How to Wash Egyptian Cotton Sheet Sets

Wash Egyptian cotton sheet sets to preserve their quality and appearance.

Because of the high quality and price tag of Egyptian cotton sheet sets, most people are eager to care for the sheets properly to ensure they last a long time. Egyptian cotton sheets generally have a thread count of at least 400, making them exceedingly smooth and comfortable. Wash Egyptian cotton sheet sets carefully to keep them attractive and comfortable for many years.

Things You'll Need

• Washer
• Gentle laundry detergent
• Dryer

Instructions

1. Put the Egyptian cotton sheets in the washing machine without any other items. Manufacturers recommend washing Egyptian cotton sheets alone to ensure the sheets never tangle with other items, which could damage the soft fabric.

2. Set the washing machine to a gentle wash cycle with either cool or warm water. Add the proper amount of laundry detergent to the washing machine and turn it on. Allow the washing machine to progress through the entire cycle, but monitor the spin cycle carefully. A rough, extended spin cycle is not necessary for Egyptian cotton and can damage the fabric. Stop the spin cycle about halfway through if it appears the sheets have spun sufficiently and little moisture remains in the fabric.

3. Place the Egyptian cotton sheets into the dryer and dry them on either low heat or an air cycle only. Remove the sheets from the dryer immediately after the cycle ends. Shake out the sheets and either fold them to put them away or place them on the bed.

Tips & Warnings

• Consult manufacturer recommendations about prewashing Egyptian cotton sheet sets. Some manufacturers recommend that you prewash the sheets to remove any residual dyes that may linger in the fabric fibers. Other manufacturers recommend against prewashing because the sheets have undergone a special washing process to prepare them for consumer use.

• Never use chlorine bleach or fabric softeners on Egyptian cotton sheets because these chemicals can permanently damage the fine cotton fibers of Egyptian cotton.

References

• University of Kentucky: Today's Textiles--Buying Towels
• EBay: How to Wash/Launder/Care for 100 percent Egyptian Cotton Sheets Set