Here's How To Wash Your Satin Sheets To Keep Them Feeling Luxurious

Satin sheets can be extremely soft and comfortable and their shiny, colorful appearance can make your bedroom look more expensive. Unfortunately, washing or drying these sheets incorrectly could cause them to shrink, stretch out, and lose their shape, or lessen the softness and shine of your satin. When cleaning your delicate bedsheets, it's often best to stay away from a lot of heat when washing and drying, which could damage your fabric, as well as harsh detergents, bleach, and fabric softener.

Because satin can be made from a variety of materials, including silk, nylon, polyester, rayon, wool, and cotton, different satin sheets will likely require different approaches to washing. This is why it's crucial to check the label on your linens to see if hand washing, machine washing, or dry cleaning is recommended, as well as suggestions for drying. If you've just bought brand new satin linens, you should launder your new bedding before putting it on your bed for the first time.

Before starting, check to ensure that your sheets can be machine washed. You'll also want to ensure you're using a laundry soap that will be tender on delicate fabrics, such as Woolite Delicates detergent ($5 at Walmart) or Tide Free and Gentle detergent ($13 at Target). If your sheets are machine washable, start by turning them inside out, and put them in the washer without any other materials. Set your machine to a delicate cycle and wash the linens in cold or warm water, depending on their instructions.

With the most delicate types of satin, such as silk, hand washing is often the best option, though some may be placed in the washer inside a mesh bag. Fill your bathtub or a large container with water that's the temperature recommended for your sheets. Add your detergent and set your linens in the water. Now, use your hand to gently move the sheets around, but be careful not to scrub them, rub the material together, or pull or twist on the fabric. When satin is wet, it's more susceptible to damage and these rough movements could tear it or stretch it out. After several minutes, drain the water and refill it to rinse your sheets. Once the soap is all gone, remove the sheets and carefully squeeze them to get the water out of the fabric. Wringing the satin sheets may damage them as well.

For sheets that specify they are safe to go in the dryer, you'll want to use a setting without heat or very low heat. Additionally, try to take your satin linens out of the dryer before they are totally dry. This will help to keep you from accidentally harming or shrinking your sheets with too much heat. Once you take them out, hang them up to finish drying, or if they're almost dry try laying them flat on your bed. This could help to lessen the chance of your satin wrinkling.

While you may be able to use your dryer, air drying is generally the best method to keep your satin in good shape. If you decide to hang your sheets up to dry, make sure to keep them out of direct sunlight, which could discolor the material. By following these tips, you can avoid mistakes when washing your sheets and make your satin continue to feel soft and luxurious over time.