Finding the perfect mattress takes time, yet nearly anyone will tell you it is time well spent because your mattress is so important for your sleep as well as your overall health. Just the same, finding the right linens for your home can be both time consuming and comprehensive. There’s so much to learn, from thread count to weave to materials. Many times, the best linens are costly. You will consider it time and money well spent, though, when you slip into your fabulously appointed bed each night.
These new linens aren’t something to want to constantly replace. In order to keep your sheets looking and feeling as luxurious as they did the day you purchased them, you’ll need to take extra care in laundering them. In addition to this article, we recommend reading our dedicated article: "The ultimate guide to washing pillows, blankets, and other bedding".
First Things First…Wash Them!
Fine linens are not generally prewashed. While you’re certainly excited to get them out of the package and sleep on them for the first time, they need to be washed at least once first. This first wash is important for setting the threads, which will preserve the fabric’s beauty and prolong its life. Make sure to follow these rules carefully, unless your linens’ packaging says something different:
- Set the machine to wash in warm water on a gentle or delicate cycle with a cold water rinse.
- Use a mild detergent that does not contain any bleaching agents such as chlorine or peroxide.
- Fine linens only require half the recommended amount of detergent, so don’t overdo it.
- Do not pour the detergent directly onto your new linens. Instead, add your fully unfolded linens to the tub after it fills up and the detergent has already been diluted in the water.
- These linens are the height of luxury and therefore already extremely soft and supple. You do not need to use fabric softeners.
- Avoid overloading the washer with a too-full load. This will help to prevent fiber breakdown from excessive abrasion and agitation. For instance, if you purchased a king set of sheets, pillowcases, and a duvet cover, break it up into two loads.
Avoid Putting Luxury Linens in the Dryer
It goes without saying that luxury linens should not be put into the dryer. The heat will damage the fine fibers. Instead, let these linens dry slowly in soft, outdoor sunlight. This is ideal as it is the gentlest, and the sun provides natural bleaching. However, this is not always practical, so you also have the option of air drying on a rack or a large surface (like your bed) instead.
How Often Should You Wash Your Linens?
You’ve washed them the first time, you’ve slept on them, and you love them. You’re thrilled with your purchase! Now what? How do you keep them clean and fresh like the very first day? The answer depends on the circumstances. The Good Housekeeping Institute says you should wash your sheets, and other bedding linens, at least once every two weeks. If you have night sweats and get hot in bed often, bump washing up to once a week.
City Mattress makes it incredibly easy to find the best luxury linens, whether you’ve recently purchased a new mattress from us or already love the one you have. We are particularly proud to have recently started carrying luxury linens from the famed brand Sferra on our website. We have dozens of Sferra linens to choose from, including pillow shams, fitted sheets, duvet covers, and so much more. They’re sold separately, so you can mix and match materials, colors, and patterns the way top interior designers do! A Classico Linen Duvet Cover and fitted sheet would look amazing paired with a textured Bari Pillow Sham. Once you begin to look into these linens, you’ll get so many ideas!
City Mattress’s soft and high-quality linens, including those made in Italy by Sferra, can help you get the good night’s sleep you’ve been dreaming of. A nice set of linens can really elevate the look and feel of your ideal mattress, delivering the comfort you want night after night. Just remember to care for them in the correct way once you get them and fall in love with them! Most Sferra linens are handcrafted from natural fibers and materials, and therefore can be machine washed at home in cold water, but please read the detailed instruction before you do.