Housekeeping · 침구 세탁

New cotton fitted sheet? Wash before first use and check shrinkage labels

Some new cotton fitted sheets specify washing before first use. Check the care label and shrinkage allowance, wash with like colors and dry as instructed.

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IKEA's LEN cotton fitted sheet specifies washing before first use, a normal wash up to 60°C, no bleach and around 5% shrinkage. Those figures belong to that product; other sheets may have different limits.

Your try-it-at-home checklist

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Unfold the sheet and read the fiber, wash temperature, bleaching, drying and expected shrinkage instructions.
If the manufacturer advises washing before first use, do so. Permitted heat and laundry-bag guidance vary by product.
Separate similar colors and avoid snagging fitted sheets on zippers, buttons or rough items in the same wash.
Choose the machine cycle and temperature on the label. The IKEA LEN example allows up to 60°C, but that is not a universal cotton-sheet setting.
Check if tumble drying is allowed, respect the maximum heat and dry completely. Heat-sensitive blends may need gentler drying.
Fit the dry sheet over the mattress and check corner and elastic tension. Do not overstretch a sheet that no longer fits; check the size and care label again.

Your try-it-at-home checklist

Further reading

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