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DIY Cleaning Methods for Bed sheets

Reviewed by Zac Kieffer

Updated: September 15, 2025

Discover easy DIY cleaning methods for bed sheets. Learn tips to keep your sheets fresh, clean, and comfortable at home. Simple steps for a better sleep!

DIY Cleaning Methods for Bed sheets

Baking Soda and Vinegar Soak

Fill a bathtub or large basin with warm water. Add 1/2 cup of baking soda and 1 cup of white vinegar, stirring to combine. Submerge bed sheets and let them soak for 1 hour. After soaking, wash as usual. This method helps remove odors, stains, and buildup for fresher, cleaner sheets.

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Baking Soda and Vinegar Soak for Bed Sheets: A Straightforward Guide

Gather your supplies: You’ll need baking soda, distilled white vinegar, a bathtub or large basin, and your bed sheets. Make sure the sheets are machine-washable and check the care label for any special instructions.

Pre-treat visible stains: If you spot any obvious stains, sprinkle a little baking soda directly on the area and gently rub it in with your fingers or a soft brush. Let it sit for about 15 minutes before moving on.

Fill your soaking vessel: Fill your bathtub or basin with enough warm (not hot) water to fully submerge the sheets. Hot water can set certain stains and may cause shrinking, so stick with warm unless your care label says otherwise.

Add baking soda: Sprinkle about 1/2 cup of baking soda into the water. Stir it around with your hand to help it dissolve. Baking soda is a mild abrasive and deodorizer, which means it can help loosen up grime and reduce odors.

Soak the sheets: Submerge your sheets in the solution, making sure they’re fully covered. Let them soak for 30 minutes to an hour. If you’re dealing with extra stubborn smells, you can let them sit a bit longer, but don’t forget about them—leaving them too long can lead to musty odors.

Add vinegar: After the initial soak, pour in 1 cup of distilled white vinegar. Swish the sheets around gently. Vinegar can help break down mineral deposits and some residues, and it’s often used to help freshen fabrics.

Let it fizz: You’ll notice some fizzing when the vinegar hits the baking soda. This is normal and just means the two are reacting. Let the sheets soak for another 30 minutes. The fizzing won’t last the whole time, but the solution will still be working.

Rinse thoroughly: Drain the tub or basin and rinse the sheets well with clean, cool water. It’s important to get all the baking soda and vinegar out, or you might end up with a residue that feels gritty or smells odd.

Launder as usual: Wash the sheets in your washing machine using your regular detergent. Choose the warmest water temperature that’s safe for the fabric (again, check the care label). This step helps remove any lingering residue and gives the sheets a final clean.

Dry completely: Dry the sheets according to the care label—either in the dryer or air-dried. Make sure they’re fully dry before putting them back on your bed to avoid any musty smells.

Pro tip: If your sheets are made from delicate materials like silk or linen, skip the vinegar and stick to a gentle detergent soak instead. Always check the care label before trying any DIY method.

Incomplete Stain Removal

Baking soda and vinegar may not fully break down tough or set-in stains on bed sheets, leading to incomplete stain removal. This method lacks the stronger cleaning agents needed for deep or stubborn stains.

Lemon Juice and Sunlight

Squeeze fresh lemon juice onto any stains on the bed sheets, then lay the sheets outside in direct sunlight for several hours. The natural bleaching power of lemon juice combined with sunlight helps lift stains and brighten the fabric. Wash as usual after treatment.

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Lemon Juice and Sunlight for Bed Sheets: A Practical Guide

Gather your supplies: You’ll need fresh lemon juice (bottled works in a pinch), a spray bottle or small bowl, clean water, and access to a sunny spot—ideally outdoors, but a sunny window can do in a pinch.

Spot treat stains: For visible stains, pour or spray lemon juice directly onto the affected area. Gently rub the juice in with your fingers or a soft cloth. If you’re dealing with a larger area, dilute the lemon juice with a bit of water to avoid over-saturating the fabric.

Lay out your sheets: Spread the sheets flat in direct sunlight. If you’re working outside, drape them over a clean surface like a clothesline or patio table. Indoors, a sunny window ledge or back of a chair will work, but the effect may be less noticeable.

Let the sun do its thing: Sunlight can help brighten fabrics and, when combined with lemon juice, may help reduce the appearance of some stains. Leave the sheets in the sun for a few hours, checking occasionally to make sure they’re not drying out too quickly or blowing away.

Rinse thoroughly: After sun exposure, rinse the sheets well with cool water to remove any remaining lemon juice. This helps prevent any lingering stickiness or potential fabric damage from the acidity.

Launder as usual: Wash your sheets in the washing machine with your regular detergent. This step ensures any leftover lemon juice and loosened grime are fully removed.

Dry completely: Dry the sheets according to the care label—either in the dryer or back outside if the weather’s cooperating. Make sure they’re fully dry before putting them back on your bed to avoid musty smells.

What’s happening here? Lemon juice contains citric acid, which can help break down some types of stains and brighten fabric. Sunlight can help fade discoloration. This method is a classic for a reason, but it’s not a magic eraser—results can vary depending on the type of stain and fabric.

Extra tip: Always check your sheet’s care label before trying this method, especially if your sheets are made from delicate or specialty fabrics. Some materials can be sensitive to acids or prolonged sun exposure.

Allergen Residue Persistence

Lemon juice and sunlight may not fully remove allergen residues from bed sheets, leaving proteins or particles that can trigger allergic reactions. This method lacks the effectiveness of thorough washing with detergent and hot water.

Hydrogen Peroxide and Cold Water Soak

Mix one part hydrogen peroxide with two parts cold water in a basin. Soak bed sheets in the solution for 30 minutes, then wash as usual. This method helps remove stains and disinfects the fabric naturally.

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Hydrogen Peroxide and Cold Water Soak for Bed Sheets: A Practical Guide

What You’ll Need:

3% hydrogen peroxide (the kind you find in most drugstores)
Cold water (straight from the tap is fine)
A clean bathtub, large basin, or laundry sink
Gloves (optional, but a good idea if you have sensitive skin)
Your bed sheets (cotton and polyester blends work best for this method)

How It Works:

Hydrogen peroxide is a common household liquid that acts as an oxidizer. In plain English, it helps break down some stains and can brighten fabrics without using bleach. It’s often used as a laundry booster for dingy or stained items.
Cold water helps prevent stains from setting and is gentler on most fabrics, especially if you’re dealing with blood, sweat, or other protein-based stains.

Step-by-Step Soak Instructions:

Fill your tub, basin, or sink with enough cold water to fully submerge your sheets. Don’t use hot water—heat can set certain stains and may cause shrinkage or fading.

Add hydrogen peroxide to the water. A common ratio is about 1 cup of 3% hydrogen peroxide per gallon of water. Swish it around to mix.

Place your sheets in the solution, making sure they’re fully saturated. If you see any stubborn stains, gently agitate the fabric with your hands or a soft brush.

Let the sheets soak for 30 minutes to 1 hour. For extra tough stains, you can soak a bit longer, but don’t leave them overnight—hydrogen peroxide can weaken fibers if left too long.

After soaking, drain the solution and rinse the sheets thoroughly with cold water. This step is important to remove any leftover hydrogen peroxide, which can cause yellowing if it dries on the fabric.

Launder your sheets as usual, following the care label instructions. Air dry or tumble dry on low.

Tips and Things to Watch Out For:

Always spot test a hidden area of your sheets before soaking the whole thing. Hydrogen peroxide is generally color-safe, but some dyes can react unpredictably.

Don’t mix hydrogen peroxide with vinegar or other cleaning agents in the same soak. This can create unwanted chemical reactions and isn’t necessary for most stains.

If you’re dealing with delicate fabrics (like silk or linen), skip this method and use a gentler approach. Hydrogen peroxide can be too strong for these materials.

Store hydrogen peroxide in its original dark bottle and keep it away from sunlight. It breaks down quickly when exposed to light and air, which makes it less effective.

Fabric Damage Risk

Hydrogen peroxide can weaken or discolor certain fabrics, especially colored or delicate sheets. Prolonged soaking may cause fading, yellowing, or fiber damage, reducing the lifespan and appearance of your bed sheets.

Dissolve 1/2 cup of salt in a bucket of cold water. Soak bed sheets in the solution for several hours, then wash as usual. This method helps remove stains and brighten whites naturally.

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Why Soak Bed Sheets in Salt and Cold Water?

Salt is a mineral that’s been used for ages as a basic cleaning booster. It can help loosen up some stains and brighten up fabrics, especially if you’re dealing with new sheets that might bleed color or have a bit of leftover factory residue.

Cold water is gentler on fabric fibers than hot water. It helps prevent shrinking and color fading, which is especially important for sheets with bold colors or delicate materials.

How to Do a Salt and Cold Water Soak for Bed Sheets

Start with clean hands and a clean sink or tub. You don’t want to add more grime to the mix.

Fill your tub or a large basin with cold water. Make sure there’s enough water for the sheets to move around freely. If you’re using a sink, you may need to do this in batches.

Add salt—about 1/2 cup for a standard tub, or 1/4 cup for a large basin. Table salt works fine. Stir it in until it’s dissolved. The salt acts as a mild abrasive and can help with some types of stains and color setting.

Submerge your bed sheets fully in the salty water. Give them a gentle swish to make sure every part gets soaked. If you’re working with colored sheets, this can help reduce color bleeding the first time you wash them.

Let the sheets soak for at least 30 minutes, up to a couple of hours. For stubborn stains or new sheets, a longer soak can help. Don’t leave them overnight, though—prolonged soaking can sometimes weaken fibers.

After soaking, drain the water and rinse the sheets thoroughly with cold water. You want to get all the salt out before you move on to your regular wash. Leftover salt can make sheets feel stiff.

Wash as usual in your washing machine, following the care label instructions. Use your regular detergent and the recommended water temperature for your sheet material.

Extra Tips from a Pro

Always check the care label first. Some materials (like silk or linen) might not love a salt soak, so when in doubt, spot test a small area.

If you’re dealing with a specific stain (like blood or sweat), dab the area with cold water and salt before soaking the whole sheet. This can help loosen the stain before it sets.

Don’t use hot water for the soak. Hot water can set stains and cause colors to run, especially on new sheets.

Limited Germ Elimination

Salt and cold water soaking may not effectively kill all germs or bacteria on bed sheets, as cold water lacks disinfecting power and salt alone is not a strong antimicrobial agent, leading to limited germ elimination.

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