Should I Wash New Sheets Before I Put Them on My Bed?
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New Sheets Look Great
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Brand new bed sheets are generally wrinkle-free, smell nice and feature deep, rich colors. Every washing-and-drying cycle moves your sheets one step closer to the trash bin, so using bedsheets right out of the package helps prolong their durability and allows the consumer to enjoy the sheets' new look and feel after purchase.
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New Sheets Can Contain Irritants
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New bed sheets are frequently treated with starch or sizing chemicals during manufacture and sprayed with "finishing" agents such as formaldehyde to help repel stains or minimize wrinkling. While exposure to a small amount of these chemicals likely won't make you gravely ill, it's a good idea to wash your new sheets. Colored sheets that have not been laundered contain surface dyes or dye residues that can irritate sensitive skin or transfer color to other bed linens. Most manufacturers recommend laundering sheets before the first use. And many "premium" (high-thread-count) sheets are known to become softer with each washing.
Bottom Line
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You need to wash your sheets eventually, so do it when you bring them home and get off to a fresh start. A consumer is generally unaware of variables that can affect sheet cleanliness, such as the hygiene conditions in the factory or packing facility. With the added hazards of chemicals and dyes, why take a chance? Wash those new sheets now, rather than later.
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- Photo Credit laundry dial image by Sirena Designs from Fotolia.com
