How to Wash Your Sheets the Figgy Way – Fresh, Hygienic, and Non-Toxic
Why Fresh Sheets Are Worth The Cleaning Effort
Picture this: it’s the end of a long day, you’ve had your shower, brushed your teeth, maybe even wrangled the kids into bed, and now… you slide between crisp, clean sheets. That feeling alone — soft fabric, fresh scent, that little sigh you can’t help but make — is worth the effort of washing them.
But lovely as it is, that first-night-in-fresh-sheets magic isn’t the only reason to keep your bed linen on a regular rotation. Your sheets are the frontline defenders between you and your mattress. They collect the sweat, body oils, and breath vapour you release each night (yes, even if you’re a cool sleeper), plus a generous sprinkling of skin cells and the odd skincare residue if you head to bed without washing your face. And where there’s moisture and food... dust mites and allergens are quick to move in.
Clean sheets mean better hygiene, fewer allergens, and a longer life for your mattress and pillows. For eczema or asthma sufferers, it can also mean fewer flare-ups and better-quality sleep. Weekly sheet washing is the gold standard, but if you shower before bed, change pillowcases mid-week, and you’re not sweating much in cooler weather, fortnightly will do.
Why Sheets Get Dirty (Even If You’re Clean)
Let’s be real — even in a tidy, pet-free bedroom, your sheets are busy absorbing what you cast off while in the land of nod. That's before we even admit a late night bedroom snack!
Our sheets will pick up body oils from your skin and hair and sweat and invisible moisture from your breath. If you are a sleep in your birthday suit kinda vibe, then you've got even more body oils transferring over! Then there's skincare products, hair products, and makeup residues too.
And every time we move around skin cells flake off our arms and legs and it turns out this is exactly what a dust mite loves to feast on - in just one day we sloughed off enough skin cells to feed 1 million dust mites! The more dry skin left hanging around on your sheets the more dust mites that could be lurking in your bed setting off your asthma or giving you a stuffy nose.
Dust mites might not be the only thing you are reacting to, pollen can settle on your bedding if you hang laundry outside or sleep with the windows open. If you get hay fever your sheets can be a source of your watery itchy eyes too.
And unlike your duvet cover or throw, your sheets have constant skin contact — so whatever’s in there, you’re snuggling right up to it every night.
How Often Should You Wash Bedding?
Is washing your sheets once a week enough? Yes, if you can get into the routine of weekly washing you will have all the benefits of a bed that stays hygienic and supports restful sleep, you will also have the reward of crisp fresh sheets to look forward to. We get it though, sometimes lift happens!
What happens if it don't wash my sheets often enough?
Fortnightly washing is OK - but it's best not to routinely stretch washing your sheets out longer than this. When bedding gets dirty it creates the right environment for dust mites which can lead to allergies and asthma and eczema flair ups. Dirty sheets also mean a dirty mattress - you know the old saying, a stich in time, will save nine - it's much easier to keep your sheets clean, than it is to clean stains and oil residue off your mattress.
How often should I wash my sheets to avoid dust mites?
If you suffer from asthma or eczema or have a known dust mite allergy it is very important to change your bedding regularly to avoid a build up allergens that you will react to. Weekly sheet changes should be a priority to maintain a healthy sleep zone. Other bedding, like mattress protectors, that aren't in contact with your skin should also be wash more frequently. All bedding should be washed with hot water of 50deg or more to remove both dust mites and also their poop (it's the poop that we actually become allergic to).
Sheet and bedding washing times:
Sheets and pillowcases – Weekly if you can, fortnightly at a pinch.
Duvet covers and throws – Every 1–2 months depending on the style, but if you don't use a top sheet then weekly.
Mattress and pillow protectors – Seasonally at least, monthly if you have allergies.
Valances – Yearly, or more often if pets are in the bedroom.
What You’ll Need for Non-Toxic, Skin-Friendly Sheet Washing
Figgy Home Cleaning Castile Soap – Lifts grime without stripping fibres.
Figgy Laundry Powder – Skin-friendly, fragrance-free, no allergen-causing residues.
Borax – Naturally antifungal and deodorising.
Washing Soda – Brilliant at cutting through body oils.
Oxygen Bleach – For brightening and whitening synthetics.
Figgy Bar Soap – For targeted stain removal.
Optional: Figgy Strong White Vinegar – Add to rinse for natural softness and odour control.
Pre-treating & Removing Stains From Sheets
Blood or Ink
Rinse with cold water straight away, rub with Figgy Bar Soap to make a lather, let the lather sit on the stain to help dissolve it, then rinse and wash as normal.
How to clean very dirty sheets, including yellowing from body oils
Washing soda and oxygen bleach are ideal for restoring very dirty or yellow sheets back to pristine white. Washing soda is an alkaline cleaner, and will soften and dissolve built up oils from your bedding. Oxygen bleach is a green alternative to chlorine bleach to brighten and deep clean sheets. When activated, oxygen bleach releases hydrogen peroxide which is a very effective stain remover.
Dissolve ½ cup washing soda in hot water, soak sheets for 20–30 minutes, swish them around, and if the water clouds quickly, drain and repeat before washing.
How to remove poo or urine from sheets
Accidents happen. Remove the bulk of solid soiling to the toilet. Use Figgy's bar soap directly on visible stains - do a quick suds up and rinse to remove the most of the soiling then suds up again to remove what remains. In most instances this is all that is needed and regular washing will clean the rest. However for urine that has been left for some time and has an ammonia smell, a borax pre-soak will help break down the urea and ammonia before hot washing as normal. Use 1/2 cup borax dissolved in hot water, soak bedding for 1-2 hours or overnight.
What is the best way to wash sheets, naturally?
Method 1: Washing Machine
For almost all bedding this is the best way to wash. It is quick and easy and will get great results, especially when you use warm to hot water.
- Pre-treat any marks with Figgy Bar Soap - by targeting stains directly you can ensure marks are removed first time, and also can keep the overall amount of cleaning chemicals to a minimum by not washing all the sheets in a stain removing concentration of washing powder.
- Wash one set at a time so every bit of fabric gets cleaned properly - overloading your washing machine will result in poor agitation and results.
- Choose 40°C for a regular wash, 50°C+ for allergen removal - you can make the most of using warmer water by extending the cycle time too - more contact time will result in better cleaning.
- Add 1–2 tbsp Figgy Laundry Powder - Figgy's laundry powder doesn't have any fillers or skin irritants, paired with a longer hotter wash, you will get clean sheets that you skin in happy to be near!
- Skip the fabric softener — add ½ cup Figgy Strong White Vinegar to the rinse instead.
- Optional: oxygen bleach for brightening whites. Oxygen bleach can be used as an in wash booster. Simply add 1-2 tablespoons of oxygen bleach or Figgy laundry soaker which is oxi active to your wash cycle.
Method 2: Laundry Strip in the Bath
This is ideal for larger bed covers or duvets or if you have a front loading washing machine and want to do a deep clean by soaking. Strip washing in the bath is also handy for pre-treating a few sheet sets at once.
- Fill the tub with very hot water.
- Add ½ cup washing soda, ½ cup borax, ¼ cup Figgy home cleaning castile soap.
- Stir, submerge sheets, soak 4–6 hours, agitating occasionally.
- Rinse well, then machine wash.
Caution: if you have small children in the home, be very careful of having a full bath as this can be a drowning risk.
The Best Way to Dry Your Sheets
Drying outside on the line
The sun’s UV light naturally whitens and deodorises and is a great way to dry your sheets for free. To keep the elastic on fitted sheets in good shape, don't hang the sheet from the elastic edge. Instead, hang fitted sheets from the sewen corner seams, this protects the elastic from being stretch out while wet. If you aren't a fan of ironing but don't like big creases either, hang your top sheet so the top and bottom of the sheet are closest to the ground, this way the crease from the line is hidden when you fold back your sheet when making your bed.
Tumble Drying
Ideal for when you are short on time and also for allergy sufferers for two reasons — Dust mites don't like the heat! 10 minutes of hot air will finish off any lingering dust mites, it won't remove dust mite poop though. Using the dryer also works when you want to avoid pollen from landing on your sheets. If you suffer from hay fever, try using the dryer when pollen counts are at their highest.
Freshening Bedding Between Washes
In the morning, pull back your bedding and let your sheets air for 30mins or so before you make your bed.
If you have allergies, especially if you wake with a stuffy nose or watery eyes, you can swap out your pillowcases more regularly than your sheets. Your pillow is right there where you breathe and so a fresh pillowcase will always be beneficial.
Larger bedding or bedding that isn't quiet due to be washed can be taken outside to shake out dust. This is also helpful when the weather isn't playing ball and washing and drying won't happen this week - remember, dust mites live on our sloughed off skin cells - shake these free from your bedding and take away their food source. Bedding can also be aired on the line to remove odours and sunlight is effective at reducing bacteria.
Lightly spritz with water + eucalyptus oil and let them air dry. Not only does eucalyptus smell gorgeous, it is also helpful in keeping dust mites in check.
What to Avoid when washing sheets (and Why)
- Chlorine bleach – damages fibres, leaves residue.
- Overloading your machine – sheets won’t wash properly and wear faster.
- Using too much washing product - you will sheets with residue, they may end up feeling stiff or sticky.
- Putting away damp sheets – invites mould and odours, always make sure you sheets are bone dry.
Top Tips to Keep Your Sheets in Great Shape
- Having two sheet sets to rotate will spread the wear.
- Always wash new sheets before first use - sheeting fabric is coated in sizing to stop it creasing. This coating can contain formaldehyde a known allergen and cancer causing chemical
- Keep the organising simple. Store each sheet set inside a pillowcase for easy grab-and-go.
- Wash your pillows regularly to maintain a hygienic sleep environment - see our blog here for full instructions
- Take the time to maintain your mattress, a bed is an investment in money but also your health - see our mattress cleaning guide here.
- Woollen blankets are a wonderful natural fibre to include in your bedding, with the right method keeping them clean and fresh is easy - ready our woollen blanket cleaning guide here.
The Best Bedding for Hot Washing
If you’re serious about hygiene, start by choosing bedding that loves a hot wash. Cotton is the hero here — it tolerates high temperatures without damage, meaning you can blast away allergens and oils with confidence. Look for cotton sheets with a percale weave, these wear particularly well and are what hotels use for that extra crisp feel! Linen tends to shrink with with heat and so it may be worth buying a size up. Synthetic sheets can be washed with hot water but too tend to cling to body oils more than natural fibres and are also more flammable making them a less safe choice should you have a house fire.
FAQ: Sheet Washing & Bedding Care
Q: What’s the best way to wash bedding for eczema?
A: Hot wash cotton bedding with Figgy Laundry Powder, skip fragrance, and tumble dry on medium.
Q: Can I remove yellow stains from sheets?
A: Yes — soak in washing soda and hot water before washing.
Q: What’s the best way to wash bedding naturally?
A: Use Figgy products, hot water, and skip synthetic fragrances.
Q: Is line drying or tumble drying better?
A: Sun for whitening, tumble for allergen control.
Q: Should you wash bedding at 40 or 60 degree?
A: 40 degree is considered a warm wash, and will do a good job of washing your bedding, however bedding will always come up cleaner with hotter water. For allergies and dirtier bedding use 50-60 degree water.
A good sheet washing routine will always pay you back
Crisp, clean sheets aren’t just a treat — they’re a simple way to boost your health, your sleep, and the life of your bedding. The Figgy way makes it easy: natural cleaners, hot water, and smart drying. It’s gentle on your skin, tough on grime, and gives you that “ahhh” moment every single week.
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