If you use a sheet set every day of the year, you'll need to replace it after about two years. However, luxury cotton sheets, like percale and
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.
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.
Therefore, if you're not willing to invest in top-shelf, quality linen bed sheets, it's likely that they will not last long. Some experts claim that premium quality linen sheets are supremely durable. The answer to the question “how long do linen sheets last?” is that they can last up to five years.
If you use a sheet set every day of the year, you'll need to replace it after about two years. However, luxury cotton sheets, like percale and sateen, can offer another year or so of use. And with linen, you'll get three to five years — sometimes more.
Of course, we think you cannot put a price on a great night's sleep. That said, luxury linen is an investment and you deserve to understand precisely why expensive bed sheets are worthwhile. The truth is, with proper care, luxury bed linen will last for years and perhaps decades.
Is it okay to change your bed sheets once a month? While your specific sheet changing habits might vary a little bit depending on your lifestyle, your body, and your preferences, most experts agree you should change your sheets every week or every two weeks.
Low-quality bedding is often made with short cotton fibers, which poke out of the weave and can make them feel rough.
You can put 100% cotton fabrics in the dryer but they may shrink and become very creased. 100% cotton can easily be permanently damaged or melt under high temperatures in the dryer. It's best to use lower temperatures and a gentle tumbling cycle if you want to preserve your clothes and wear them for longer.
However, cotton bed sheets can incur their share of wrinkles. Cotton/poly sheets wrinkle much less, but because they are not made of all natural fibers, they don't feel as nice and comfortable as cotton sheets. It is not mandatory to iron cotton sheets, but when they are ironed, they look and feel much nicer.
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.
Cotton: 200-400. Egyptian Cotton: 300-400. Percale Weave: 200-400.
However, in recent years, fabric specialists have discovered that the origin of the cotton makes an incredible difference to the quality, durability, longevity of the yarn, and Egyptian cotton is considered to be the best.
Use cold water to wash sheets, as hot water damages the fabric faster. As mentioned, heat causes the fibers to weaken and loosen quickly. Set your washing machine on a gentle cycle setting to prevent the sheets from shrinking and fading in color. It also keeps those puff balls at bay and makes the fabric lasts longer.
Experts say January is the best month to buy bedding and linens at the lowest prices.
Good quality sheets cost
A good set of sheets for a queen-size bed should cost around $50 to $200. They should have a thread count between 200 and 400 and are made from long-staple fibers. However, the cost of quality sheets can vary depending on material, brand, and size.
Sheets are usually changed between guests, and sometimes state law requires it, but there's no guarantee that they will be.
Request new linens, pillows, or blankets: When you arrive, you can request new linens or pillows, even blankets, from the hotel before you settle in.
If your hotel room has bedbugs, you will be bitten regardless of which bed linens you use. Of course, nearly all hotels and cruise lines strive to provide clean, comfortable beds, but if worrying about lodging bed linens will ruin your vacation, packing your sheets and pillowcases is a good idea will feel reassuring.
But still, the slight majority, 54%, do not wash their sheets often enough — only a few times per month or less. Of the 523 people surveyed, about 30% said that they wash their bed sheets a few times per month; and 22% said they wash them once a month or less.
We'll cut straight to the chase: You should be changing your bed sheets once a week. "The longest you should wait before changing out your sheets is two weeks," says Carolyn Forté, executive director of the Good Housekeeping Institute Home Care & Cleaning Lab "Weekly is even better."
It may surprise you to learn that bath towels should be washed after every 3-4 uses to keep them hygienic, according to our experts at the GHI. And for towels used at the gym, we recommend washing after every use; not only are your gym towels covered in sweat, but they can also come into contact with airborne bacteria.