New Bedding Sets and Bath Linens – How Often Should You Refresh?

Some products are not meant to last forever. Like clothing, bed sets, sheets, bathroom towels, and other linens are meant to be replaced periodically. If you try to stretch these household items past their useful lifespan, you may end up with dingy, rough sheets or non-absorbent bath linens, and no one wants that.

By the end of this article, you’ll know how often to launder your sheets and bath linens, when you should replace them, and how to choose your replacement sets like a pro. Read on to learn more about these essential life skills. 

Reasons to Update Your Sheets

Sheets and bathroom linens have their own individual qualities and properties, so we will address each separately. 

There are several reasons why you should replace your bedroom sheets:

• They have become stained or dingy to the point where no amount of washing can restore their previous luster. 
• Your sheets have become threadbare or have developed tears.
• The colors or patterns don’t match a new bed set you just bought, or they just look old by comparison.
• You stayed at a friend’s house or a hotel and decided that their bedding just felt better against your skin. 
• You just decided that you want more from your sheets than the present ones offer.

Reasons to Update Your Towels and Washcloths

Towels, hand towels, and washcloths have a more active life than sheets and bed linens. Ideally, your towels should be absorbent and soft to the touch. Once they lose these qualities, it may be time to replace them. This, of course, may not happen all at once. For example, towels you put out for the guests may last longer than your daily working towels. Hand towels that you use just to dry your hands occasionally may outlast washcloths you use in the shower. Bath towels you use to dry your body on a daily basis are probably going to lose their softness and absorbancy faster than washcloths. Here are a few of the reasons you should update your towels:

• Your bath linens are no longer soft or absorbent.
• The color of your towels has faded, or they’ve developed stains that you can’t get out. 
• You want to up the quality of your bath linens. 
• You’ve remodeled your bathroom, and you want to have new, fresh bath linens that match the décor.

What Is the Recommended Sheet/Towel Rotation, and Why Does It Matter?

If your sheets are freshly laundered, you can assume they’re clean. As you sleep in your sheets or use your bath towels between washings, they develop small amounts of bacteria, dirt, hair, etc. That does not mean that you have to change your sheets every time you wake up. Not only is that impractical, but you’ll end up wearing your sheets out much faster. Experts recommend that you change your sheets at least once per week. If you have good hygiene habits (i.e., shower before bed and wear pajamas that cover most of your skin), this schedule should reduce the need to wash your sheets more frequently. Washing your sheets every other week may make them last longer, but it also means that they have an extra week’s worth of accumulated dirt, dust, etc.

Bath towels are used differently and have to be cleaned more frequently. The Cleaning Institute recommends washing your bath towels after three to five uses and allowing them to fully dry in between. For most people, that means washing their towels twice per week. 

If you have a cold, the flu, or a bacterial or fungal condition like pinkeye or ringworm, you should wash your sheets and pillowcases every day until you fully recover. 

How to Choose High-Quality Sheets

You may have experienced sticker shock at some of the prices various sheet retailers and manufacturers charge. The good news is that you don’t have to break the bank to afford good sheets. The most important factors for most shoppers are softness and durability. Here are some guidelines to pick excellent sheets without breaking the bank.

• Thread count doesn’t tell the whole story –  Thread count refers to the number of threads woven into one square inch of fabric. So, the higher the thread count, the denser the fabric is. Just because you get the sheets with the highest thread count doesn’t mean you’re buying the best sheets, though. According to Good Housekeeping, a thread count of 300 to 500 is the preferred range for comfort and durability, but you can also find good sheets with a 200 thread count. Higher thread counts tend to be more expensive but don’t necessarily offer better quality. 
• Check the fiber content – Sheets can be made from cotton, linen, synthetic materials, like polyester, or a blend of different materials. Generally, you’ll pay a premium for natural fibers, but it may be worth it. If you’re shopping for 100% cotton sheets, Egyptian and Pima cotton are generally considered the best material for sheets. But, as is the case with thread count, paying more for Egyptian or Pima cotton may not be worth the extra expense. 
• Compare different weaves – The most common weaves for sheets are percale and sateen. Percale has a criss-cross grid, and sateen weave has a diagonal pattern. With all other factors being equal, sateen feels smoother to the touch. 
• Make sure it will fit your mattress – If you have a thicker mattress, the fitted sheet that comes in your set may not work. Purchase sheet sets that are made to fit thicker mattresses. 

How to Select the Best Towels and Bathroom Linens

Most consumers are looking for thick, absorbent bath towels, hand towels, and washcloths that also look great. If you’re buying guest towels to hang from a towel rack or ring, appearance is going to be especially important. Here are a few pointers to will help you pick the right bath linens for you: 

• Start with the color – Bath linens come in a nearly infinite array of colors. Choose colors that you like and search among towels of those colors for other qualities. 
• Only purchase what you need – The number of towels, hand towels, and washcloths you need depends on the size of your household and how often you want to do laundry. Bath sheets and tub mats are options you may or may not consider depending on your budget. Consider them luxuries and not necessities.
• Know your materials – Like sheets, bath linens can get expensive. You will pay a premium for 100% Egyptian or Pima cotton without necessarily getting a better towel. 

Frequently Asked Questions About Bed and Bath Linens

We sell thousands of bed sets and bathroom linens at Old Time Pottery every month. We know you have questions, and we’re here to answer. Here are some of our customers’ frequently asked questions: 

How Many Sheets/Bath Linens Should You Have per Family?

The rule of thumb is one set of sheets per bed and two towels per person. If you would prefer to have towels and bed linens available while you launder the dirty ones, you can double the number of sheets and pillowcases, and purchase a couple of extra towels.

What Should I Do with Old Sheets and Bath Linens? 

You should replace your sheets and bath towels when they become torn, stained, faded, or no longer feel good when you use them. If your sheets and bath linens are still in good shape, you can donate them to charity. It may also be a good idea to keep one or two old towels available for any usage that you wouldn’t want to use a good towel for. Old sheets can be useful as drop cloths for painting projects. 

What Washer Setting Should I Use to Wash My Sheets and Towels?

If your washer has a setting for bedding, use it when washing your sheets. Otherwise, put your sheets and bed linens through a long cycle using hot water. 

The Variety of Sheets and Towels at OTP

Old Time Pottery is constantly getting new bedding sets, soft bath towels, etc. Come visit our stores and check out our high-quality discount bedroom linens and bath linens. Here are just a few of each, but there are many, many more. 

The Hamilton Solid Bath Towel – A 100% cotton standard-sized, incredibly absorbent bath towel. Available in four different colors. 

4-Piece Full 300-TC Cotton Sheet Set – High-quality cotton at a moderate price. Available in six different colors. 

4-Piece King 300-TC Cotton Sheet Set – Luxurious texture at a remarkably affordable price with this 100% cotton king-size sheet set. 

You can also shop from dozens of brands, colors, sizes, and materials at Old Time Pottery. Stop into one of our locations or order online for free curbside pickup.