Clean white bedding is a failsafe way to make any bedroom feel like a calm, serene sanctuary. But after a few washes, even the most brilliant white bedroom set can start to look a little closer to grey. Try our easy, breezy tips to make light work of keeping your white bed linen looking as crisp as the day you bought it.

How to wash white bedding
1 The most important rule is, when you’re washing white sheets, pillowcases and duvet covers, wash them separately from anything else in your laundry basket. Even something a little off-white added to the mix could cause discolouration.

2 Don’t overload your washing machine – the more space your detergent has to circulate, the better job it’ll do. The result? Crisp, clean white sheets.

3 Follow the instructions on your detergent, taking into consideration whether your water is hard or soft. Too little detergent and it won’t remove stains; too much and you risk a residue being left on your white bed linen, which can actually cause it to look and feel less clean.

4 Avoid using bleach-based detergents, which can cause damage or discolouration to certain fabrics.

5 For a really crisp finish, air dry and iron your white bed linen. Alternatively, simply remove it from a gentle tumble-dry cycle while still slightly damp, then hang it up to finish drying – this will avoid too may creases appearing. The final step? Sink into your clean white sheets, close your eyes and drift away.