How To Store Cotton Sheets
Find out how to store cotton sheets, from folding properly to long-term storage.
The most satisfying part about doing the laundry is storing everything neatly away after all the hard work.
When it comes to cotton sheets, storing them away properly means you can count on fresh, clean sheets the moment you need them. After all, good storage is an essential part of caring for cotton bedding. But smart linen storage takes a bit of care and preparation to nail.
Get this final laundry-day chore wrong, and your sheets could end up smelling musty, getting stained or dusty — far from ideal!
Below, a comprehensive guide on how to store cotton sheets like a pro, whether you’re rotating your sheet set or switching bedding with the seasons. Here’s everything you need to know.
Clean your sheets properly before storing
Storing sheets correctly helps to keep them clean, smelling fresh and ready for use whenever you need them.
Before you begin, it’s essential to wash and dry them properly.
Washing cotton sheets
Washing cotton sheets is simple — it just requires a washing machine and regular washing detergent.
Start by checking the care instructions. Most cotton sheets can be washed in cold or warm water on a standard laundry cycle. Use a mild washing detergent to prevent damage to the fabric. Avoid chemical fabric softener as this can coat the cotton fibres with a water-resistant residue, reducing the sheets’ natural breathability and moisture-wicking properties.
Avoid overloading the washing machine to ensure a thorough clean and rinse. It’s also a good idea to wash sheets in a separate load from clothing. Buttons, zippers or tough materials can damage, stretch or even tear large items like bedsheets.
Drying cotton sheets
After washing, cotton sheets can be air-dried or tumble-dried. If the weather is sunny, dry and a little breezy, cotton sheets will generally dry very quickly.
If you need to line dry your cotton sheets inside, hang them in a well-ventilated space with constant airflow to help them dry quickly and prevent a musty smell from setting in.
Most types of cotton sheets can also be put in the tumble dryer on a low or medium heat setting.
Tumble-drying cotton sheets can leave them a little more wrinkled than line-drying. Thankfully, this wrinkling can be avoided by taking the sheets out while they’re still a little damp to let them air dry the rest of the way.
How to fold cotton sheets
Folding your cotton sheets properly before storage can be a major space (and time) saver.
While you might feel the temptation to bundle your sheets into the linen closet and shut the door (out of sight, out of mind, right?), consider these sheet-folding tips.
They’ll increase your closet space and help your sheets stay crisp and neat while stored away, and most importantly, keep matching sheet sets together.
Folding flat sheets
Folding flat sheets is most easily approached as a two-person team, but it's also straightforward if you’re on your own. Here’s how to do it solo:
- Lay the flat sheet on a large surface such as a dining table or clean floor. You can also fold flat sheets while holding them, if they’re not too large.
- Fold in half lengthwise and align the edges.
- Fold in half again horizontally, then twice more, alternating directions.
- If your storage space is narrow, you may need to fold again to make a narrow rectangle shape.
Make sure to tuck in any loose edges so your flat sheet stays neatly folded. Then store your folded sheets flat in a drawer or linen closet.
Folding fitted sheets
Folding fitted sheets is a little more complicated than folding flat sheets. The shaped corners and elastic fitting can make it difficult to align the edges neatly.
But don’t worry! Ingenious linen lovers have developed clever methods to make it easy. Here’s how it works:
- Lay the fitted sheet pocket-side up on a flat surface (with fitted sheets, a flat surface is essential for getting a neat fold).
- Smooth out each corner to bring them to as much of a point as you can. Rounded corners are ok.
- Fold in half lengthwise, aligning the corners, and smooth out to make a square shape.
- Fold again in alternating directions until the bundle is the desired size and shape for your drawer or closet.
Once folded, store the fitted sheet on top of the folded flat sheet to keep them together.
There are plenty of other ways to fold flat and fitted sheets. But whichever method suits you, proper folding will keep them neat in storage, prevent deep wrinkles from setting into the fabric and keep them in good shape for longer.
Where to store cotton sheets
You’ve done all this work to clean and fold your sheets properly — but you’re not done yet. Ensure you store your sheets in the proper place so that they stay fresh and ready to use the next time you change your bedding.
Aim for a storage space that is:
- Away from sunlight
- Free of moisture and humidity
- Well-ventilated
- Free from odours. Smells can be absorbed into sheets over time.
While linen closets usually tick all of these boxes, in a pinch, you can also store away sheets in drawers or storage containers under the bed.
What not to do
Not all storage solutions are equally suitable for bed sheets! Incorrect storage, dampness or the presence of certain chemicals in the storage space can damage cotton sheets.
Here is what to avoid:
- Storing sheets in plastic tubs: this restricts airflow, traps moisture and can leave the sheets smelling musty.
- Storing sheets without folding: this can wrinkle and crease sheets, take up more space than necessary and reduce airflow.
- Storing sheets in cardboard or unpainted wood: this can cause acidic compounds to leach into the sheets, resulting in damage, yellowing and discolouration.
- Storing sheets in a plastic bag: this can trap and retain moisture, leading to mildew.
- Storing different cotton sheets too closely together: this may cause colours to bleed.
Other tips for storing cotton sheets
How to store cotton sheets long-term
Storing cotton sheets long-term is easy but also requires some thoughtful care to keep them fresh and clean.
- Store cotton sheets in linen storage bags to keep the dust away.
- Ensure the storage space is ventilated.
- Line linen closet shelves with acid-free tissue paper to prevent fabric discolouration.
Store sheets in pillowcase
If you don’t have dedicated linen bags, consider storing your folded sheets in a matching pillowcase.
This allows the fabric to breathe, keeps dust out and conveniently bundles the whole set to grab and go.
Don’t overpack storage spaces
Avoid overpacking storage spaces or piling folded linens too high, as this can reduce air circulation and lead to mildew growth. Some types of cotton weaves are also delicate and can easily be compressed or misshapen by packing them too tightly.
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