There are two simple ingredients that can turn even basic, inexpensive sheets into silky soft bedding: baking soda and vinegar. All you have to do is toss those stiff sheets into the washer with 1 cup of baking soda and 1/2 cup of vinegar, and wash for one cycle.
Add ½ cup borax to a laundry tub of cool water and soak your sheets in the solution overnight. The next day run them through a wash cycle without detergent (or a small amount) and dry. Add 1 cup of salt to a laundry tub of cool water and let your sheets soak for a couple of days. Then wash as usual.
Good quality sheets will become softer after every washing, drying and ironing cycle. For ultimate softness (and durability) buy good quality cotton sheets with a high thread count.
As a result of the manufacturing process, new sheets tend to be a little stiffer than those that have been in your linen closet for years. Fortunately, the quality of Egyptian cotton bedding means that it gets softer with every wash without every pilling, tearing, or becoming scratchy to the touch.
Fabric softener residue, build-up from hard water and calcium, etc. – all of these contribute to a hardened and crusty sheet surface, and don't always come out with regular detergent.
Laundry detergent residue can build up on the sheets leaving them with that stiff feeling. If you don't use a fabric conditioner at all, the fabric fibres can become brittle, leaving them feeling scratchy. Overtime bobbles and pilling starts forming on the sheets creating a surface that can feel rough.
Low-quality bedding is often made with short cotton fibers, which poke out of the weave and can make them feel rough.
Luckily, cotton sheets are very easy to care for. Simply toss them in the washing machine with your favorite detergent on a warm water setting for the best results. Line dry or tumble dry on low or medium heat and promptly remove from the dryer for less wrinkles.
Brand new sheets (of any material) usually come with a chemical coating that make them look and feel crisp (i.e. stiff) so they look better in the packaging. Older sheets can feel rough if they were washed and/or dried improperly. Sheets that have been in storage for a long time can dry out and feel rough.
You should be looking for a range from 200 to 400. If the number is between 150 and 180, then the sheets are going to be rough and not at all soft. A number over 400 means that the fibers are likely woven together to get an inflated figure.
Over time, high heat will cause your comfortable cotton sheets to shrink and even tear. If you have the space and warm weather conditions, line or hang dry your wet sheets.
Fabric softener and dryer sheets have a similar effect on cotton sheets that using too much detergent does. They create a coating over the sheets that traps the oils and dirt instead of allowing them to be rinsed off, making them less breathable.
Vinegar, also known as the soft sheet's best friend. Vinegar is truly a great fabric softener, and the smell will not linger. Add a ½ cup of plain white vinegar to the fabric softener compartment of your washing machine before every wash cycle to keep them feeling as soft as possible!
There's an easy way to soften stiff fabric! Use dryer sheets while drying your bedsheets, clothes and towels for a soft and fragrant end result. It's even more effective than line drying in the sun.
Dryer sheets work by reducing static, depositing scents and helping make laundry feel softer to the touch. One of the key benefits of dryer sheets is that the ingredients in them help to combat, neutralize and fight the effects of built-up static in most fabrics.
Warmer water is a good option if your sheets haven't been washed in a while, or if they're moderately soiled. We also recommend this setting during cold and flu season, as it can help kill viruses, bacteria and other pathogens. Avoid hot water, however, as that will cause the sheets to wear out quicker.
Seventh Generation Lavender Fabric Softener is our top pick for two top reasons: it's powerful on clothes but gentle on your machine (and the environment). Whether you're washing new sheets or your favorite t-shirt, this fabric softener will have you looking forward to cuddling up in both!
Air-drying your fabrics on a flat surface is the best way to dry cotton without shrinking. But as mentioned, tumble-drying is usually OK as long as you use low heat.
100% Cotton bedding is naturally hypoallergenic, and breathable, making it the most desirable option for allergy sufferers. People with allergies or sensitive skin often find that Polycotton bed sheets make them itch.
High thread counts can certainly make for better, more comfortable sheets, but the quality of the thread matters more than the number. In fact, a better-quality fiber with a lower thread count will feel softer and stand up to washing better than a lower-quality fiber with a higher thread count.
The more water the better, as linen is highly absorbent and moisture absorption is key to the unique ability of linen to soften over time. Adding baking soda to every linen wash cycle will regulate the pH level in the rinse water and in turn soften the fabric.
Wash them in a gentle cycle. Only place one set of sheets in the washer at a time. Overloading the washing machine will not only create additional strain on the fabric, but your sheets will not be as clean.
Add sheets and towels to the washing machine. Add ½ cup baking soda into the detergent dispenser and ½ cup vinegar to the fabric softener dispenser. Then wash on the hottest setting possible and dry as usual. If you have a top loader, sprinkle baking soda over towels and add vinegar right before the rinse cycle.
Simply throw your stiff sheets into the washer, along with one full cup of baking soda and ½ cup of vinegar, and run for one full cycle.