Help!!! Domestic question???

[kyliecrv]

I bought new (expensive) sheets and have given them 2 washes as they are charcoal colour and I could see colour running out.
Just making my bed, looking forward to sleeping in new bedding *sigh* and my hands are stained from the tucking & smoothing out!!!

Yikes, how much washing should I do, or is there something I can add that will help with the colour?! So annoying 😞

Thanks in advance to those who answer, I will be back once the toddler is fed, bathed & in bed. 🙂

[lionrose.7]

Goodness poddy, wear a red hat, hahaha that right thats is not your colour.

[catsnknots]

I would return them. In this day and age and with the prices you can pay for good sheets I expect them to have the dye set before I get them. 

[kyliecrv]

Ok, I have attached a pic of the washing instructions and also the new quilt set that the sheets were to go with!
Last year in Aug, my mum bought me a bed package so I could give my bedroom a make over (since I was single and could go all girls in there!)
It's taken until now to reorganise wardrobe/ drawers etc, get new linens out, washed and onto bed, and next weekend I'm going to paint my feature wall.

The sheets were bought on eBay from China, they are 2000 thread count so very heavy (like a motel), I would've def been stained on my body in the morning had I not have noticed, it was SO bad!

I will try out the salt and finish with the vinegar, and check out that other product in Woolies, can't hurt!!

THANKS so much for all the suggestions! 🙂

[kyliecrv]

Pic:

[kyliecrv]

Sandy.... So proud of you! X

[i-need-a-martini]

Colour should not run as badly as that. And by the second wash, I would expect clear water. It's particularly odd given that the sheets are 65% polyester which is much more colour fast than cotton.

So I was going to say what catmad said - return them. But you've noted you bought them on ebay so there goes that idea. 

I'd be giving them one last wash and if the colour is still running, bin them. The last thing I would want to be doing is sleeping on something that was leeching who-knows-what chemicals into my skin as I sleep...

[i-need-a-martini]

I just saw that you bought 2000 thread count sheets. That sends alarm bells ringing for me. Even Sheridan don't do anything higher than 1200 thread count.

The thread count is a bit of a furphy. They may say 2000count but they are probably using a 4 or 6 ply thread which means the sheets are really thicker. And most likely they are counting the threads in both directions. So what you have is probably closer to 150-250 thread count with short fibres which are holding the dyes in pockets along the yarns. Which may explain why it is taking so long for the colour to find it's way out of the sheets.

The higher the count, the smoother and lighter they should feel. Good quality 500 thread count 100% cotton sheets should feel like silk and should be as light as a feather. When you rub the seets between your fingers they should be really pliable and you shouldn't feel the 'fabric'. If you can feel friction it means the threads are short and poorer quality.

[*crikey*mate*]

hey martini, did you ever get the stains out of your white italian sheets?

[kyliecrv]

Thanks Martini, I will look into it 🙂

[fourandsixpants]

Hi Kylie.....I collect vintage and retro textiles.....often I wash them before storing.

Suggest, as already suggested here.

Wash in a gentle detergent in tepid water WITH A CUP of TABLE SALT.

During rinse cycle ADD A CUP OF WHITE VINEGAR.

This will solve/fix the problem.

Wash thereafter as normal....though I would tend to always wash in cold to preseve the colour and hang to dry in the shade.