Getting new sheets somehow always feels like a blessing and a curse.
Whether you bought them yourself because your old sheets are starting to look like something from a horror movie, or got them as yet another gift from your well-meaning but clueless aunt, there’s always the question: should you wash new sheets?
You kind of already know the answer here.
But you hope against all hope that maybe, just this once, the answer will be no.
We’re not here to burst your bubble, but the answer is still yes.
Yeah, yeah, it’s a pain.
But if we—who despise doing laundry—are telling you to wash your new sheets, then you know it must be important.
Not the answer you wanted to hear? Put down the pitchforks and calm down—let us explain, and hopefully, we’ll put this issue (and some freshly laundered sheets) to bed for good.
Should You Wash New Sheets Before Use?
Well, they wouldn’t be new sheets if you already used them, would they?
Can you wash your new sheets now, please?
Still no, huh.
Look: no matter how many times you ask us, the answer is always going to be yes. You might as well just accept it and move on.
But we know that sometimes you need more than just a simple answer.
You need reasons, logic, proof!
Fine, here you go:
New sheets aren’t actually clean
No matter how crisp and new-looking your sheets are, they’re not actually clean. They may have been sitting in a dusty warehouse or store for who knows how long before you even got them. And you have no idea how many other people have touched them.
You don’t know if they’ve been sneezed on, had food dropped on them, or something worse.
So unless you’re okay with the idea of sleeping in someone else’s filth, we suggest you wash your new sheets before using them.
Washing new sheets gets rid of all that gunky, smelly packaging
We get how tempting it is to just rip open the packaging and jump into bed. But unless you want your sheets to smell like a combination of plastic and chemicals, we suggest you take them out of the packaging and give them a good wash first.
Washing new sheets gets rid of chemicals
When sheets are first manufactured, they’re often treated with all kinds of chemicals to make them look extra crisp and clean. But these chemicals can be harsh and irritating, especially if you have sensitive skin. Washing your new sheets will get rid of any residual chemicals and leave them feeling softer and more comfortable.
If you’re still not sold, here’s just a taste of some of the chemicals you might find in your new sheets:
- Formaldehyde
- Butane
- Parathion
- AZO dyes
- Propane
If they sound scary, that’s because they are!
There’s good lazy and there’s bad lazy. Anything that exposes you to possible health hazards is bad lazy. Don’t go over to the dark side and stop wracking your brain for new ways to trick Google into giving you the answer you so desperately crave.
Will I Die if I Don’t Wash My New Sheets?
OK, that’s a pretty slick way of trying to trick us into giving you the answer you want.
No, you (likely) won’t die if you don’t wash your new sheets.
So what happens if you don’t wash new sheets?
We don’t know.
We’re not doctors.
But we’re pretty sure you don’t want to find out the hard way.
Is it really that big of a deal?
If you think sleeping in someone else’s filth is no big deal, then, by all means, go ahead and skip the washing.
But if you value your health and hygiene, then we suggest you give your new sheets a good wash before using them.
At the end of the day, it’s up to you.
But we can tell you that if you wash your new sheets, you’ll be glad you did.
Your sheets will be cleaner, your bed will smell better, and you’ll sleep soundly knowing you’re not sleeping in a chemical-treated petri dish of filth.
Why is Washing Sheets So Hard?
Now we’re finally getting to something real.
The real reason you don’t want to wash your new sheets is that laundry is hard.
It’s exhausting to have to lug all your dirty clothes down to the basement or laundromat. It’s even worse when you have to wait around for an hour or more for your clothes to wash and dry.
Read our guide here on the best ways to make washing sheets—new and old—less of a pain. Spoiler: it’s not as excruciating as you might think!
Nope, Washing Sheets is Still Hard
So you pored over our guide on how to make washing sheets easy and you’re still not sold.
We get it, laundry is a pain in the bum.
But so is life.
You can’t just sit around all day waiting for things to be handed to you on a silver platter. Sometimes you have to put in a little elbow grease and make things happen yourself.
Or you can just try hampr.
What is hampr?
We’re hampr!
We’re a peer-to-peer laundry service that does everything you know you have to do but hate doing—like washing stinky jerseys, crusty linens, and yes, new sheets. We offer reasonable flat-rate prices with zero hidden fees and, with our ironclad next-day delivery promise, you’ll never have to go a day without clean sheets again.
Download the hampr app on Google Play or the App Store to jumpstart your laundry-free life today!
