Essential Tips On How To Organise Bed Linen | Keep Things Tidy

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September, 23, 2021

There is nothing better than sinking into fresh, crisp, clean sheets after a hard day. However, bed linen is one of those items that seem to slowly accumulate over time, and before you know it, you have a bunch of faded, worn items that get delegated to the back of the linen cupboard.

But having a messy, disorganised linen cupboard can also cause unnecessary stress. So whether you are looking to undertake a little decluttering, or moving your bedlinen to an off-site storage facility, here are some tips on how to organise bed linen.

Organising bed linen for your linen cupboard

Because linen cupboards are often designated to an out-of-the-way spot in the home, they can easily become “junk drawer” equivalents for everything bed-related. But with a little creativity and resourcefulness, you can say goodbye to those piles of old or hastily folded bedlinen.

Purge non-essential linens

Chances are you don’t use most of what is stored in your linen cupboard, like those faded lime green sheets you purchased when you were in your “bold colour” phase! But rather than throwing them out (and contributing to landfill), consider repurposing them. Sheets that are 100 percent cotton, in particular, are ideal (as they don’t tend to pill like poly-cotton ones) and can be used for:

  • Sleeping bag liners. This will up the comfort level of your camping experience and, in hot weather, allow you to ditch the sleeping bag altogether. Using your sleeping bag as a guide, lay the sheet on top of it and fold it until you have the correct size. Trim the excess off the sides and top and then sew up the bottom and most — not all — of the side (so you can get in and out!)
  • Drop sheets. These are ideal not just when painting, but they can go over carpet when the kids are painting or playing with playdough or used to wrap items if you are relocating.
  • Pet bedding. This is a great way of decreasing your spend on pet accessories (which can be expensive!). Lining their bed with an old sheet will not only keep them comfy, but it can also minimise the frequency of bed washing.
  • In the garden. On frostier mornings, protect your delicate plants by covering them overnight with an old sheet. Or cut them up and add them to your compost bin — 100 percent cotton sheets are compostable!
  • For cleaning. Every household needs rags for cleaning and other messy jobs — just cut them into varying sizes. But don’t forget to remove the elastic on fitted sheets first.

Line your linen closet shelves

Having a clean, dust-free cupboard can go a long way to maintaining the quality of your linens. Certain shelving can cause sheets to fade or discolour over time, so to avoid permanent damage, consider using shelf liners. Whether you go practical and basic or pretty and patterned, the options are endless. Some are even scented, so they will enhance the pamper factor even more.

Don’t store unclean items

This is a no-brainer, but it is vital your bedlinen is clean before you store it. From eczema and skin irritations to bacterial and fungal infections, dirty sheets can result in some unpleasant side effects. Want to go the extra mile? Iron your sheets after washing and fold them, so they stay wrinkle-free! Here’s how to fold the trickier of sheets — the fitted sheet.

Organise your bedlinen by category

There are a few ways you can do this — by size, type or location. By size, organise by single, double, queen and/or king sets. You can also fold them into each other to make the process even easier!

If you have distinct bed linen for different rooms, separate them by location. If they are interchangeable, you may want to organise them by colour or complementing colours.

Keep everything else, like doona covers and underlays, alongside their fellow items. And put your most frequently used items at the front and on the centre shelf of your linen cupboard for easy access, and little-used and off-season items at the back of the cupboard or on the top shelf.

Create storage “zones”

How To Organise Bed Linen

If you have a range of sizes and types of bed linen, creating mini storage “zones” (for example, with bins, boxes and baskets) is a great way to keep everything neat and easily locatable. Coordinating containers will ensure everything looks uniform, and if they are transparent, allow you to locate what you need at a glance. They can then be filed horizontally, or if you have satin or silk sheets, roll rather than fold them and store them on their ends.

Other options include fabric bags, which are ideal for storing pillows and quilts as they offer some ventilation, and zippered bags (like the ones your doona came in) are ideal for re-use. Hanging organisers also work well, and for bulkier items, purchase some space-saving bags, which work by compressing items with a vacuum cleaner — you’ll be amazed how much room you will save! Once your bedlinen is sorted and organised, label the containers. That way, you can find exactly what you’re looking for quickly and easily — both when taking things out and putting them away.

Organising bed linen for off-site storage

In terms of ideas for storing bed linens long-term in a storage facility, there is nothing worse than unpacking it and discovering it is covered in mould, dust or dirt. Before packing your bedding for storage off-site, again, make sure it is dry and clean.

Next, pick a suitably sized container for items — doonas will obviously need a larger container than other linens. Plastic bins, zippered bags can work, but space-saving bags are the ideal solution.

Again, organise your bedlinen by category. Ensure you fold your bed linen efficiently as minimising the total volume can go a long way to making the packing process more manageable and saving on the number of containers needed.

To keep bed linen fresh and reduce the danger of damp, consider using dryer sheets or odour absorbers. A great DIY tip for an odour absorber is to mix baking soda with a few drops of your favourite essential oil and place in an airtight jar. Then punch a few holes in the lid and place them in your boxes for a scent that lasts! Alternatively, use cedar chips, but avoid using mothballs, as although they can prevent damage to your bedlinen, they can leave them with an undesirable scent.

Secure storage boxes tightly with heavy-duty packing tape and then label accordingly, either by type or room. Doonas and pillows can also be used to add extra cushioning if you are packing other household items. Also, ask your removals to stack them on top of heavier boxes as bedding boxes can crumple under extra weight and render boxes unstable.

When you take your bedlinen out of storage, wash it and dry it, ideally on a clothesline on a sunny day. Sunshine will help to naturally deodorise and kill odour-causing bacteria.

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