Some of us own one set of bed sheets while others of us have sheets for every season for every bed in our home.  To keep warm in the winter and cool in the summer, check out these tips for keeping your bed sheets fresh.

Wash your sheets in cold water.  You might be tempted to wash your sheets in hot water thinking that the hotter the water the more clean the sheets will be.  Be careful, hot water can actually decrease the life of the color and strength of your sheets.

Opt for OxiClean over bleach.  Your sheets are made of tiny fibers.  These little fibers are sensitive to chemicals, especially strong ones like bleach.  Your sheets will be stronger if you treat them with royal treatment rather than with harsh chemicals.

Dissolve powdered detergent first.  It’s so easy to start the washer, add in your laundry, add in the detergent, close the washer, and be on your merry way.  Be careful with powered laundry detergent.  You’ll lessen the likelihood of little spots on your fabric if you first turn on the washer, add the powdered laundry detergent and then wait for the detergent to dissolve before adding your sheets.  The extra two minutes can keep your sheets looking new much longer.

Have at least two sets of sheets for each bed.  While we’re sleeping, our bodies shed skin cells. Little dust mites like to munch on these cells.  I know… icky but true.  To keep your bed free of allergens studies recommend washing bed sheets once a month.  For those of us who pick up the latest cold anytime someone sneezes, it is recommended we change our sheets once a week.  It’s hard to balance pulling off a set of sheets, washing them, and remaking the bed before bedtime.  Invest in your health by getting at least one extra set of sheets per bed.  Kohl’s has a great selection of bedding that is often on sale and can be bought for an additional 11% less if purchased with discount Kohl’s gift cards.

Make sure your body can breathe in your sheets.  In the wintertime your body is competing against the cold outdoors so a heavier sheet like one made of fleece or satin is more appropriate.  Whereas, in the warmer months a lighter sheet like cotton sheets or jersey sheets will allow your body to be cool at night.   If you’re like me, you might prefer a year-round material that can adapt to your temperature needs, so you might choose Egyptian cotton or flannel sheets.

Here’s to a good night’s rest!