Washing New Bedding: What Your Fabric Needs Before the First Night

The new bedding is finally here – freshly unpacked, neatly folded, and wonderfully scented. It’s understandable that you’ll want to put it on the bed right away. But should you wash new bedding before sleeping in it for the first time? The short answer is: yes – always, regardless of the material or price. The longer answer is actually more interesting: how you wash it depends on its quality. Flannel, percale, sateen, and seersucker all require different care during the first wash, and that’s exactly what determines how your bedding will feel later.

Why you should wash new bedding

Even high-quality bedding undergoes various finishing and manufacturing processes. To make fabrics look smooth and appealing on display, residues from finishing agents, auxiliary substances, or dyes may remain in the fibres. These substances are not harmful, but they have no place in bed – especially not in direct contact with the skin, which we are exposed to for seven to eight hours every night. An initial wash reliably removes these residues.

In addition, fresh textiles are stored and transported before they reach you. The first wash ensures a thoroughly clean, hygienic feel. Particularly sensitive people and anyone prone to skin irritation will benefit noticeably. For more information about skin-friendly bedding, see our article Bedding for allergy sufferers.

Washing new bedding: how to do it properly

To keep your bedding looking beautiful from the very first wash, take a look at the sewn-in care label – it is always the final authority. Use the following basic guidelines as a guide:

Choose the right temperature

Pure cotton qualities such as our cosy flannel bedding or classic percale can generally be washed at 40 to 60 °C. 60 °C is particularly recommended for allergy sufferers, as this temperature provides a thoroughly hygienic wash. Fine qualities such as sateen are comfortable at 40 °C. Our article How to wash and care for bedding properly provides a good overview of all care steps.

Protect colours

It is best to wash coloured and dark bedding separately or with similar colours at first. This prevents any excess dye particles from rubbing off onto light textiles. Turn printed items inside out – this protects the print and preserves its brightness for longer.

Detergent and dosage

Use a colour-safe liquid detergent for coloured laundry and a standard detergent for white laundry. You can do without fabric softener: natural fibres such as cotton become wonderfully soft just by washing, and avoiding softener preserves the fibres’ absorbency. Use detergent sparingly – too much is difficult to rinse out.

What the first wash does to each quality

“Wash once” applies to every quality – but the first wash affects each fabric differently. With flannel, it raises the nap; with sateen, it mainly changes the drape; and with seersucker, the crêpe structure settles permanently. The overview below shows what you can expect from each quality:

A practical example: Our Castell Percale Bedding in Ciel (Item No. 0040760) deliberately comes out of the packaging with a smooth, slightly firm feel. After the first wash, this feel disappears – the fabric drapes more softly and lies more smoothly on the duvet. This is not a loss of quality, but rather the condition the quality is designed for. Those who know this difference do not judge new bedding by its first minute, but by its first wash.

After washing: drying and ironing

Give the bedding a good shake after spinning and pull it into shape before hanging it up. This reduces creasing and makes ironing easier later. Many cotton qualities can go in the tumble dryer – check the label here too and choose a gentle cycle. If you like, iron cotton and sateen bedding slightly damp; this makes the fabric particularly smooth and makes it easier to put on the duvet cover. However, ironing is not necessary for many summer qualities with a crêpe structure.

A pleasant side effect of the first wash: the fabric settles, becomes more supple, and feels more comfortable against the skin from the very first night. Discover the full range in our bedding collection and find the right quality for every season. All qualities come directly from the manufacturer with its own weaving mill in Hamminkeln and are always delivered free of charge – with no minimum order value.

Frequently asked questions

Do you really have to wash every new piece of bedding?
Yes, we generally recommend it. The first wash removes manufacturing residues and ensures a hygienic, skin-friendly sleeping experience – regardless of the material or price.

At what temperature should I wash new bedding?
Follow the care label. Pure cotton can usually be washed at 40 to 60 °C, while fine qualities such as sateen should be washed at 40 °C. 60 °C is particularly recommended for allergy sufferers.

Do I need fabric softener for new bedding?
No. Cotton becomes soft just by washing. Avoiding fabric softener preserves absorbency and is also gentler on sensitive skin. With flannel and mélange flannel, avoiding softener is particularly important because it flattens the fluff.

Why does new bedding feel firmer before the first wash?
This is due to the finishing agent, which gives the fabric its smooth, crisp appearance during manufacturing. It is rinsed out during the first wash. The softer feel afterwards is the quality’s true character.

Does new bedding shrink during the first wash?
With pre-shrunk items, any change in size is minimal. Cotton qualities may shrink slightly during the first wash – that is why our duvet covers are cut with the appropriate allowance from the outset.