Content

• To step
• Method 1 of 2: Using baking soda and vinegar
• Method 2 of 2: Using other means
• Necessities

There's nothing worse than stiff, itchy sheets that disturb your night's sleep. This often happens with new sheets, where the stiffness is caused by chemical residues left over from the manufacturing process. Fortunately, there are several easy ways to soften your sheets, so you can get a wonderfully comfortable night's sleep! Start with Step 1 to learn more about it.

To step

Method 1 of 2: Using baking soda and vinegar

1. Put the sheets in the washing machine. After you have removed your new sheets from their packaging, put them directly in the washing machine.
   • If they are for a 160 x 200 cm bed or larger, you may need to wash the top and bottom sheets separately to give them enough space in the machine.
2. Add a cup of baking soda. Instead of your normal detergent, put a cup of baking soda in the machine.
   • It is important not to use detergent as it often traps the chemicals in the sheets. These chemicals add to the stiffness of the sheets, so it is better to remove them.
3. Wash on a normal program. Set the machine to a normal program with hot water, and turn the machine on.
4. Add 250 ml vinegar during the rinsing program. When it is time for the rinsing program, turn the temperature of the machine to cold and add 250 ml of white vinegar.
   • This will help soften the sheets further, but it is purely optional. The baking soda will work on its own.
5. Dry the sheets on the line. When the rinse cycle is finished, remove the sheets from the machine and hang them outside to dry in the sun.
   • This will help soften them further. If you don't have the space to dry them outside, put them in the dryer and dry on a low setting - drying on too high can cause shrinkage.
6. Was one more time. Once the sheets are dry, you can wash them a second time with the normal detergent.
   • While it sounds like a lot of work to wash them twice, it really helps to make the sheets soft.
   • Let it dry outside, or in the dryer, then iron them (if you prefer) and put them directly on the bed.
7. Remember that your sheets will get softer every time you wash them. Good quality sheets will become even softer with every wash, dry and iron.
   • For the ultimate in softness (and durability) you can buy good quality cotton sheets with a high thread count.

Method 2 of 2: Using other means

1. Use fabric softener. In addition to a cup of baking soda, you can add the recommended amount of your favorite fabric softener to the machine when you wash your new sheets. This produces extremely soft sheets. Alternatively, you can also use the fabric softener alone.
2. Use turpentine. Add 125ml of turpentine to the wash water with the sheets and wash a normal cycle with warm water.
   • Rinse thoroughly to get most of the turpentine out. Hang the sheets outside or on a clothes rack to dry.
   • It is very important that you change the sheets not put them in the dryer after washing them with turpentine, as turpentine is flammable and can cause a fire.
3. Use Epsom salt. Fill a sink with cold water and add 50 grams of Epsom salt. Stir the sheets in the container for two minutes (use a wooden spoon if you don't want your hands to get cold!)
   • Let the sheets soak in the mixture with Epsom salt overnight. Rinse the sheets thoroughly the next morning and then hang them outside to dry.
4. Use borax. Fill a sink with cold water and add 6 tablespoons of borax.
   • Put the sheets in the water, stir them around and let them soak overnight.
   • Rinse them well the next morning and hang them outside to dry.
5. Use salt. Fill a sink with cold water and add 2 handfuls of salt. Put the sheets in and let them soak overnight. Wash, rinse and dry as before.
6. Ready.

Necessities

• Baking soda
• White vinegar
• Fabric softener
• Turpentine
• Epsom salt
• Borax
• salt
• Stiff sheets