'It's a luxury' that delivers hotel appeal at home, but do you really need to iron bed sheets?

There's no denying that ironing is a generally unavoidable task, but do you need to iron bed sheets? And is doing so the secret to achieving that crisp, hotel feel?

While our laundry pros are in agreement that it's not necessary, this simple laundry tip can effectively elevate your space and give it a more luxurious look, they say. Here, they share exactly how to achieve this polished look, and reveal honestly when it might just be a waste of time.

Do you need to iron bed sheets?

As Rechelle Balanzat, founder and CEO of Juliette, says, 'You don’t need to iron your sheets, but if you want that crisp, hotel-quality finish, it makes a difference. It’s one of those little luxuries that make a home feel put together.'

When it comes to ironing your best bed sheets, it depends on your individual standards for presentation.

Julie Bray, who leads the development of irons, steamers, and other garment care products for the CHI Steam brand, agrees, advising 'Ironing bed sheets can be a simple but effective way to enhance your home, giving your sheets a crisp, hotel-like feel while improving comfort and hygiene.

'It makes your sheets look neat and feel smooth by removing wrinkles. It can also give your room a neater, more polished feel. Plus, the high heat from the iron could kill lingering germs,' meaning they're certainly not among the things you should never iron.

How to iron bed sheets

Julie advises, 'To iron your bed sheets, you will need a steam iron and an ironing board,' such as the bestselling Mainstays Countertop Lightweight Ironing Board available at Walmart.

'Apply firm pressure and steam to ease out wrinkles. Move the sheets along the ironing board to ensure that you get every part of the sheet. Prioritize visible areas like the pillowcases and the top area of the flat sheet.'

Additionally, Julie stresses the importance of always using the correct heat setting for your fabric when ironing bed sheets, which can easily be determined by checking the laundry symbols before getting started.

In general, cotton and linen should be ironed with a high heat, whereas a lower setting should be selected for synthetics. It's best to iron damp sheets, says Rechelle, so iron them when slightly damp out of the wash, or use a spray bottle, such as the Equate Plastic Spraybottle available at Walmart, to mist them with a scented ironing water.

Alternatively, suggests Rechelle, use a steam iron or garment steamer with a high steam output and wide soleplate, such as the bestselling Hamilton Beach Handheld Garment Steamer available at Walmart, or skip the iron altogether, with a dryer hack.

'Toss in a damp towel and dry sheets on medium heat for 10-15 minutes,' she recommends. 'Pull them out immediately to smooth with your hands.'

You can also use a starch spray for extra crispness, such as the Faultless Laundry Starch Spray available at Amazon. 'This gives sheets that sharp, hotel-sheet feel,' adds Rechelle.

When to skip ironing your bed sheets

Aside from the obvious – having to actually iron them – there are a couple of reasons why you might choose to unwrinkle clothes without an iron, and the same applies to bed sheets.

For example, says Rechelle, ironing them can be time-consuming. 'Ironing king-sized sheets can take over 20 minutes,' she shares. 'Most wrinkles naturally ease out after a night's sleep.'

Additionally, over-ironing delicate fabrics, like when washing bamboo bedding or other best luxury bedding, like Egyptian cotton, can degrade the fibers over time. These are usually far from affordable investments, so this is something you'll definitely want to avoid.

Finally, adds Rechelle, consider the effort required vs. the reward you'll reap. 'Unless you're styling a guest bedroom or staging a space, the aesthetic benefits may not outweigh the labor.'

After all, it's highly unlikely that wrinkled sheets are one of the things making your guest bedroom less comfortable.

Bed sheet ironing essentials

FAQs

Which bedding fabric doesn't need ironing?

It may not feel like a luxe option, and may even be a bedding material to avoid in your opinion, but if you're looking for ease, polyester typically doesn't need ironing.

That being said, we generally consider the pros to outweigh the cons when it comes to this affordable bedding type, and recommend becoming acquainted with the very best affordable bed sheets instead before purchasing polyester.

Meet our experts

Rechelle Balanzat

Rechelle is the youngest female board member of the International Laundry & Drycleaning Institute and was featured on the cover of American Drycleaner.

Julie Bray

Originally a brand focusing on haircare products, CHI Steam has since expanded with a high-performance line of irons and steamers for your home and wardrobe.

So, the choice is yours. Do you iron your bed sheets to make your bed look cozy or give your home that luxury hotel finish? Let us know in the comments below.