Signs You Need to Replace Your Sheets

Bedsheets are essential to any bedroom, whether in a hotel, motel, short-term rental or residential home. In the hospitality sector, sheets receive daily use and experience frequent washing and excessive wear. On average, you should expect to replace sheets every few years, though the life span depends on general use and quality.  

Obvious signs that you need new sheets include rips and tears, but you may spot subtler reasons, such as fabric pilling. Knowing how often to replace sheets is essential to keep guests comfortable and content.

Signs to Get New Sheets

Bedsheets experience contact and friction while a person sleeps and need consistent laundering. Because of this, they undergo more wear than other bedding like duvets. Here are nine ways to tell when it's time to buy new sheets.  

1. Holes and Tears

Besides leaving a poor impression on your guests, cuts, tears and fraying prove that your sheets' durability is at its end. You can mend small tears, but once you spot holes, consider getting new sheets.

2. Stains and Discoloration

Guests may wish to order room service and sip coffee in bed or enjoy a relaxing glass of red wine in the evening with a book in hand. Spills happen, but thankfully, you can sometimes remove common stains from bedsheets without too much trouble. With white sheets, a common issue is nearly irreversible yellowing, which many find off-putting. Though there are ways to turn yellow stains white, it is challenging.

3. Built-Up Detergent Residue

Over time, excessive washing and drying and using too much detergent can cause a coating to form on the sheets. This issue is more likely to happen with fitted sheets, which have more creases for the detergent to stick in and build up. 

4. Unpleasant Odors

Most odors come out in the washing machine with some pleasant-smelling detergent. However, with time, you might notice your bedding still smells strange after you put it through the wash. Like clothes or curtains, the sheet traps various particles over time, changing the inherent smell. Knowing how to remove bad odors from fabrics helps, but it still might be time to buy new sheets.    

5. Loose or Shrunken 

Your fitted and flat sheets will eventually lose their elasticity following countless uses. You will notice this sooner with fitted sheets, but flat sheets also start to fit more loosely over time. Alternatively, your sheets might shrink with time, often due to hot dryer settings. 

6. Rough Texture

Rough, scratchy sheets are the last things you want to offer your guests. Especially if you have short-fiber sheets, the fibers weaken and lose their soft and smooth texture. If the sheets feel rough, there are limited remedies, and the best option is to get new sheets.

7. Fabric Pilling or Bobbles

You can stall fabric pilling by washing the sheets properly, but once it starts, it will continue worsening. While you can use a pill remover or fabric shaver, this process is time-consuming and the start of a losing battle. 

8. Aged Sheets

Your beds will outlast your bedding in almost all instances, especially your sheets. If you have had your sheets for some time and they have been through around 100 washes, it might to time to part with them, even if they are still in adequate condition. 

9. Thinning and Fading Fabric

With time, your sheets will thin and fade. The color will lose vibrancy and the material will get thinner. Investing in new ones is better than having a guest accidentally tear old, worn-out bedsheets.

How Long Do Sheets Last?

Depending on your sheets' fabrics and quality, their life span may vary significantly due to the amount and type of use and how you wash and care for them. A rule of thumb is to replace sheets every two years for hotel and hospitality use. Your average home bedsheets tend to last longer than this because they endure less washing and overall wear and tear.

Types of Quality Sheet Fabrics

In hospitality, functionality, cost and maintenance are often the primary thoughts when purchasing hotel or short-term rental items. You want your linen to perform its job and last as long as possible, even with frequent washing and heavy use. 

Another significant factor is guest experience and satisfaction. Sheet quality and feel can differentiate between an excellent night’s sleep and the dreaded scratchy sheets phenomenon. It's essential to know what the best materials for bedsheets are.     

Polyester

Polyester has a silky touch while still being durable. Polyester is more suitable for colder climates, as it is less breathable than fabrics such as cotton.  

Cotton

Cotton offers a wonderfully soft feel for guests to sleep on and is incredibly breathable, though it stains more easily and can shrink if not cleaned correctly. High-quality cotton weaves make all the difference. Typically, you'll find the best cotton in percale and sateen weaves. Sateen sheets are smooth with a satin-like sheen, while percale is lightweight, crisp and luxurious.    

Poly/Cotton Blend

With a blend of cotton and polyester, you get a soft, durable sheet that is color-fast — excellent for hotels that wash their sheets frequently, as this material holds its color and fades less quickly.  

Linen

Made from flax plants, linen offers superior quality and durability. It is also excellent for warmer climates with its wicking properties and breathability. To give you an idea of how long linen sheets will last, three years is a conservative estimate. In the best-case scenario, you can expect to replace linen sheets every five years. 

Make Your Sheets Last Longer

Buying quality sheets from your preferred supplier — where you know the materials and manufacturing process they use — is the beginning of having sheets that will last for years. If you are searching for a linen supplier, ensure you know what to look for from the start.

Cleaning 

To give every guest the fresh, clean sheets they expect, you'll need to do a lot of laundry. While regular washing, drying and handling can wear sheets out, you can adjust your laundry practices to preserve them. Avoid fabric softeners and dryer sheets and select a mild detergent that's free of excessive chemicals.  

For routine washes, wash the sheets in a warm or cool cycle and line-dry where possible. Doing this will extend the life of your sheets by helping them retain their color and elasticity. If you need to use a dryer, as many do, put it on a low tumble cycle and without high heat. And if your sheets crease, iron them on a lower heat where needed.

Storage

When storing sheets, do not keep them in the plastic containers they came in. Instead, store them in a cool and dry place where the material can breathe. Also, we recommend thoroughly washing and drying bedsheets before packing them away.   

Get Long-Lasting Sheets From Now Linens Quality Range 

With over 30 years of supplying linens, we understand the need for high-quality products that perform as promised and suit your budget. To ensure your peace of mind, we offer unmatched quality assurance, speedy deliveries of two to three days across the U.S. and superior customer service.

If your sheets are rough, faded or aged, these are signs that it’s time for fresh, new ones. Shop Now Linens' hotel sheet range and get your pristine hotel bedsheets — ideal for hotels, short-term rentals and similar accommodations — or contact us to discuss your specific needs today!