The bed is the centerpiece of any bedroom, so you should make it look spiffy. One of the easiest ways to do that is to take proper care of your sheets. And sometimes, sheets are too far gone to be saved and need to be replaced.
But how often should you buy new sheets? The ideal standard is once every two years. This timeframe also prevents you from holding on to anything that is discolored or worn out.
Why Should You Replace Bed Sheets?
It’s easy to forget about your sheets. You probably don’t even feel like you spend enough time in bed to get them dirty, right? Wrong!
If you’re getting around eight hours of sleep a night, you’re spending at least a third of your day in your bed. That much time in bed can cause some serious wear and tear on your sheets, even if you aren’t thrashing around all night.
Washing and drying your sheets (which we hope that you do), breaks down the cloth fibers and causes your bedsheets to wear out even more. But that’s not because the sheets you bought are low-quality; even top-quality sheets only last for so long. It’s all just a part of the bedsheet life cycle.
Don’t be wary when it comes to replacing your sheets. After all, there are plenty of upsides to getting new sheets, like choosing a new color palette for your bed with a variety of colored sheets. And not to mention, there are few things better than sleeping in a new set of silky-smooth sheets.
Signs It’s Time for New Sheets
Of course, knowing when to replace your sheets isn’t an exact science. Depending on your sleep habits and how well you take care of your sheets, you may need to replace them sooner or later than the suggested two-year mark. There are some signs to help you know when it’s time to ditch the old stuff. For example:
- The fabric has thinned out in some areas
- They are stained or yellowed
- The edges are frayed or starting to tear
- You don’t feel as comfortable lying in them
You may just also be tired of the sheets you have. Maybe the color of your current sheets clash with the rest of your bedding, or the fabric holds too much heat for you to get a restful sleep.
Caring for Your Sheets
Now that you know how often you should replace your sheets, you should also know how to get the most out of sheets while you have them.
Wash Them Often
You should wash your sheets once every one to two weeks. Sheets will hold onto any dirt and oils that rub off of your skin while you sleep. If you’re known to be a sweaty sleeper, consider stepping up the cleaning to every week. We know it’s easy to let sheets go untouched for more than a month, so make a schedule to help remind yourself.
How you should wash your sheets largely depends on the fabric they’re made of, so pay careful attention to the washing instructions. When in doubt, use a normal cycle with warm or cold water, and always wash with like colors.
Don’t Blast The Heat
Maybe you don’t like to wait very long for your laundry to finish. You might be tempted to blast the dryer on high heat so you can get your sheets on your bed quicker. The problem is that while your sheets can likely withstand the heat, using temperatures that are too hot will actually do more damage to the fibers. As a result, your sheets won’t last as long and can lose their soft texture.
Instead, use low heat and a low tumble cycle. If you have a laundry line handy, that is the best way to preserve the fibers and maintain the sheet’s elasticity and shape.
Store Them Properly
You may be cycling through a couple of sets of sheets. When your sheets aren’t in use, store them clean and dry in a breathable storage bag. This will help protect them from bugs, dust, and spillage.
Whatever you do, don’t store them in plastic. Plastic bags can hold onto any moisture that gets trapped inside, which promotes mildew and yellowing. There are few things worse than pulling out fresh sheets only to be greeted by a musty odor.
Accent Your Sheets the Right Way
Of course, sheets are only one piece of your bedding. They are the blank canvas for your pillows, duvets, and blankets to decorate, making your bed a true work of art while it’s not in use.
It can be hard to find the right bedding pieces to match your vision. Fortunately, Sew Sweet Minky has a huge collection of minky blankets that are the perfect accent for any bedroom design. Not only that, but the incredibly soft and plush texture combined with soft sheets means you will be surrounded in softness.
What’s not to love about that? Check out our blanket collection and add a minky blanket or two to your bedding today!