Bed sheets can quickly become dirty and discoloured, but it is incredibly easy to get them looking new again in no time at all. 

Autumn is the perfect time to clean bedding as the cold weather means people are more likely to be shredding dead skin cells and using oily moisturisers which can quickly stain sheets. 

Anyone who loves Halloween should also consider washing their bedding as dressing up in a pair of sunglasses and a white sheet has become a very popular costume trend in recent years. 

Laura Mountford, a cleaning expert who goes by @lauracleanaholic online, has shared with the Express her simple laundry solution to restore white bedding without using harsh chemicals such as bleach. 

She said: “You really don’t need lots of fancy products to whiten your bedding. Natural laundry whitening solutions are kinder to fabrics over time. 

“Washing in bleach can damage the fibres and cause them to break down, becoming bobbled or misshapen. Natural solutions are also really inexpensive and more environmentally friendly too.” 

How to properly wash white sheets to get rid of stains 

You will need:

• Oxi powder or baking soda
• Ariel Gel
• White vinegar (optional) 

The best way to get rid of bed sheet stains is to use oxi powder as it is an eco-friendly product that can break down most common stains found on bedding such as sweat, body oils, blood and even food stains. 

Oxi powder also gets rid of the yellow or grey tint that old sheets can get over time and will brighten up fabrics without damaging the fibres. 

All you need to do is submerge the sheets overnight in a solution made up of oxi powder and warm water, then stick them in the washing machine. 

Laura said: “Soak the bed sheets in the bath overnight in warm water and an oxi powder. Then wash in the machine with Ariel Gel as I find it is the best detergent for removing stains.

“You don’t need to use a hot wash, this product will work effectively on a cool wash.”

However, if you do not wish to use oxi powder then you can also use baking soda instead as is alkaline which can dissolve acidic stains without harming the fabric. 

Laura said: “Switch the oxi powder to bicarbonate of soda when soaking in the bath and then pop it in the washing machine with your usual detergent.”

If you wish, you can also use white vinegar instead of fabric softener as it helps remove residues built up in fabrics to stop sheets from feeling rough. 

Laura said: “Add a cup of white vinegar to the fabric softener section of the drawer for extra whitening power. Dry outdoors in the sunshine to benefit from those UV rays for a natural brightening boost.”

She added: “Ideally, dry outdoors in the sunshine as the UV rays are a great natural whitener for fabrics. If you can’t dry outdoors, then find a sunny spot indoors instead to make the most of the sun’s natural rays.” 

The ultraviolet rays in sunlight can help break down the chemical bonds that give stains their colour, and this process can help get rid of stains as well as have a natural whitening effect on fabric. 

After the bed sheets have fully dried they should be completely clean, stain-free and restored to their original state so you can wash your bedding quickly without having to use harsh chemical solutions.