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Home Decorating

Looking for post re prepping new sheets to prevent wrinkling

14 years ago

I seem to remember reading a post called something like, "Do you iron your sheets?" and I believe someone responded with a process to "season" new sheets to prevent future wrinkling. I thought it was something I'd try at the time but of course didn't save it as a clipping. The post must have since dropped off.

I just purchased some Peacock Alley sheets and a duvet set from Tuesday Morning and would like to launder them tomorrow. If anyone remembers who might have posted the tips or how the process works, I'd greatly appreciate the info!

TIA

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Comments (3)

User
14 years ago
I'm glad you posted this question because I was wondering about that to and had not saved it.
I was able to pull up the thread on google.

"Posted by fixeruppityest (My Page) on Tue, Feb 10, 09 at 6:40

I wish I could find a link but I read this on a shopping website last year, when I was buying sheets online, from Overstock. I was conflicted because some people gave the sheets lousy reviews, although they were supposedly high quality.
I kept reading; found some REALLY great advice and here it is: (this is primarily for new sheets, btw)

People were complaining "these 800 thread count sheets came out of the dryer wrinkly, they aren't as soft as I expected" etc.

A woman then chimed in and said she worked in a high end department store, and knew all about "linens" :-)

Her advice was basically as follows: You must wash your sheets in cold water, at least for the first few times, and that was really important in her opinion. Then you MUST iron them, again, at least for the first 3 or 4 washings.

She said it was something to do with treating the fibers gently, in the beginning, and ironing the sheets helps polish the fibers, which in turn creates sturdy, longer lasting softer sheets. She said people basically throw their money out the window by mistreating their expensive sheets, using warm or hot water, damaging the fibers, etc. If you don't iron the fibers, they are more fragile, because newer sheets have fibers that are every which way, if you looked at them though a microscope that is.

Ironing, until the sheets develop their soft patina, is crucial. That's what the "expert" said :-)

OKAY, on to my own experience: I followed her advice. I found ironing my sheets to be an excruciatingly horrible chore, on my tiny little ironing board! LOL HOWEVER!!!!
Her system works!!! I couldn't be happier with my sheets, they are WAY softer than when I bought them, and I no longer iron them :-)
juddgirl2
Original Author
14 years ago
Thank you, chloe! I'm so glad you responded and also that you can attest that it works. There's nothing I hate more than ironing, so it's good to know it probably won't be a waste of time.

Off to wash my sheets in cold water :-)
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User
14 years ago
Juddgirl,
I have not tried it. That was fixeruppityest who tried it and said it worked.
Post and let us know if it works for you.

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