machine by themselves. Washing sheets alone gives sheets more room to circulate in water and get nice and clean. Washing sheets alone also prevents damage caused by zippers and fasteners which helps reduce pilling which can happen over time.
Drying
The ideal way to dry your sheets is by hang-drying, if possible. Living in New York City, this has never really been an option for us, but for those that can, great! If not, place the sheets in the dryer on a low setting.
Remove the sheets from the dryer when the sheets are about 95% dry. Place the sheets on the bed or hang them somewhere to air dry the rest of the way. This helps prevent wrinkles.
