Should you wash new sheets? Why one wash makes a difference

Should you wash new sheets before the first night on them? Yes. Whether you just unboxed new Sheet Sets or a single fitted sheet, one wash relaxes packaging creases and rinses out loose lint. That first cycle lets new cotton feel the way it was meant to feel on the bed.

We make our own sheets. Most of our cotton sheets are made in our family-owned facility. Like any new bedding, they are folded tightly and packed to travel, which is why we recommend one wash before the first night.

Here is what this guide covers:

• Why new sheets feel stiff and creased straight out of the package
• What changes after the first wash, and how to keep it gentle
• A five-step method to wash new sheets the right way
• How to care for the Signature Egyptian Cotton Percale Sheet Set
• How to care for the Restful Retreat 600 Sateen Cotton Sheet Set
• Short answers to common questions about new bedding

Quick answer: should you wash new sheets before using them

Yes, wash new sheets once before the first night

The direct answer is yes. Wash new sheets once on the setting the care label lists, then dry them on low heat before you make the bed.

One wash does two useful jobs:

• Relaxes the sharp fold lines left by packaging
• Rinses out loose fibers left over from weaving and cutting

One wash is enough. You don’t need to soak new sheets, wash them twice or add special products. A regular cycle with a mild detergent does the job.

New sheets before and after a first wash

Here is what changes between the package and the bed. The table compares what you will usually notice with new cotton sheets before and after that first cycle.

Why you should wash new sheets after unboxing

New sheets arrive folded tightly and packed to travel. That keeps them neat in the box, but it also leaves sharp creases and a little loose lint that one wash takes care of.

Why new sheets arrive creased and linty

If you are wondering should you wash new sheets that arrive neatly packed, the answer comes down to creases and lint. Both are a normal part of how new cotton is made and packed.

Two things are worth washing out:

• Loose fibers, which are normal on any newly made cotton fabric
• Fold lines, which form when sheets are folded tightly to fit the package

None of this is unusual. A first wash simply relaxes the fabric so it starts from your own laundry routine.

Packaging creases and the stiff out-of-the-box feel

Sheets are folded tightly so they fit neatly into a box or a bag. Those folds sit in the same place for a long time, and the cotton takes a set along each line.

You will often notice:

• Grid-like creases across the flat sheet
• A fitted sheet that wants to stay in its folded square
• Pillowcases with a hard crease down the middle

A wash and a low-heat dry relax those lines. The fabric drapes more naturally across the mattress after that first cycle.

Loose lint and sorting new cotton sheets

Lint is the other thing you will see. New cotton often sheds a little loose fiber in its first wash, which is why you may find more lint in the dryer filter than usual.

Sorting is the other habit worth keeping:

• Wash new sheets with like colors, as you would any laundry
• Keep whites and lights together
• Keep towels and denim out of the load

If you chose a set from the White Cotton Sheets collection, the first wash is mostly about lint and creases. For darker or brighter sets, wash them on their own or with similar shades the first time.

What to expect after you wash new sheets

So, should you wash new sheets even when they look neat in the package? Yes. One regular wash is all it takes, and the change is easy to see and feel.

How new cotton feels after the first wash

After one wash and a low-heat dry, new cotton feels more relaxed in the hand and drapes more naturally over the mattress.

You will often notice:

• Fold lines relaxed, with the rest smoothing out on the bed
• Less loose lint on the fabric and in the dryer filter
• A fitted sheet that settles over the corners instead of holding its folded square
• A fresh scent from your own laundry routine

Each of these shows up after a single cycle. There is no need to wash new sheets twice to get there.

Keep the first-wash routine gentle

A first wash works best when the routine is simple. These habits are a good default for any new bedding:

• Use a mild detergent, and choose a fragrance-free one if you prefer
• Measure detergent carefully so it rinses out fully
• Skip heavy fabric softener on the first wash
• Add an extra rinse if your washer offers one

A gentle routine keeps the first wash about what it is for: relaxed creases and less lint.

If you bought more than one set at the same time, give each set its own first wash. Several new sets in one load crowd the drum, and crowded sheets come out more creased than they went in.

A few more habits make the first wash easier:

• Wash the flat sheet, fitted sheet and pillowcases from one set together, so the set stays matched
• Don’t knot or tie pieces together, so each one moves freely in the drum
• Clear the dryer filter after the first cycle, since new cotton sheds a little loose lint
• Fold the set or put it on the bed the same day, so it does not sit creased in the basket

What if new sheets still feel stiff after one wash?

A little stiffness after the first wash is normal, and it rarely means the sheets need another cycle. One wash relaxes fold lines and rinses out loose lint. It does not change the weave, and the weave decides most of how a set feels on the bed.

Here is how each weave in this guide feels once it has been washed:

• The Signature Egyptian Cotton Percale Sheet Set keeps a crisp, matte and airy feel, because percale is a one-over-one-under weave
• The Restful Retreat 600 Sateen Cotton Sheet Set feels soft, smooth and slightly dense, because sateen uses a four-over-one-under float

Crispness on a percale set is the feel the weave was made to have, so it is not something to wash out. A smoother hand with more body on a sateen set is the same kind of difference. If the feel of a set does not match how you like your bed, that is a question of weave, and the weave table later in this guide sets percale and sateen side by side.

If what feels stiff is the creasing rather than the fabric, look at drying rather than washing. Step 5 below covers the habits that help most: low heat, prompt removal and smoothing the sheets flat while they are still warm.

A second wash is rarely the fix. Drying habits usually are, and they carry over to every wash after the first one.

How to wash new sheets before using them, step by step

Washing new sheets takes one regular wash cycle and one low-heat dry. The five steps below work for cotton sheets in both percale and sateen weaves. Plan the first wash for a day when you have time to dry and fold everything, so the new set goes on the bed ready for its first night.

Step 1: Read the care label on your new sheets

The care label has the final word on water temperature, cycle and drying. Read it before anything goes into the washer.

Look for three things on the label:

• The water temperature, such as machine wash warm
• Whether bleach is allowed
• The dryer setting, such as tumble dry low

For the two California Design Den sets in this guide, the care line is machine wash warm, tumble dry low, do not bleach.

Step 2: Unfold and shake out every piece

Take every piece out of the package and unfold it fully. Pull out any cardboard inserts, pins, clips or paper bands.

Before the sheets go in:

• Shake each piece out to loosen the folds
• Check the fitted sheet for any packing paper tucked inside the corners
• Open pillowcases fully so water reaches the inside

Loose fabric washes more evenly than a tight bundle. It also comes out of the dryer with fewer creases.

Step 3: Sort new sheets by color

Wash new sheets with like colors, as you would any laundry.

A simple way to sort:

• Whites and lights together
• Mid-tones such as gray or blue together
• Deep shades on their own for the first wash

Whites, like sets from the White Cotton Sheets collection, go in with other whites or light pieces. Keep towels, denim and items with zippers out of the load. Rough fabrics add friction and lint to new cotton.

Step 4: Choose a gentle cycle and a mild detergent

A gentle or normal cycle is enough for new cotton. Heavy agitation is not needed for a first wash.

Set up the load like this:

• Use the water temperature on the care label
• Choose a mild liquid detergent and measure it
• Leave room in the drum so sheets can move freely
• Skip bleach unless the label allows it

Too much detergent can be hard to rinse out fully, so measure it. Sateen weaves have a smooth surface, and our guide How to Wash Sateen Sheets covers sateen care in more detail.

Step 5: Tumble dry low and take new sheets out promptly

Low heat is gentle on cotton, and it is the dryer setting on the care line for both sets in this guide. Dry the sheets until they are just dry, then take them out right away.

Finish the job with these habits:

• Shake each piece out before it goes in the dryer
• Dry on low heat and avoid overdrying
• Remove the sheets as soon as the cycle ends
• Smooth them flat and fold them, or put them straight on the bed

Taking sheets out promptly helps reduce creasing. Putting them on the bed while they are still warm helps the fabric settle smoothly.

Common mistakes when washing new sheets

These are the habits to watch on a first wash. Each one is easy to avoid.

Watch out for these mistakes:

• Skipping the care label and guessing the settings
• Washing new sheets with towels, denim or rough fabrics
• Overloading the washer, so sheets tangle and wash unevenly
• Adding extra detergent for a deeper clean
• Using bleach on cotton when the label says do not bleach
• Choosing a hotter dryer setting than the label lists
• Leaving clean sheets in the dryer after the cycle ends

If you avoid these, your new sheets come out of the first wash relaxed, smooth and ready for the bed.

Should you wash new sheets from California Design Den first

Yes. Our advice for the two sets below is the same: wash once before the first night, following the care line for that set. Here is what each one feels like, and what that first wash does for it.

Signature Egyptian Cotton Percale Sheet Set: crisp, matte and airy

The Signature Egyptian Cotton Percale Sheet Set in Blue feels crisp, matte and airy. It is breathable, with matte-finished crispness. It is lightweight, with extra-long staple cotton’s smooth hand — not thick.

What it is made of:

• 100% extra-long staple Egyptian cotton, percale weave
• A one-over-one-under percale weave, which gives the matte surface and open, airy hand
• Envelope closure pillowcases

100% natural cotton - no petroleum-based synthetic fibers, no polyester, no microfiber.

Backed by the Good Housekeeping Seal.

Tested for harmful substances to OEKO-TEX STANDARD 100. Certified with the Gold Seal by the Cotton Egypt Association - authenticating genuine Egyptian-grown cotton through DNA testing and supply chain verification.

We make our own sheets. That’s why the price makes sense. A first wash relaxes the fold lines in the percale weave, so the matte surface lies flat and even on the bed.

Restful Retreat 600 Sateen Cotton Sheet Set: smooth with a polished finish

The Restful Retreat 600 Sateen Cotton Sheet Set in Gray feels soft, smooth and slightly dense, with a polished finish. As part of the 600 TC Restful Retreat line, it is structurally balanced, with a bit more body. It is a substantial, smooth fabric with a refined handfeel.

What it is made of:

• 100% long-staple cotton, sateen weave
• A four-over-one-under sateen float, which gives a smoother surface with more drape
• Classic side-opening pillowcases

100% natural cotton — no petroleum-based synthetic fibers, no polyester, no microfiber.

Backed by the Good Housekeeping Seal.

The Restful Retreat 600 Sateen Cotton Sheet Set won the Oprah Daily Best Bedding Award 2026. It is tested for harmful substances to OEKO-TEX STANDARD 100.

We make our own sheets. That’s why the price makes sense.

A first wash lets the sateen weave settle, so the polished surface lies smooth across the mattress. For ongoing sateen care, read How to Wash Sateen Sheets.

The care line for both new sets

Each set has its own care line, and both read the same. Follow it for the first wash and every wash after.

• Signature Egyptian Cotton Percale Sheet Set: machine wash warm, tumble dry low, do not bleach
• Restful Retreat 600 Sateen Cotton Sheet Set: machine wash warm, tumble dry low, do not bleach

Wash each set with like colors, and take it out of the dryer as soon as the cycle ends.

Choosing quality new sheets from the start

Should you wash new sheets you have just bought, whatever the brand or price? Yes, every time. The first wash is the same for any set, so the real choice happens earlier, when you pick the sheets.

Weave, fiber and third-party testing tell you far more than packaging does. Before you buy, check the product page for these details:

• The fiber line, such as 100% long-staple cotton or 100% extra-long staple Egyptian cotton
• The weave, percale or sateen, and how it is described to feel
• The care line, so you know how the set will be washed at home
• Any third-party testing, with the exact wording used

A set that matches how you like your bed to feel is a set you will keep washing and using for a long time.

Pick the weave that suits how you like your sheets to feel

Percale and sateen are both 100% cotton weaves. They simply feel different on the bed, and neither one is the better choice. The right one comes down to how you like your sheets to feel.

Choose percale if you like a crisp, matte, airy feel. Choose sateen if you prefer a smooth, polished surface with more drape. Browse all Sheet Sets to compare weaves, colors and fibers side by side.

Look for third-party testing on new bedding

Testing and recognition from outside the brand give you something solid to check before you buy. Look for these on the product page:

• Tested for harmful substances to OEKO-TEX STANDARD 100
• The Good Housekeeping Seal, on the specific products it covers
• The Gold Seal from the Cotton Egypt Association on Egyptian cotton sets
• Awards with a named publication and a year attached

Both sets in this guide are backed by the Good Housekeeping Seal. California Design Den sheets are trusted by 8 million+ sleepers, with 100,000+ reviews and a 4.5–4.6 star average.

Plan your routine after the first wash

The first wash is a one-time step. After that, the right schedule depends on how often the bed is used. Our guide How Often Should You Wash Your Sheets covers the full routine.

FAQs about washing new sheets

Is it okay to sleep on new unwashed sheets?

You can, but new sheets often feel stiff, creased and a little linty from packaging. One wash first relaxes the fabric so it drapes more naturally on the bed.

Do you need to wash new sheets more than once?

No. One regular wash on the care-label setting relaxes fold lines and rinses out loose lint. A second wash is rarely needed.

How do you get fold lines out of new sheets?

Wash them once, dry on low heat and take them out as soon as the cycle ends. Smooth each piece flat or put it straight on the bed while it is still warm.

Should you wash new sheets with towels?

No. Towels, denim and rough fabrics add friction and lint to new cotton. Wash new sheets on their own or with other bedding in like colors.

Should you wash new pillowcases before using them?

Yes. Open each pillowcase fully and wash it with the matching sheets, so the whole set relaxes together before the first night.

Final verdict: should you wash new sheets before using them

One wash before the first night

The verdict is simple. Wash new sheets once before you sleep on them, then follow the care label from there. That one cycle is the difference between sheets that look new and sheets that feel ready.

What that first wash gives you:

• Relaxed fold lines and a natural drape
• Less loose lint on the bed and in the dryer filter

It costs you one wash cycle and one low-heat dry. Few laundry habits pay back that quickly.

Keep the care simple from here

After the first wash, the routine is easy. Use the care line on the label, wash with like colors and take sheets out of the dryer promptly. For a set you already own or one you are about to unbox, keep a steady schedule, and our guide How Often Should You Wash Your Sheets covers it in full.

California Design Den makes sheets to be washed and used, not kept in the closet. Crafted for calm. Priced with honesty.