apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

I really love white sheets, but I find that, for being just plain ol' white sheets, it's hard to find a quality set for a reasonable price! I'm also partial to light gray color sheets, but those are just hard to find period!

I find white sheets are easier to clean than coloured sheets, because you can bleach them! but, of course, they don't last long if you bleach them too much ;)

I had white sheets in the dorms then for a few years after but then I got bored and started craving colored and patterned sheets.

I love pictures of white bedding, but for some reason, I only have one set of white sheets. Everything else is coloured. I'd love to switch to all white, but how do you keep them from greying or yellowing over time? I don't like using bleach for the very same reason Hollie mentioned -- it weakens the fibres and shortens the lifespan! Anyone got any suggestions?

i love white house linens - sheets, towels, duvets, comforters, quilts - perfect canvas for any change and makes it easy to change linens in bath and bedroom b/c anything can go anywhere - and b/c i do love color - pretty pillows or throws or even flowers really pop against the white.

also - i *always* wonder about colored towels and sheets - esp. in the case of guestrooms - how clean are they w/o HOT water and a touch of bleach?

we're all-white except for the kids' bedding...

I buy sets of 2 or 4 towels (complete suites), in different textures so that while all-white, it is not boring...

as for beds, I never get white bottom sheets -- always some sort of colour... the white sheets tend to be white damask, which has a woven pattern, or linen which has a texture

As for washing, hydrogen peroxide bleaches work nicely, or just a good detergent.

Does anyone have learning about the energy or green profile of white linens vs. other colours? It seems like using more hot water and bleaching agents to keep whites white would 'cost' more in carbon and other environmental impact.

you don't need hot water and bleach to keep your whites white! as mentioned before, hydrogen peroxide does a nice job.

but even better... toss in your whites, add baking soda, white vinegar, and lemon juice. the lemon juice, especially, will whiten your linens up really nicely!!

laundry detergent in general isn't very green. especially liquid detergents... between the packaging and the shipping (think weight and funky shape). i was really skeptical, but finally spent a couple bucks on etsy on a homemade, green detergent. try one... you'll be amazed at how much nicer your clothes come out! it makes you wonder what the hell is in commercial detergents. now i'm making my own!

hmm...baking soda, lemon juice, and vinegar...how do you keep it from you know, smelling funky? I'm thinking maybe baking soda alone can do the trick, seeing that it is touted as the miracle cure-all for all cleaning problems, but I don't really know much about these things. (Which is maybe the reason why my whites tend to look like all shades of colors other than white.)

I know it supposed to be white but it doesn't look white in the photo - looks more like tan/yellow because the white point wasn't set in the camera, or fixed post-process. When the 'color' is the featured comment in the article, then an effort should be made to adjust them to be as accurate as possible.

Now I'm the one being anal, I admit.

I can't use white sheets without them ending up looking dingy (grey or yellow, as someone mentioned before) fairly quickly. Patterns are better for hiding spotting, too.

I've never had any problem with vinegar smell lingering... it comes out in the rinse. Baking soda is actually a good deodorizer.

Anyway. The nice thing about white linens? You can mix them with patterns. I vote for both. (Though with me, it's more about what I can scrounge from the thrift store...)

somedudeinvicenza - you don't smell any of it. there is a faint hint of lemon to it, which is a nice clean scent. baking soda destroys odor. and i cannot for the life of me explain why, but you can't detect ANY vinegar, even on super absorbent stuff life towels.

i was super skeptical at first. i read about vinegar being great for removing residue from towels and thus making them more fluffy and absorbent. i thought i'd have to do the whole load over again, so i started small. i poured in a half-cup of vinegar with my detergent and baking soda and they came out smelling the same way they usually do... clean! but they were softer and cleaner than usual!

oh! and if you want to give it a try and are really worried, you can always add a few drops of essential oils in there, too!

I have cream bedding and towels. I've always preferred cream to white.

I do sometimes buy patterned pillowcases and shams, though... we have six king sized pillows so I mix and match.

I clean up messes in the kitchen with a mixture of white vinegar, lemon juice, and water and the boyfriend always complains that its going to smell. As soon as it dries however, no vinegar smell! I'd imagine its the same for clothes - I've tried it before in the wash and there is no vinegar smell when they're dry. No idea why :P

closertotheocean, who was the seller on esty for the green detergent you purchased?

I just can't bring myself to buy anything but white sheets anymore. Of course, number one is the cleaning factor, but I don't have to worry about the color fading out or getting crazy blotches. And white just seems calm and soothing to me, and that's what I want to feel when I'm in bed. I also get bored with decor really quickly, so its easier for me to change a few pieces in my room to give a quick burst of color if I need it (like adding a colorful picture), then have to spend a fortune buying a quality sheet set I might hate in 3 months.

bumblebeechicago - i don't remember, to be honest, which shop it was... i ordered a sample size from someone. here are two that look like good, inexpensive bets (cost and shipping) for your first try:

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?ref=sr_gallery_17&listing_id=13361162

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?ref=sr_gallery_18&listing_id=13357924

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?ref=sr_gallery_2&listing_id=13405020

BUT! i *really* recommend making your own! for the same cost, you can get borax, arm&hammer super washing soda (stocked at stop and shop, market basket, and hannaford in these parts!), and a bar of soap (i recommend something on the natural, unscented side... Tom's Of Maine is my choice usually)... I add essential oils too... so great!

I keep my bedroom walls white and the linen makes the colour in the room.

Everything but white. Unfortunately, even the cleanest pup ruins white sheets when you let them in your bed.

closertotheocean-- any idea how that concoction works for front-loading washers? When I bought mine, high-efficiency liquid detergent was recommended-- do you think adding water to make a liquid and then using half the amount would work?

Abra_cat - this concoction is great for HE machines, front loaders, and top loaders. i wouldn't add water... you'll end up with a gooey mess. the amounts you use are small anyway... i suggest using one tablespoon directly in with your load and you should be fine!

I used to have colored sheets and towels, but the colors always faded after a few washings (or developed bleached spots from other people using the washer), so white it is. I wash whites in hot water with OxyClean detergent to keep 'em bright and white.

Thanks, closertotheocean-- I'll give it a try!

White sheets, all the way. I have had the same set on my master bed and guest bed for over 2 years and they still look brand new. I mix in a few patterened Kerry Cassill and John Robshaw pillow cases for some color. Method detergent and a touch of method softener keeps them smelling fresh w/o being perfume-y.

abra_cat - just wanted to give you proportions for the recipe... i generally mix 1 cup borax, 1 cup washing soda, and shred one bar of that Tom's soap (a cheese grater is fine). i make larger batches, just double it all, you know, same proportions. it keeps well in anything you've got... i'm partial to pretty glass juice jugs with the label taken off. you can also rinse out your old liquid detergent bucket, let it dry, and then funnel your powder in there to store big batches. once in the container, i add a few drops of essential oil and shake it up to disperse... good luck!

Apparently I'm in the minority being a sucker for patterns. I love sheets, and my solution to not getting bored is to have bought many over the years (mostly on sale), and rotate. They look so cheery! But now I think I might need an all-white set...

Thanks closertotheocean - I'm inspired! Hey Chicagoans, where do you get your make-your-own detergent supplies/ingredients from?

i love an all white bed. i stumbled into it by accident when i needed something quickly and all that was available was white. There's something so welcoming and soothing about an all white bed.

bumblebee - call 1-800-524-1328 during normal business hours (they operate on eastern time). that's arm and hammer... they'll tell you where to get the washing soda if you give them your zip code. that was the only way i could find it! borax is in target and any laundry aisle at any grocery store. and the bar soap, well, i'll leave that to you!

Thanks CTTO! I was able to track down the ingredients and it looks like all of them are at Jewel! I might bike there tonight. Thanks again.

I like white sheets, but only if they are mixed with patterned sheets.

Patterns and colors make my bed feel more fun and welcoming.

I love white bedding for its simplicity and purity. I have tried coloured and patterned bedding in the past but found it too much of a chore and after a while I got tired of the patterns. White provides the perfect backdrop for a room. I am also a fan of white towels for the bathroom as coloured towels fade after a while. White towels on the other hand are easy to keep clean and easy to replace.