Tips for Proper Bedding Care Blog

How To Make Your Bed – No, Really

Posted on April 26, 2022 by Steven Toltz

Did you know that the average American spends around 36 years of their lives in bed? That’s a lot of time spent in—usually—just two or three sets of sheets per bed. Don’t fret, though—that’s where Dependable Cleaners comes in. We’re here to do the heavy lifting for all of our customers on tricky laundry like bedsheets. As the pros, we know what it takes to keep your bed linens looking spotless and feeling soft and snooze-worthy. We’ve got the cleaning covered for all your family’s bed covers. But what can you do at home to make the most out of your linens? 

Related: Spring Cleaning for Your Linens

Here are a few handy tricks for keeping your bedding soft and warm, plus, why you should give a sheet about how you make your bed. Don’t sleep on these tips from our Dependable Cleaners pros. 

Bedding Trick #1: Know Your Bed Linens

Not all bedding linens are created equal. In fact, when it comes to caring for your bed sheets, it’s pretty important to distinguish between the different layers of bedding you’re working with. Sheets consist of a single fitted sheet (that elastic-banded one that hugs your mattress and is notoriously difficult to fold), a top sheet, and pillow cases, usually all in the same lighter-weight material, like cotton or polyester. Then there’s your comforter, which is the fluffy top layer of your bedding. Depending on what kind of comforter you have, you might also have a duvet cover, which is essentially like a large pillow sham for your whole comforter—Duvets are a good idea if you often find yourself having to spot clean your comforter, or if your comforter itself is made out of a complex natural fiber like goose down. Depending on where you live, you might also have a blanket for your bedding (usually knit, the same size as your mattress, and tucked under the sides of your mattress along with your top sheet). You might also sleep with a quilt, which is a thicker type of blanket which has had insulating batting sewn artfully between layers. Most people use either a quilt or a comforter, not both. (Though maybe it’s a good idea to double up if you often find yourself freezing cold at night)!

Regardless of which bed linens you need to wash, it’s typically a good idea to have the professionals handle it. Dry cleaning your sheets and comforters can have unexpected benefits, but even just outsourcing that pesky fitted sheet to your local Dependable Cleaners team is a good idea. Take it from us. 

Read more: Blanket Cleaning Tips

Bedding Trick #2: Pick the Right Bed Sheets For Your Life

Different sheets have different properties. Think about the difference between a set of cotton sheets and a set of flannel ones. It is important to choose the right set of sheets for your personal sleeping habits. If you tend to get hot when you sleep, for instance, sheets made from a lighter-weight, thinner material like bamboo might be the best way to keep cool at night. If you prefer a more luxurious sleeping experience, sheets with a high thread count or made from a specialty material like silk could suit you best. Different types of material require different levels of care. This is another reason that it’s important to trust your bed linens to the professionals. 

Bedding Trick #3: Make Your Bed the Right Way

To make your bed the proper way, first you’ll want to make sure that you are starting with a new set of sheets, and that your mattress is nice and clean. Then you’ll want to add the fitted sheet to the mattress, being careful to tuck the corners of the fitted sheet down as far as possible beneath the mattress—the last thing you want is a wrinkle in your fitted sheet! Then add the top sheet and fold hospital corners to keep the sheet tight and snug. Next, you’ll want to add your comforter or quilt, then finally, fold a nice blanket at the foot of your bed and fluff up those pillows. 

Bedding Trick #4: Linen Storage Is Essential

Whether you’re stowing away thick woolen blankets for the spring, or tucking unused everyday linens into a closet or cabinet, how you store your bedding makes a difference in its overall care. Be sure that for any fabrics which require delicate treatment or climate control, you pack them neatly folded into a sealable bag, where moths and the weather can’t get to them. Try not to scrunch up down comforters or other easily wrinkling fabrics. 

Related: Cleaning and Storing Winter Clothing

Bedding Trick #5: Dry Clean Your Bed Sheets For Peace of Mind

While you certainly can wash most of your bed linens at home, there are distinct benefits to having the professionals handle your sheets, pillows, and comforters for you. Not only does taking your linens to a professional laundry service or dry cleaner save you time and effort, at Dependable Cleaners, we have industrial machines which dry hotter and wash more thoroughly than household machines do. If you truly want the cleanest clean for your bed sheets, though—and why would you not?—you’ll want to let us dry clean them for you. Dry cleaning sheets can kill germs that ordinary washing cannot, leaving your sheets as sanitary as possible for the next time your head hits the pillow. What’s not to like about that? 

Now that you’re up to date on our tips and tricks for cleaning your bed linens, we hope you’ll sleep easy. If you want the best cleaning solutions for your bed sheets, contact us at Dependable cleaners today.