How To Make Sheets White Again

How to Get Sheets White

Personally, I’ve (Slumber Yard member Kelsey) always had white sheets and white bedding. There is something about feeling like you’re laying in a big comfy cloud, like brooklinen sheets, that puts me to sleep more peacefully and soundly. So as you can imagine, over time, I’ve learned the best tips on how to get sheets white — and keep them that way.

In addition to keeping sheets clean, I also make sure to fold them properly. Folding your sheets properly, prevents them from getting wrinkled and looking old and weathered. I particularly found learning to fold my fitted sheets properly made all the difference.

Also, how does one get stains out of purple sheets or patterned sheets? I always had security in the thought that if I spilled on my cloud-like white sheets, I could just bleach them back to perfection. But over time, I noticed my white sheets getting more and more yellow hued. So instead of purchasing new sheets every six months, I decided to do some research on how to get yellow stains out of white sheets, how to wash white sheets in a way that really and truly maintains (or even reverses back to!) pearly white bedding.

Why Bleach Is Not The Answer

If you think that bleach is the answer for white sheets, you’re wrong!

If you’re wondering how to bleach sheets, turns out, doing so is one of the worst things you can do to keep them white. Bleach contains chlorine, which chemically reacts to protein stains like sweat, body oils, sexual fluids, vomit, etc., to create a yellow and dingy stain. Not to worry, though, as there are so many other laundering options when it comes to your white bedding.

How To Get Yellow Stains Out Of White Sheets

First, you can use a whitening laundry booster like OxiClean or Borax. The best way to use these is to soak your bedding overnight in it with water (follow directions per laundry booster for amounts), and then launder them as usual. You can do this in the bathtub or a large sink or bucket.

RELATED: Shop Laundry Boosters On Amazon

If you want a more natural route, you can use normal household items such as vinegar, lemon, and baking soda. I like to pre-soak the bedding in hot water and half a cup of vinegar for about an hour. Then I wash them as a normal load, but add half a cup of baking soda or lemon juice along with the detergent. These are both powerful natural whiteners. Personally, I like lemon juice because of the slightly citrus smell, and I think that it kills off the lingering odor from the vinegar soak best.

Last but definitely not least, is bluing. Bluing is when you add a solution (we like Mrs. Stewarts) with blue tints to your wash. The blue counteracts the yellow hues to create a crisp white. Be careful, though, because this stuff stains. Be sure to follow the instructions very carefully because you’ll need to dilute it quite a bit. Try this for yourself, because this stuff really works. You can check it out on Amazon.

How To Keep White Sheets White

The tips below will show you how to keep white sheets white and prevent them from getting stained.

No eating in bed. I know, this is such a buzzkill. I’ve frequently been known to enjoy breakfast in bed, or even wine and pizza while watching “The Bachelor” if I’m really being honest. But unfortunately, this is a sure fire way to obtain some stains on your bedding. Some solutions are getting a breakfast tray, or removing all your bedding and using a mattress protector, but the most effective way is to abstain. If you do get some spills on your bedding (we’re only human), just be sure to treat them right away with a spot treatment, and then wash.

RELATED: Shop For Mattress Protectors On Amazon

Wash your face before you hit the pillow. This goes for both men and women, makeup or no makeup. While we all know that rubbing our foundation and mascara on the pillow is not good, our faces also absorb pollutants and dirt in the air through the day, which can transfer to our pillows as well. Simply wash your face with some water and facial soap, and you’re good to go to bed. If you need to wash a pillow, we made a helpful guide for you!

Separate your whites. This is one you might have learned the hard way, when a pesky red underwear got mixed in and before you knew it, all your whites were pink. Keep whites with whites to keep them at their best color.

Launder regularly. Even if you shower every night before you get into bed, dead skin, hair, and other things transfer on your sheets through the week. It’s gross, but it’s true. When they build up, they create a dingy yellow cast. Make sure to wash your bedding (including your pillow cases!) at least once every two weeks or even once a week if you have the time.

Air dry if possible. This won’t help with making your sheets anymore white, but will keep your bedding soft and maintain its quality.

More Tips On Washing Sheets And Bedding

How to Clean Cat Pee from Sheets and Blankets

We all love our furry friends, but sometimes your cat slips up and pees on your sheets or blankets. In the worst case scenario, cat pee can also soil the mattress. But fret not if this happens, as there are ways to remove cat pee from a mattress and get rid of the odor.

Do not put the sheet or bedding stained with pee directly in the washing machine. First of all, rinse out the stain with running cold water and then blot dry with a paper towel. This will ensure that you remove as much of the stain as possible. Then mix one cup of white vinegar to three cups of water, and use it to coat the area stained with pee.

Although vinegar has a funky smell, it fades away quickly and so should the smell of cat pee. You can throw the blanket or sheet in the washer after this if you wish. Do not wash a sheet stained with cat pee in the washer with other clothing items, as the cat pee smell might spread to those items.

How to Wash Different Types of Blankets

A lot of people wash sheets, bedding, and blankets by just throwing it in the washer. If you learn to wash your blankets, sheets and bedding properly they come out looking fresh and fluffy and they don’t depreciate as frequently as they would if you wash them the wrong way.

Sheets, blankets, throws and other types of bedding are made with different materials like polyester, cotton, mink, wool etc. This means they require different types of care and specific washing instructions, so make sure to check your linen’s care tag before throwing anything in the washing machine. Some blankets may require dry cleaning.

How to Wash Wool Blankets

When washing a wool blanket, you should use a mild detergent so as not to damage the wool. Harsh detergents are not good for wool which is a textile fiber obtained from Sheep.

Before you wash a wool blanket, you should brush the blanket with a soft bristle brush to remove any large particles. After brushing the blanket, wash it in a washing machine using cold water and on a gentle cycle. Don’t wash a wool blanket for too long (max five minutes). After the five minute wash time, switch to the rinse cycle. Do not put your wool blanket in a dryer. Air dry by hanging it but do not directly expose it to sunlight. Always store your wool blankets in a cool and dry place.

How to Wash a Weighted Blanket

When preparing to wash a weighted blanket, you must first check the type of blanket, whether it be a gravity weighted blanket or a Buffy comforter, what material it’s made of and what type of filler it has. Then, you should check the manufacturing guidelines for a specific set of instructions on how to wash it. Doing this ensures that you don’t damage the blanket by washing it the wrong way.

When washing a weighted blanket, avoid using bleach and fabric softeners. Use only mild detergent and wash on a gentle cycle in your washing machine and with cold water. After washing you can air dry it on a clean surface or dry it in a dryer on a low heat cycle. Read more on how to wash a weighted blanket here.

How to Wash Polyester Blanket

A polyester blanket is probably one of the most common types of blankets. To get these blankets clean, it’ll just require warm water and with a mild detergent. Dry it in low heat, and don’t let it sit in the dryer after drying. Bring it out of the dryer immediately after to ensure that your polyester blanket doesn’t get wrinkled.