The real reason you should ALWAYS wash new bed sheets before sticking them on your bed – and it’s not so they smell nice
BRITS are debating whether you should stick new bed sheets in the wash before putting them on your bed.
And it turns out, Mrs Hinch fans believe there’s a very gross reason why a spin in the washing machine is mandatory.
Most of us would stick new bed sheets in the drum to soften them up and give them a fresh scent for a cosy night’s sleep.
And while this is good practice, it might be worth turning the heat up to ensure you get a thorough clean.
Cleaning pros fear that bugs and bug eggs may be dormant in sheets – and there’s no way they want to transfer the creepy crawlies to their bed.
New bed sheets may have been stored in warehouses or transported in conditions where insects could potentially come into contact with them.
Although it’s rare, insects like ants, beetles or even bed bugs could find their way into packaging or storage areas.
That’s not all, though.
Insects or their eggs could accidentally get into bed sheet packaging during the manufacturing or packaging process.
Lorraine Williamson said that she “doesn’t trust there won’t be bugs dormant” in new bed sheets, so always sticks them in the wash before putting them on.
“Factories aren’t the cleanest of places, I worked in them for a lot of years,” Elaine Goulding-Hughes added.
“The floors are not mopped every night; the dust and dirt are always there.”
“You don’t know where they have been in the factory,” Beryl Carrington echoed.
Sharon Miller added that the sheets “don’t feel like they are hers until she’s washed them”.
It’s not just bugs to be weary off, though.
New bed sheets often contain residue from the manufacturing process, including chemicals, dyes and finishing agents.
As well as eliminating dormant creepy crawlies, washing them helps to remove these residues.
The best part of sticking new bed sheets in the wash is being able to use your own softener, detergent and scent boosters.