How to Care for Your Cotton Sheets — The Foxes Den Guide to Making Them Last
When you invest in beautiful cotton sheets, especially those crafted from high-quality long-staple or Egyptian cotton, you want them to feel as good after 100 washes as they did on night one. At The Foxes Den, we believe that caring for your bed linen should be simple, natural, and effective.
Here’s our go-to guide on how to care for cotton sheets to keep them feeling soft, looking fresh, and lasting for years.
1. Wash Before First Use
Always wash your cotton sheets before using them for the first time. This helps soften the fibres naturally and removes any residual finishes from the manufacturing process.
We recommend using a gentle liquid detergent and washing in cold or warm water on a short cycle. Avoid bleach and fabric softeners — they can break down natural fibres over time.
2. Use a Gentle Cycle
When it comes to washing cotton bed linen, less is more. Choose a gentle or delicate cycle, and always wash sheets separately from heavy fabrics like towels or jeans to prevent unnecessary wear and tear.
Pro tip: Overloading your machine can lead to creases and friction that weakens the fabric. Give your sheets room to move.
3. Dry with Care
Line drying your sheets is best, especially in New Zealand’s fresh, clean air. If you do use a dryer, tumble dry on low and remove the sheets while they’re still slightly damp to reduce wrinkles and prevent over-drying.
Avoid high heat — it can damage the cotton fibres and cause shrinking over time.
4. Ironing (Optional, But Lovely)
Crisp, hotel-style sheets? Yes please. If you love that freshly pressed look, cotton sheets can be lightly ironed on a medium setting. For a more relaxed, lived-in feel, skip the iron and embrace the natural texture — both options are beautifully timeless.
5. Rotate and Refresh
Have more than one set of cotton sheets? Rotate them weekly. This reduces wear and gives each set time to breathe between washes, helping extend their lifespan.
Every few months, give your sheets a deep clean using a natural laundry booster like baking soda and vinegar (just not at the same time). It keeps them smelling fresh and removes any detergent build-up.
6. Store with Love
Store your sheets in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight. If you want to go the extra step, keep them in a cotton or linen bag to let the fabric breathe.
Quality Linen Deserves Quality Care
At The Foxes Den, we handpick our luxury cotton bed linen for its beauty, softness, and durability. With just a little care, your sheets will reward you with night after night of dreamy, breathable comfort.
