tips on keeping sheets nice looking/fresh smelling

[presidentflush]

I am a student that will be starting clinic in the near future. So I will be using my sheets in clinic. I picked up a few new sets to use and I'd like to keep them looking nice. Instead of having solid colored sheets I went with a simple stripe pattern in hopes of hiding some staining that will occur. I'd like to figure out a way to prevent staining if possible.

Wondering what kind of products you are using to keep sheets looking nice. Any special treatment you do to lift the massage lotion out so it doesn't stain? I can't seem to prevent stains from showing on my sheets. (darking) And what kind of fabric softener do you use to keep them smelling fresh? Do you use liquid or sheets or both?

I love the smell of fabric softener on my sheets. I don't want to spend a fortune on detergent and fabric softener, but I certainly don't want crummy looking or smelly sheets either.

 

[e-Z-e]

tips on keeping sheets nice looking/fresh smelling

I don't have a problem with staining. I use solid ecru colored or white sheets. I wash with oxyclean, All Free & Clear and sometimes bleach. I use a fabric softner sheet in the dryer.

I use Natural Formulations Sunflower Deep Tissue Lotion or Jojoba Oil.

I buy my sheets at Walmart.

 

[rabcnesbit]

tips on keeping sheets nice looking/fresh smelling

I also buy my sheets that are on sale at Walmart. I also use a little bleach and hot water when I wash and I also use water soluable cream. I have found keeping the sheets nice and clean to be too hard with oil

 

[Anika<3]

tips on keeping sheets nice looking/fresh smelling

I bought my sheets from Walmart as well. The lotion I'm currently using is Bon Vital' Therapeutic Touch w/ Olive Oil (water dispersible). I've been using ALL detergent. And the generic version of Oxyclean. Maybe that's the difference, the oxyclean? I'll pick that up today when I go shopping. Do you always use HOT water when you wash them?

What fabric softener do you usually use? Right now I'm using Bounce dryer sheets. I'm wondering if maybe a liquid softener would leave more of a fresh scent on the sheets?

 

[Joan [RMJF]]

tips on keeping sheets nice looking/fresh smelling

I always use hot water when I wash. You can also mix baking soda with you laundry soap

 

[mrggame]

tips on keeping sheets nice looking/fresh smelling

We use lavender ECOS laundry detergent from Sam's Club, vinegar if necessary, and NO bleach or fabric softener. Fabric softener coats the sheets (any laundry) with chemicals that cause them to resist absorption (think towels that won't absorb, or worse-- diapers!), and I don't go for chemicals all over my sheets/laundry any way. Vinegar in the wash works just well enough as a de-odorizer and fabric softener. Oh, and I pretty much always use only Jojoba Oil, and Dh uses mostly Jojoba with a little bit of lotion from time to time.

 

[Brianna H]

tips on keeping sheets nice looking/fresh smelling

I use the Bounce "Free" ones. I use hot water.

Link on Jojoba Oil: http://massageplanet.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=25&t=16713&p=156423&hilit=jojoba#p141316

 

[CatsDogsFrogs]

tips on keeping sheets nice looking/fresh smelling

I use hot water w/OxyClean as well. Every once in a while, if a "normal" wash doesn't quite cut it, I'll use baking soda and a slight amount of vinegar (enough to make it bubble a bit, but not enough to over-flow the washer.) I use Soothing Touch Versa cream. I'm not sure if it's water soluble or not.

 

[KeithOtron]

tips on keeping sheets nice looking/fresh smelling

I spray any stains with Shout before removing the sheet from the table and make sure all sheets are laundered the same day. I also squirt Dawn dishwashing soap (it cuts through oil nicely) in with the detergent. Not a lot, just a few seconds worth. I use Oxyclean and I add vinegar instead of bleach and do a 2nd rinse.

I occassionally add Odoban in the rinse cycle, like you would do for fabric softner.

Sounds like a lot of work, but once you have your routine down pat it's simple. You want to take good care of your sheets so they will last.

Angie

 

[keo1095]

tips on keeping sheets nice looking/fresh smelling

I spray any stains with Shout before removing the sheet from the table and make sure all sheets are laundered the same day. I also squirt Dawn dishwashing soap (it cuts through oil nicely) in with the detergent. Not a lot, just a few seconds worth. I use Oxyclean and I add vinegar instead of bleach and do a 2nd rinse.

I occassionally add Odoban in the rinse cycle, like you would do for fabric softner.

Sounds like a lot of work, but once you have your routine down pat it's simple. You want to take good care of your sheets so they will last.

Angie

Treating the sheets before removing them- What a great idea!! All the other stuff I already do with my laundry on occasion. (Dawn, Odoban, Vinegar, Baking Soda or Borax) I did pick up Oxyclean to use instead of generic version. I think between trying to "pretreat" and using Oxyclean will make a huge difference.

 

[Renee Z]

tips on keeping sheets nice looking/fresh smelling

I use jojoba oil because it washes out better than others i've tried. Use hot water, All Free, baking soda, and Snuggles (not as much as the directions call for). Wash as soon as possible so the oil doesn't have time to 'set'. If for some reason I can't wash the sheets the same day, or oil was spilled on them, or the client wanted another oil or a lotion, I use lye soap that I get from someone who makes it herself, baking soda, borax, and washing soda. This combo will even get old sheets that have that funky rancid oil smell and stains fresh and sweet smelling. I have sheets that were purchased 12 years ago that still are useable. (Bought at WalMart, by the way!) The elastic in the fitted sheets has lost it's oomph, but they are not stained, and smell fine.

 

[Rafael M]

tips on keeping sheets nice looking/fresh smelling

I use jojoba oil because it washes out better than others i've tried. Use hot water, All Free, baking soda, and Snuggles (not as much as the directions call for). Wash as soon as possible so the oil doesn't have time to 'set'. If for some reason I can't wash the sheets the same day, or oil was spilled on them, or the client wanted another oil or a lotion, I use lye soap that I get from someone who makes it herself, baking soda, borax, and washing soda. This combo will even get old sheets that have that funky rancid oil smell and stains fresh and sweet smelling. I have sheets that were purchased 12 years ago that still are useable. (Bought at WalMart, by the way!) The elastic in the fitted sheets has lost it's oomph, but they are not stained, and smell fine.

That's awesome! What exactly is washing soda?

 

[Pompal 09.]

tips on keeping sheets nice looking/fresh smelling

I forgot to mention that the OxyClean I use is the "Free" one FWIW. The smell from the regular one messes with my brain pretty badly.

 

[jammin7000]

tips on keeping sheets nice looking/fresh smelling

If you can, hanging your sheets outside in the sun really helps also :grin:

 

[Tiger Dude]

tips on keeping sheets nice looking/fresh smelling

Completely forgot about Washing Soda!! I have used that in the past, then started using baking soda because it was cheaper. But I bet the washing soda would be helpful with lifting the oil/lotions out of the sheets!

Taoist- Not exactly sure what washing soda is... I do know that it's similiar to baking soda but much better. It's a detergent booster. I was using it as a water softener in the washer because we have such hard water. I don't have a water softener, just water filters. So it really helped with the laundry but I found it to be expensive which is why I switched to Baking Soda.

Now I'm wondering more about it myself and I will probably "google" it when I have more time! LOL

 

[Cran]

tips on keeping sheets nice looking/fresh smelling

washing soda is soda ash. I used in in tie-dyeing and bought it cheap through pool supply stores. It's also next to borax on the laundry aisle.
IIRC, it is sodium carbonate (as opposed to sodium BIcarbonate- baking soda)

in dyeing, you soak your white items in a solution for 24 hours (it activates analine dye and I suspect, takes off finishing chemicals).
soda ash soaks can stink, but the white portions of the pieces were brilliantly stark white.

For those who hang sheets, do clients notice/care?
I find them stiffer, but I see that as good.

 

[forgetful]

tips on keeping sheets nice looking/fresh smelling

For those who hang sheets, do clients notice/care?
I find them stiffer, but I see that as good.

I miss my grandma's hung-out-to-dry sheets! Oh, you bring back all the warm fuzzy feelings of my youth.

It must be a good thing!

 

[Shaggster]

tips on keeping sheets nice looking/fresh smelling

For those who hang sheets, do clients notice/care?
I find them stiffer, but I see that as good.

I miss my grandma's hung-out-to-dry sheets! Oh, you bring back all the warm fuzzy feelings of my youth.

It must be a good thing!

I think the fresh smelling sheets make up for the slight stiffness