6 Simple Steps to Cleaning Your Egyptian Cotton Sheets

by Jenn

Wedding PhotographyEgyptian cotton sheets generally have a higher thread count, which ensures quality and comfort making these sheets a great investment. Due to the higher quality, Egyptian cotton sheets are required to be laundered with care to ensure that they last for many years. Though these sheets do need special care when washing, there are 6 simple steps that will make cleaning these sheets seem effortless

The first step to cleaning your Egyptian Cotton Sheets is to make sure that you wash your Egyptian Sheets and your Egyptian cotton pillowcases as a separate cycle in the washing machine. Washing your sheets as a separate cycle will ensure that your Egyptian cotton sheets and pillowcases do not tangle with your other laundry causing damage to the delicate fabric. This is especially true the under garments since these are small and contain small hooks and clasps that easily tangle.

Make sure that you are using a gentle laundry detergent to wash your sheet set. Using regular detergent can be too harsh on the fabrics causing damage, and completely avoid chlorinated bleach.

Along with gentle laundry detergent you will also want to set your washing machine to a gentle cycle for your sheet set. A regular cycle on your washing machine may be too harsh for your Egyptian cotton sheets. The temperature will need to be a moderate temperature since extremely hot water temperatures are detrimental to the cotton.

Keep an eye on the spin cycle; since your sheets and pillowcases are the only items in the machine the full extended spin cycle will likely not be necessary. Check halfway through the spin cycle to see if the majority of moisture is out of the fabric.

If most of the moisture is gone from the fabric, transport the sheets from the washing machine to the dryer. While drying the clothes you will either want to dry them on a low heat or on the air cycle setting. It is critical to check before using the dryer that the sheets are suitable for the dryer and not required to be air-dried. Avoid fabric softener and drying sheets since the liquid in these clogs the cotton’s pores causing the sheet set to lose its comfort.

As soon as the sheets are dry, promptly remove them from the dryer and proceed to either fold them or use them to make the bed. Egyptian cotton sheets will need to be washed about once a week or depending on the climate, as for Egyptian cotton pillowcases you will want to wash twice a week, which is a reason to have an extra set of pillow cases.

Author Bio

Hayley is an interior designer, DIY enthusiast and mother to two beautiful girls.

20 comments

Samantha@TimeForMom-Me.com January 24, 2013 - 3:19 am
I don't have that kind of cotton sheets, but I guess your tips are also applicable for the bed sheets that I have in my house. They are big and thick and really needs some special care in terms of washing! So.. Thanks for sharing your tips! It is really helpful for us mothers! :)
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Jenn January 24, 2013 - 10:47 pm
us moms have to stick together! Thanks for your comment!
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Donna George January 26, 2013 - 12:00 am
I never knew they needed special care. Thanks for the info
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Anita Leibert January 26, 2013 - 7:29 am
I do not own these type of sheets, but these sound like wonderful tips you've provided!
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cathy henatyszen January 26, 2013 - 9:41 pm
now I just need some of those nice comfy sheets so I can use your washing directions...hehe
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Ari January 31, 2013 - 12:42 am
Nice tips!
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Vikki Cousin January 31, 2013 - 12:58 am
Thanks for this useful information. I can hardly wait to get Bamboo Sheets and clean them. By the way, this is a little bit off the subject, but I saw this "Rapid Washer – DIY Manual Hand Washing Machine" on this page and I never knew it existed. Although I try to avoid owning anything that is hand wash, I do end up buying a hand wash only blouse once in a while. This tool looks handy.
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Teresa Stricker-Pester February 6, 2013 - 10:40 pm
WOW!!! I have several sets of these sheets (and they are sooooo FAB!!) Thanks for sharing these tips!!
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laurie nykaza February 10, 2013 - 4:18 am
I'm glad you shared this information. I had no idea about using a gentle detergent to wash them in and to not put anything else in with them. I will be really careful how I wash my new ones in the future.
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Aryan February 10, 2013 - 9:33 am
very nice post. I really liked your content ..
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chelesa sims February 10, 2013 - 11:43 am
Thank you for the tips, i never knew that they required so much care.
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denise smith February 20, 2013 - 11:02 am
i dont own these sheets would love to now thanks for the tips
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lisa February 25, 2013 - 2:26 pm
Wow, thanks. I had no idea about any of that.
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Maria Iemma March 8, 2013 - 12:00 pm
I got a set of Egyptian cotton sheets for Christmas and I never knew they needed special care. I guess I should be taking better care of them.
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Aryan Kapoor April 29, 2013 - 12:05 pm
Really nice information.. thanks for sharing JENN
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Michelle August 3, 2013 - 1:38 pm
I had a very expensive set of Egyptian sheets from Macy's. I have had them less then 3 yrs and I have a wear spot in the flat sheet. After reading this I did everything wrong in the care of them. I used hot water, bleach and regular heat when drying. Thank you so much for the info, I just purchased another set. I hope to have them longer now since I won't be using bleach, fabric softner or high temps on them. Thanks again.
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Enjay September 22, 2013 - 6:24 pm
Thanks for the tips! Extremely helpful and straight to the point! :-)
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Carisa October 27, 2013 - 12:46 pm
We just bought a new set of Egyptian cotton sheets and use the Tide Pods and Downy Unstopables when washing. Do you think that those are ok to use with the sheets?
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Adam January 3, 2014 - 7:38 pm
I got a set of sheets for Christmas I think it was last year. I am not sure you need to wash them as often as you say. Mine are in the wash now maybe for the 2nd time and they work fine.
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Dorothy Lynch January 11, 2017 - 3:57 pm
i am an assistant housekeeper. we have ordered the egyptians 500 thread count cotton sheets for our hotel. my main interest is the care of these sheets, being that they are so expensive. i really appreciate your expertise in the care of these sheets. what type of laundry detergent would you recommend?
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