CozyArray – Can Microfiber Sheets Be Bleached?
Microfiber is an affordable bed sheet material that can provide you with comparable quality to more expensive options. But microfiber sheets have different care requirements than other fabrics you might have used in the past.
New sheets are an investment in something that you can use for many years. So it’s important to make sure you know how to properly care for your sheets to keep them looking and feeling their best.
Cleaning your microfiber sheets is easy enough. But there are specific rules you need to follow to get the best results.
Microfiber sheets can be seriously damaged if you use the wrong washing machine or dryer settings. Using the wrong cleaning products can also cause permanent damage.
Microfiber’s tight weave helps it naturally resist staining. But you might still want to brighten your sheets from time to time.
I’m going to show you some gentler alternatives you can use to whiten microfiber, as well as which cleaning products to definitely avoid. But first, it’s important to understand a bit more about what microfiber actually is.
What is Microfiber?
Microfiber is a synthetic material used to make bed sheets, clothes, and many other fabrics. It’s most commonly made from polyester, although microfiber can also include blends of nylon and other materials.
Microfiber can have different strength, softness, and water repellency depending on the blend of materials used. Basically, it can be whatever you want it to be!
Production of microfiber fabrics first began in the 1950s. Since then, companies have developed more and more uses for microfiber as consumers increasingly look for fabrics that are easy to care for.
Microfiber is used in bedsheets since it’s extremely thin yet strong. It can provide a look and feel similar to silk, but for a much more affordable price.
Microfiber is light, easy to wash, breathable, and lasts longer than natural fibers. It’s also great if you have allergies.
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Pros and Cons of Microfiber Sheets
Like most bed sheet fabrics, microfiber comes with its own unique advantages and drawbacks. Let’s examine what makes microfiber sheets great, and what aspects you might not love so much.
Pros
They’re super thin. Advanced technology allows microfiber sheets to be extremely thin. Since its fibers are made in a lab, they are finer than most materials that occur in nature. However, they are also exceptionally strong and comfortable.
They can repel stains. Microfiber sheets repel water and stains! Since they are tightly woven, you can wipe off stains without them leaving a trace, as long as you catch them right away.
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You can put them in the wash. Some fabrics are so fragile that you need to wash them by hand. Microfiber sheets aren’t that finicky though. You can wash microfiber in regular washers and dryers. They also dry very fast because their fabric is so thin.
They keep you from getting clammy at night. Microfiber sheets have wicking properties to pull moisture away and keep you dry while you sleep. Plus, microfiber is great for people with allergies because it repels dust mites.
They’re affordable. Since they’re synthetic, microfiber sheets can be produced and sold at a cheaper cost than natural fibers without sacrificing how they look and feel.
They’re more environmentally friendly than cotton (in certain ways.) No pesticides are used to produce microfiber, unlike cotton. Depending on how it’s dyed, no water needs to be used either. Compared to cotton where thousands of liters of water are contaminated through the dying process. Plus since microfiber is naturally wrinkle-free, no chemicals are needed to keep them looking crisp.
They’re hypoallergenic. The natural tight weave of microfiber means dust mites can’t crawl through it. That makes it a great choice for allergy sufferers.
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Cons
They are sensitive to heat. Microfiber sheets can be damaged by heat since they are made of synthetic materials. Keep them away from hot water, dryers, and irons.
They might get dirty. They can attract lint, dust, and hair because microfiber is a good conductor of static electricity. This is particularly a problem during the cold, dry months of winter.
Watermarking. Some microfiber sheets can have problems with watermarking. This is where moisture breaks through the surface of the fiber and causes discoloration. Skin oils and stains can leave watermarking over time. But other fabrics like cotton aren’t immune from stains either.
Not biodegradable. Microfiber sheets are made from synthetic materials. They don’t come from renewable resources and aren’t biodegradable. However, it’s worth keeping in mind that even natural materials like cotton and lyocell have an environmental impact too. Quality microfiber sheets may have a smaller carbon footprint than natural sheets overall.
Things That Will Shorten Your Microfiber’s Lifespan
There are some common cleaning products that you should never use on microfiber. Avoid the items listed in this section to avoid damaging your microfiber sheets.
Skip the bleach
First and foremost, never use bleach on microfiber.
It might seem like the logical option at first. Microfiber cloths are used to clean up all kinds of dirt and grime. So you’d think microfiber would be safe to bleach, right?
Wrong.
You should never use bleach on your microfiber bed sheets. Or any microfiber product for that matter.
Not chlorine bleach.
Not oxygen bleach.
Just say no to bleach!
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Bleach will break down polyester and polyamide fabrics that make up microfiber. Your sheets will wear faster than they should.
Instead, look for greener alternatives to whiten your microfiber.
No fabric softener either
You won’t want to use fabric softener on your microfiber sheets either. It can ruin microfiber in the long run, just like bleach. Fabric softener clogs up all the tiny spaces between the microfiber fabrics.
Don’t use fabric softener sheets in the dryer when drying microfiber either.
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Keep vinegar in the kitchen
There is some mixed advice surrounding the use of vinegar to clean stains out of microfiber. Some people suggest pouring undiluted white vinegar into a spray bottle and spraying the stained areas of your sheets before washing them.
I would advise against this because the acidity of vinegar can still damage the microfiber fabrics. Maybe not quite as severely as bleach, but it will still cause the fibers to wear away, which means your sheets won’t last as long.
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Low heat only
Ironing and drying can do serious damage to your microfiber sheets. Anything that gets too hot can be enough to start melting the fibers. This can cause wrinkles in the fabric which are nearly impossible to get out.
If you need to iron your microfiber or put it in the dryer, only use a warm temperature at most and only for short periods of time.
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Avoid acetone or nail polish remover like the plague
If you get nail polish on your microfiber sheets, never use nail polish remover to try and get it out.
Remember that microfiber is essentially really soft and tiny pieces of plastic. Nail polish remover contains acetone, which will pretty much instantly start to melt plastic.
Paint your nails somewhere other than your bed if you have microfiber sheets.
Safe Ways to Clean Microfiber
Caring for microfiber sheets is pretty simple once you know the rules. Your sheets will last for hundreds of washings as long as you keep the two big rules of microfiber in mind. No heat, and no bleach or fabric softener.
Here are a few extra tips to keep your sheets safe yet clean.
Use cold water
You need to wash your microfiber sheets in cold water to give them the longest life possible. Remember that heat is one enemy of microfiber, and hot water is no exception. It will damage the fibers of your sheets just like a hot iron.
Use gentle detergents
You can apply a moderate amount of dish detergent or a mild laundry detergent to stains on your microfiber sheets before you put them in the washing machine.
Make sure it’s a non-bleaching detergent. Rub detergent into both sides of the material with your fingers. Then let it sit for about five minutes before you put it in to wash.
A clear liquid laundry detergent will work best. Microfiber has hooks and hoops weaved into it that help hold its structure. They will also grab and hold on to any grains of powdered laundry detergent that don’t break down in the wash.
Only wash microfiber fabrics together
Try to only wash microfiber sheets and pillowcases together with other microfiber products. Or you might just want to give them a whole washing machine load by themselves.
Washing or drying microfiber with cotton or cotton blends will attract lint. Because of microfiber’s tendency to attract static, its fibers can become clogged with pieces from other items you wash.
If you must mix loads, only wash microfiber with other non-linting synthetics like nylon.
Air-drying is best
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Improper drying is the most common way that microfiber sheets get damaged
If time allows, air drying your microfiber sheets is best. You can hang them next to a window or outside to dry quickly. Luckily, microfiber tends to dry pretty quickly since it’s so thin anyway.
If you need them in a hurry (like if you absent-mindedly started a load of laundry at 10 pm) you can use a dryer occasionally. Tumble dry them using no heat or the lowest heat setting as possible.
Don’t dry for extended periods of time. Try to remove your microfiber sheets from the dryer as soon as the drying cycle is finished, so they aren’t sitting on the hot metal drum.
Ironing
If you immediately fold your microfiber sheets or put them right back on your bed, they won’t need ironing. But if you need that extra-crisp finish, you can briefly use an iron on low to touch them up.
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How to Store Your Microfiber Sheets
Store your microfiber sheets in a dry, clean area where the air is able to circulate around them.
Avoid storing them in plastic. They won’t smell as fresh, and there’s a risk of mildew growth if they aren’t completely dry.
Since microfiber sheets are inexpensive, you might want to buy two sets. That way you can swap one for the other when it’s time to do laundry.
Cleaning Heavily Soiled Microfiber Sheets
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Now you know that you can’t use bleach or fabric softener on your microfiber bed sheets. So what do you do if they get exceptionally dirty? Say if your child decides to drag their favorite microfiber blanket outside into the mud?
There are a few different products you could use.
Rubbing alcohol. If you need a little extra boost to help with bad stains or big chunks of dirt on your microfiber, rubbing alcohol can do the trick.
Just fill a squirt bottle with some rubbing alcohol and spray it on any stains or grease. Then wipe the area clean with a cloth or clean sponge. 99% isopropyl alcohol will work the best as it will dry the fastest.
Vodka. If you don’t have any rubbing alcohol, you can use vodka in the same way. It seems like a waste of a perfectly good drink, but it actually works pretty well. You can use everclear or any other type of high-proof clear alcohol as well.
Baking soda. If your microfiber sheets start to get a bit smelly between washes, you can sprinkle some baking soda on it. Just spread the baking soda all over the sheets. Let it sit for at least half an hour, and then vacuum it off.
For all of these products, I’d recommend testing on a small inconspicuous area of your sheets first to test for any discoloration.
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If You Spill or Stain a Microfiber Sheet
Get to it quickly. As soon as you notice a spill or stain, you want to act quickly. The sooner you take action, the less chance there is of permanent damage. As soon as a spill happens, grab a hand towel or some paper towels and soak up as much of the spill as you can.
Since microfiber tends to repel water, the fluid might just bead up on the surface, and you can just wipe it clean. If you drop something more thick and goopy like honey, make sure not to rub it in. Still, use your paper towels to get as much off as possible.
If you didn’t notice the stain right away and whatever dropped on your sheet has started to dry, try to scrape off as much as you can using a butter knife or spoon. You can remove any chunks that come off with a vacuum.
Read the instructions. Before you try to clean the stains off your microfiber sheets, it’s very important to read the tag or any care instructions that came with them.
Normally this is sewn into one corner of the sheet. If there’s nothing attached, then some paperwork probably came with it when you bought it.
If you have specific manufacturer instructions for dealing with stains, you should follow those. Otherwise, move on to the next section.
Washing the stains off your microfiber. If you just want to spot-clean a part of your sheet, you can make your own microfiber cleaner by mixing a couple cups of room temperature water with a couple tablespoons of clear dish soap.
You’ll probably want to put your sheets into the washing machine anyway, but this will help get the bulk of the stain out first.
Use a sponge to apply the cleaning mixture to your sheets. Work the stain from the outside toward the inside so that you don’t spread the stain any further. Repeat as necessary until the stain is gone.
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Rinse the sheet. If you aren’t putting it in the wash, you’ll want to at least rinse your sheet off to remove as much soap as possible. You can simply take a new sponge and go over the previously stained area again until you get all the soap out.
If you have distilled water, it’s preferable to regular tap water since there’s less risk of water spots.
Drying your sheet. This is pretty straightforward. You can simply leave your sheets to air dry. But if you’re in a hurry, you can throw it in the dryer on low heat. You can also use a blow dryer on a cool setting if you only need to dry a small area.
Just remember that microfiber is easily damaged by heat and avoid it as much as possible.
Once your microfiber sheet is dry, it might feel a bit crunchy and hard. You can fix this by brushing it with a toothbrush or other type of coarse nylon brush to restore its original softness.
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In Summary – Will Bleach Ruin Your Microfiber Sheets?
Microfiber is an affordable fabric that makes for bedsheets that look and feel great. They’re harder to stain and are great for people with allergies too.
There are special precautions that you need to take when washing and caring for them though.
Bleach and excess heat are two things that will majorly shorten the lifespan of your microfiber bed sheets.
Washing in cold water and then air drying is best. If you are short on time and need to put them in the dryer, use the lowest heat setting possible to prevent damage.
Don’t wash microfiber with cotton or other lint-producing fabrics. Microfiber attracts lint like a magnet. If you can’t wash microfiber all by itself, only mix loads with other non-linting fabrics like nylon.
If you spill something on your sheets, you can prevent staining by quickly cleaning them with rubbing alcohol, or even just clear dish soap and water.
With this knowledge, you can now keep your microfiber sheets looking and feeling great for years to come.
Have you used microfiber bed sheets before? What was your experience?