How to soften new sheets

New sheets, no matter what their thread count, can be stiff and scratchy. Chemicals used during manufacture are mainly to blame for this discomfort. We spend an estimated third of our life in bed, so we want our linens to be as soft as possible. Following these steps will leave you with bedlinens that will send you on your way to a good night's sleep.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• new sheets
• detergent
• white vinegar

1. Wash your sheets on a hot wash cycle using about 1/4 c less detergent than usual. Sizing and other chemicals have caused your sheets to be stiff and detergent will only add to this problem - so use it sparingly.
2. Overloading your washing machine is never a good idea - particularly when washing new linens. Wash only one set of sheets at a time.
3. During the rinse cycle add 1 c white vinegar to break down chemical residues on your sheets.
4. Add an extra rinse cycle to this load to ensure your sheets are thoroughly rinsed and extremely soft.
5. When drying your sheets, use a warm/medium setting and promptly remove sheets once dry.