1. Wash weekly and rotate. When you wash your sheets weekly and rotate through two or three different sets, your linens will stay new-looking for a surprisingly long time. In fact, good quality sheets can last up to fifteen years! Be sure to use only non-chlorine bleach on colored sheets, and bleach white sheets only when absolutely necessary. Over time, chlorine bleach weakens fabric fibers. A more gentle way to brighten white sheets is to add 1/4 cup of lemon juice to the wash cycle, and launder as usual in warm water. Tumble dry, or dry sheets in the sun to further increase the whitening effect.
2. Use your machines wisely. Resist the temptation to speed up the laundry process by overloading your washer and dryer. Your clothes and linens won't get as clean, and an over-full load puts a strain on your washer's motor. In the dryer, oversized loads will take longer to dry and your clothes will come out with plenty of wrinkles. Instead, sort your clothes by fabric weight, drying sheets and towels in separate loads. This reduces drying time and allows fabrics to dry more evenly.
3. If you've just purchased printed sheets, they may feel a bit rough at first. That's because the dye used in printing is extra thick and has a surface texture. These sheets will soften nicely after a few washings. In fact, sheets woven with a higher thread count will become softer each time you wash them. Tumble dry on a medium heat setting, and remove your sheets promptly from the dryer to reduce wrinkling.
4. When laundering towels, machine wash in warm water with similar colors. Be sure to wash brand new towels before use, to remove any excess dye from deeptone and brilliant colors. Always wash dark colors separately, and avoid chlorine bleach. Tumble drying will enhance the softness of your towels. Remove dry towels promptly from your dryer, shake them out, and fold.

Watch Video: Laundry 101