How to soften rough and scratched sheets without fabric softener

Nothing beats the feeling of climbing a bed after placing a new set of clean sheets. But if you’re used to worn-out cotton sheets—Or made of jersey, bamboo, or microfiber —New set of sheets (Especially for parquet, linen, or other premium types of cotton) It may not be as soft as after washing once (or several times).

And this is not just a matter of using fabric softener to suddenly break into hard sheets and make them feel comfortable. This means trying new washing and drying. Method.. Here’s what you need to know:

What causes the sheet to be stiff and scratched?

There are several reasons why a sheet may feel scratched or stiff, and some tend to be softer than other sheets.Generally speaking, here are some The most common reason Why the sheets are a little grainy:

• New sheets (any material) usually have a chemical coating that makes them look and feel crispy (that is, hard) and make the package look better.
• Old sheets can have a grainy feel if improperly washed and / or dried

• Sheets that have been stored for a long time may feel dry and grainy.
• Low quality seats I feel scratches even after washing many times
• Polyester or nylon sheets can tablet (form small balls) over time
• You are accustomed to softer synthetic sheets, and 100% cotton sheets It feels rough when compared (especially Parker)
• Uses more detergent and / or fabric softener than the manufacturer’s instructions recommend
• The detergent cannot be completely washed out because it is packed too much in the washing machine.

How to soften a sheet with rough scratches

Ready to soften those sheets? Here are some ways to consider:

Shave the pills

If your sheets are pilled, you will want to get rid of those annoying little balls before you do anything. If you already have a dedicated fabric shaver, you can use it, but disposable or flat razors work as well. Shave the sheet As with your face and feet, be careful not to cut the dough.

When you’re done shaving, use a lint roller or tape to remove anything left over... When you’re done, if it’s still not soft enough, you can use one of the following methods:

Cleaning technique to soften the sheet

Remove chemicals from new sheets

Make new sheets faster and softer Remove packaging chemicals.. To do this, place the sheet in the washing machine and select the setting with hot or cold water (basically anything other than hot water). Since the drum is filled with water, add 1 cup (nothing else) of baking soda.

At the final rinse cycle, make sure the machine is set to cold water and add 1 cup of white vinegar. After the final cycle is complete, hold the sheet in the machine and wash it again with half the normal amount of detergent.

Use baking soda and vinegar for general softening

Instead of detergent, use sheets 1 cup of baking soda and 1/2 cup of vinegar, And run in one complete cycle. Start with hot water and switch to cold water during the rinse cycle.

Add vinegar to the wash cycle

With regular detergent, Add 1/2 cup of white vinegar For the cleaning cycle. Vinegar softens and refreshes your sheets.

Bath the sheet with Epsom salt

Sometimes, skip the washing machine, especially when the sheets feel a little scratched Give them a bath.. Put cold water in the tub, add about 1/3 cup of Epsom salt, and stir until the salt is completely dissolved. (Use a wooden spoon so you don’t have to touch the cold water for a few minutes).

Soak the sheet overnight and rinse thoroughly the next day.. If possible, line dry the sheet.Otherwise, use one of the dryer techniques It is listed below.

If you don’t have (or don’t want to use) Epsom salt, you can substitute 6 tablespoons of borax. Also Just a handful of table salt, and follow the instructions above.

Drying technique to soften the sheet

Line dry

After trying one of these cleaning methods, instead of putting the sheet in the dryer, Line dry the sheets, If you can. This helps to soften the fibers rather than mechanically dry them.

Use a dryer ball

Skip the dryer sheet Use a dryer ball (Usually made of tightly compressed wool, plastic, or rubber). These will help make your sheets fluffy.

Dry at low temperature setting

If you set the dryer to the highest possible temperature, You can get the job done faster, but it can also make your sheet grainy. Instead, Select the lowest temperature setting Your schedule allows. Drying with less heat approaches line-dried softness, especially when using dryer balls.