How to Soften Linen Sheets at Home (4 Methods)

Only by touching it, you will know that your linen sheets are not soft. Your first move is to soften them. How do you soften your linen sheets at home?

In this article, I will discuss the following four methods of softening linen sheets:

  1. Softening using baking soda
  2. Using White Vinegar to soften linen sheets
  3. Adding dryer balls during drying
  4. Frequent washing using usual detergents
  • The products we recommended here:
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No one wants to sleep on bed sheets that feel like dried out plant leaves. Unless there is a genuine reason for this preference, most people want their bed sheets soft and easy on the skin.

Unfortunately, not all linens are typically soft. When they are right from the store, these brand new sheets often feet scratchy to most sleepers due to the nature of treatments manufacturers perform.  

Let’s look at some of the ways to soften your linen sheets.

How to Soften Linen Sheets

The most effective methods used today to soften linen sheets include:

  1. Machine washing in cold water
  2. Using a cup of baking soda
  3. Using white vinegar
  4. Dryer balls

1. Softening Linen Bedding Using Baking Soda

Baking soda is a great fabric softener. The powder will work its magic straight away to soften your linen sheets.

How to soften linen sheets at home

How do you use baking soda to soften your sheets?

Our consultation with a cleaning expert revealed a simple process.

Soften Linen Sheets using Baking Soda

  1. Soak linen sheets into baking soda solution (optional step). Before washing, fill a basin with cool water and pour several cups of baking soda into it. Soak it for 24 hours.
  2. Mix ½ cup of baking soda with regular washing detergent.
  3. Put the mixture into the washing machine.
  4. Run the washing machine in usual washing cycle.

Linen sheets are generally machine washable using regular washing machines. Consider handwashing if you’re working with vintage or heavily embroidered linens.

See the recommended baking soda here online.

For handwashing, use the following steps:

  1. Mix washing detergent with ½ cup of baking soda.
  2. Add clean, cool water to a basin.
  3. Soak the linen sheets in the mixture for a few hours (at least 4 hours for better softening effect).
  4. Hand-wash linen sheets as usual by rubbing and squeezing.

If you’re still doubting, white vinegar is a common natural fabric softener at home.

Overall, baking soda is a cheap method to soften linen. It strike all the right areas for maintaining sheets. In all cases, always ensure that you check the manufacturer’s guidelines about softening. Some fabrics are likely to be susceptible to damage by chemicals such as baking soda. Others are much more resistant and can be softened many times before having to change sheets.

2. Use White Vinegar to Soften Linen Sheets

How to soften linen sheets with white vinegar
  • Wash your linen sheets as usual.
    • Pick up your favorite detergent
  • Rinse your linen sheets by adding ½ cup of pure vinegar.
    • Soak overnight (optional step)
  • Mix ½ cup of water and ½ cup of white vinegar to obtain an ideal softening solution.
  • Add the softening solution to your washing machine and use regular washing cycle.
  • Dry the sheets.

Vinegar is great because it not only softens fabrics but it also removes smells and leave your sheets cleaner.

Check a recommended white vinegar here.

3. Use Dryer Balls to Soften Linen Sheets

Yes, drier balls are also good for softening linen sheets. These balls are made of either rubber, plastic, and pure wool.

Dryer balls are used as the alternative for chemical softeners. Since older linen sheets may be more vulnerable to damage when washed using baking soda, dryer balls will serve as a great softener but at the later stage of cleaning. The effects of baking soda may last longer after cleaning sheets. However, dryer balls may only improve the drying process to minimize roughness in the last stages of clean and only end at that.

In simple terms, 3 out of 10 people with washing machines use dryer balls and their practice is justified. They have many benefits in maintaining the texture and feel of bed sheets.

How do softening dryer balls work?

  1. Add 2-3 balls into the dryer together with your linen sheets.
  2. Run the drying process as usual.

Dyer balls also improve the drying speed by up to 25%.

They prevent your laundry from clamping together during drying.

Do not leave the linen to completely dry in the dryer. Instead, remove them while still a bit damp. By doing so, you will prevent wrinkles from setting in and avoid the stiff feel.

Alternative Ways for Softening Linen

Buy soft linen sheets: To avoid going through the troubles of having to soften all the time, purchase sheets that are already soft. For instance, go for 100% cotton or silk sheets.

Check thread count: Not all companies accurately represent the threat count of their sheets. Buying linen sheets with thread count between 400 and 800 is acceptable.

Frequent washing: If you need to keep linen sheets softer, consider washing them more often. That is because linen gets simple with a simple wash.