Your bed should be a calm and peaceful retreat. You deserve ultimate comfort in perfectly clean and nice smelling, fresh sheets. So, when you ask yourself the question of how to wash bed sheets for the perfect result, Ariel is here to give you a helping hand. Read on and discover all you need to know about bed sheet cleaning using a washing machine or by hand.
7 steps on how to wash bed sheets and bed linen in a washing machine
When it comes to how to wash bed sheets, regularity comes up as a question. Although sometimes it’s easy to forget to wash your sheets, think of it this way: Some people spend more time in bed than they do in their clothing. We wash our clothing regularly, so bed sheets shouldn't be any different. We recommend washing your sheets at least once every other week. Now let’s see how it’s best to do that.
1
Read instructions
Read all labels and washing instructions to be sure you don't have any specific cleaning requirements to follow. Most sheets can be washed at home in your washing machine, but speciality fabrics may require careful consideration.
2
Pre-treat
The longer a stain sits, the harder it is to remove, so create a soaking solution by filling up a sink or bucket with warm water and half a scoop of Ariel Complete Washing Powder. Mix the solution thoroughly by hand before soaking the sheet for an hour. If it keeps floating to the top, use a white towel to keep it immersed.
After it has soaked, gently wring out the excess before adding it to your wash as normal. That way, your stains will lift right off before they get a chance to set.
3
Separate by colour
Just like clothing, dark colours or reds can dull or bleed onto lighter colours, so make sure you separate your bedsheets by colour for the best result.
4
Use hot water
Use the hottest water setting on your washing machine that’s safe for the material. Polyester blends are best washed using warm water, while cotton can tolerate hot water. Hotter water kills the most germs and takes care of dust mites that thrive in bedding.
5
Dry
Hang sheets to dry outside, or dry it in your machine.
6
Iron
Always iron bed linen, because ironing helps kills the last of the germs and dust mites that might remain after the wash. Ironing also helps you easily store bed linens.
Let us give you a hand with finding the perfect laundry detergent as well. Use Ariel Matic Front Load for front load fully automatic washing machines or Ariel Matic Top Load for top load fully automatic washing machines. If you own a semi-automatic washing machine, choose Ariel Perfect Wash for bright and impeccable results.
6 steps on how to wash bed sheets by hand
1
Read instructions
Read all the labels and washing instructions to check for the maximum temperature your bed sheets can tolerate, or if there are any specific cleaning requirements to follow.
2
Fill up a tub
Depending on how many bed sheets you’re washing, fill up a tub or a large container with warm water if you’re washing cotton or synthetic bed sheets. Don’t forget, silk and other delicate materials require cold water.
3
Add detergent
Add detergent to the water and stir it with a spoon or your hands to make sure it’s evenly distributed.
4
Knead
Start kneading your bed sheets for about 5 minutes while making sure the mixture of water and laundry detergent can reach every part of the sheets. If your sheets are extremely dirty, you can let them soak in this solution for 15 minutes for the best result.
5
Rinse
Rinse your bed sheets under running water to get rid of the detergent. Repeat this step until all the detergent is gone.
6
Dry
Gently squeeze the water out of your bed sheets and hang them out to dry, just as you would after using the washing machine.
Top tip: If you’re using a dryer, set it on low heat and fold your bed sheets immediately after taking out so they don’t wrinkle.
FAQs on how to wash and dry bed sheets and bed linen
Related articles
How to sort your laundry before the wash for the best results
We know how frustrating it is when you pull your whites out of the machine only to find a stray red sock had sneaked in with them and turned everything pink.
How to remove food stains from clothes
Coffee, ketchup, orange juice – these food stains are more common than you would think.
How to wash padded bras
Washing bras is a piece of cake – just throw them in the washer, and they’re done, right? Well, not exactly.
