Changing our bed sheets is one of those mundane tasks many of us do on auto-pilot. Strip the bed, throw everything into the washre, replace the sheets, sleep, and a week later repeat.
However, how you wash bed sheets can have a drastic impact on their longevity, laundry experts warn. Beyond picking the right detergents and laundry cycle, they suggest that washing bedding inside out could make a big difference to the look and feel of your favorite bed sheets.
Here's why they think this little step is worth the effort.
Should you wash bedding inside out?
Most of us are looking to save time when doing laundry, so spending extra minutes flipping duvet covers and pillowcases inside out might seem like a waste of time.
However, spending just a few seconds on this task could help to maintain the look of your bedding, avoiding a common bedding laundry mistake and making your bedding softer Tom Ceconi, president at Heritage Park Laundry Essentials, says.
‘Washing bedding inside out can help to prolong the lifespan of your bedding, especially for more delicate natural fibers such as washing and caring for cotton or washing linen bedding,’ he explains. ‘Much like washing clothes inside out, turning bedding protects the outer, visible surface from friction that can occur in the wash cycle.
'This maintains the appearance of your bedding, protects the colors and dyes, and prevents pilling on the sides that come into contact with your skin. This, in turn, helps to improve sleep and keep your bedding looking newer for longer.’
It is worth noting this is for better longevity and aesthetic rather than a matter of cleanliness. Tom Ceconi, continues, ‘In terms of cleanliness, turning bedding inside out doesn’t have a significant impact on overall hygiene since the detergent and water are distributed throughout the fabric.’
Washing your bedding separately from other items will also make a difference whether you are washing your bedding inside or not, adds Polya Petrova, a cleaning professional at Fantastic Services. ‘Washing delicate, colored fabrics with more abrasive materials like towels or heavy denim can cause pilling, wear, and tear. To avoid damaging your delicate linens, wash them separately from items with rough textures – such as washing sheets and towels together,’ she adds.
‘Bedding often requires a gentler wash cycle and takes up a lot of space in the washing machine. Adding towels can overload the machine, leading to inadequate cleaning and possibly damaging both the bedding and towels. Wash bedding separately to ensure it’s cleaned and rinsed thoroughly.’
Although it is certainly beneficial to wash bedding inside out, it is luckily not too detrimental if you forget every other cycle, adds Heidi Luber, president and owner at Lubertex International, the hotel linen supplier, ‘To make a real difference in the lifespan of your cotton or cotton/poly bedding, wash it in warm water and warm dryer with only other bedding. Do not mix with towels or clothing – mixing can affect the cotton fibers and cause damage to the bedding.’
Checking the laundry symbols on the care tag along with washing inside out is the best way to keep your bedding in top condition.
Laundry washing essentials
Gentle detergent is the best option for washing bedding no matter the material. Not only does it help to protect the dye and any embellishments, but keeps your bedding soft and avoids adding any allergens to your sheets that could impact your sleep quality
If drying bedding in the tumble dryer, opt for wool dryer balls rather than dryer sheets. Dryer balls are not only more sustainable that dryer sheets but they help to fluff up and soften your sheets without the need for fabric softener. Better yet, you can infuse them with a few drops of your favorite essential oils to add a custom fragrance to your sheets
For bed sheets that are not suitable for the tumble dryer, consider air drying them flat on a clothes drying rack. Air drying sheets help them last longer by protecting the fibers while also helping you to save money on laundry. Place the best dehumidifer underneath the drying rack to speed up drying and prevent musty odors
All in all, taking the time to turn your bedding inside out before washing is certainly worth it, especially given how often you should wash your bed sheets to keep them sanitary.
Of course, you cannot turn a comforter inside out to wash it, which is why many bedding experts recommend investing in the best duvet insert and a cover instead, making laundry simpler and having your bedding last longer.
