Fine-tune some key practices to get more durable sheets.

When you buy a new set of sheets or towels, you usually want to know how long they will stay in their best condition. After all, you buy these items to use them on a regular basis. Few household items are washed as many times as bedding, bathroom and tabletop fabrics, whether it’s pillowcases, towels or tablecloths. However, if you fine-tune some key routine practices, you will ensure their longevity in the coming years. Some brands make this easier-Linger Home's bed sheets, towels, etc. are made of high-quality and sustainably sourced materials, such as French linen, organic cotton, and Supima cotton from the United States. When it comes out, you can take the lead Care at the starting line. (Additional bonus: their products have also passed Oeko-Tex certification, which means that they have been tested to ensure that there are no unsafe chemicals.)

By following the guidelines that our Good Housekeeping experts rely on, you will ensure that your textiles are always in top condition, making your daily work softer.

Typical lifespan: Two to three years. How to help them extend their lifespan: Having the warmest bed linen is the key to relaxing time at night and a good night’s sleep.

"From an architectural point of view, if the sheets start to become thinner, please consider replacing them," said Lexie Sachs, Director of Textiles at the Good Housekeeping Institute. The sheets will tear over time, especially under the friction of tossing and turning. She also pointed out that torn hem and discoloration are obvious signs that new sheets should appear. "If they start to feel hoarse, it may be time to replace them."

Reusing two sets (or ideally three sets) of different sheets also helps to extend the life of the sheets, while washing them once a week. "Some people don't change sheets for a long time, which is really bad," said Carolyn Forte, director of the Good Housekeeping Institute's cleaning laboratory. She pointed out that pillowcases are particularly prone to makeup stains and sweat. "Sheets and pillowcases will stick to all these skin cells, so it is very important to wash them every one to two weeks."

How to extend their service life: If you swap out quilts and duvets for lighter blankets or quilts in summer, their service life can be extended, but their service life also depends on the type of filling material used.

Down replacement duvets are cheaper and very suitable for people who are allergic to down or feathers, but once they begin to deform, they need to be replaced. Goose down tends to maintain its fluffy structure very well, but it is usually warmer than down substitutes, so it is almost natural to change the bedding in the summer. For these two types, look for duvet inserts that use a "baffle box" structure.

"The baffle box structure has a separate piece of fabric inside the duvet box to prevent the filling from moving around," Sachs said. "Otherwise, the filling will clump easily."

It is also important to prevent caking when washing and drying duvets and quilts. "Make sure you use a large-capacity washing machine and a "bedding" cycle, if your machine has it, because if the [duvet] is stuffed in, there will be friction, which means there will be wear and tear," Ford pointed out. When it comes to drying It is important to loosen these close staple foods as thoroughly as possible-especially those of down varieties. "You want to make sure your down is as dry and fluffy as possible, because it can better isolate you," she said.

Duvets and pillow protectors can also help extend the life of the bedding by adding an extra line of defense between the plush inner material and outer elements.

Typical service life: How can one year help them last longer: "The structure of dish towels is different from bath towels," Sachs said. "They are a little less absorbent." Although this means that they dry faster than bath towels, the downside is that they should be changed more frequently.

Forte recommends that you keep one dish towel exclusively for wiping dishes, and the other one for wiping your hands only. Rotate the towel as often as a hand towel in the bathroom. On the other hand, the dish cloth will come into contact with food particles when scrubbing dirty dishes, and should be washed as often as possible to prevent odor penetration (preferably every day or every other day).

Typical service life: Two to four years How to extend their service life: Loose fibers, wear on the edges of the towel, and loss of water absorption all indicate that it is time to change to a new towel.

"Most bath towels have cotton loops, making them very plump and absorbent," Sachs said. "If the ring starts to loosen so that you see the filaments of the towel or the hem around it is unraveling, that is a sign of wear."

Although towels are very good at drying the human body, they do not dry quickly by themselves. If they are piled up on the floor, or are not hung up to ventilate them after showering or bathing, they may produce mold, mildew and other bacteria, which will shorten the life of the towel and produce some musty smell. Forte recommends using a towel bar to hang used towels instead of hooks (it can help them dry faster), and emphasizes that the faster the towel can dry, the fresher it will be.

Using the right washing technique can also create miracles for the life of bathroom textiles. Bath towels should be washed at least every three or four times, while hand towels and towels should be washed and rotated more frequently. Wash towels with warm or hot water, and occasionally use fabric softener. (Avoid using it with every load because it tends to cover the fiber and trap hard water minerals, making the towel feel stiff.)

If your towels seem to be more itchy than plush, vinegar washing can help them feel normal and comfortable. Add half a cup of vinegar in the wash cycle and half a cup of vinegar in the ascent cycle-no detergent-next time you put in a load, this should solve the problem.

Typical lifespan: 10 years or more (heirloom potential!)

How to help them last longer: Napkins, tablecloths and cushions can last a lifetime, and well-preserved versions are often passed on from generation to generation. But stains are always a threat to the service life of desktop textiles.

"Make sure that when a napkin or tablecloth leaks, it is sucked up immediately-deal with it as soon as possible," Forte said. "Then don't leave it in the basket or laundry basket for a week-just wash it in time."

When guests have a stain incident, you can't completely grab their napkins and run during the dinner, after everyone has left, let your washing machine double duty as the soaking station. "Soak the napkin or tablecloth in the washing machine to prevent the stain from setting. Then, when you have time to clean it, it will be easier to remove," Forte said.

In addition to stains, how often you wash napkins depends on how often and how they are used. Napkins used primarily for decorative purposes may not need to be washed after every meal, but needless to say, any napkin that has touched someone’s mouth, nose, or facial area should be washed immediately.

Applying antifouling agent on the tablecloth can also help it resist any potential red wine disasters before they happen, keeping your restaurant displays in their original condition for years to come.