There is just something unbeatable about white bedding. It’s crisp, classic, and iconic. However, it’s also very easy to get dirty. In fact, this is one of the biggest drawbacks to getting white bedding and has been a major point of contention for people who would otherwise jump all over the chance to have pristine resort-style bedding we associate with some of our favorite hotels. This hesitancy is certainly understandable because who wants to live in constant fear of staining their bedding when sleeping is the one time of day when you should be free of all stressors?

One way to assuage this anxiety, though, is by making sure you have a solid cleaning routine. After all, knowledge is the one true antidote to fear and the best way to have the aesthetics we want without living in a near-constant state of fear. Accidents happen, drinks spill, things stain, it’s life. But knowing that virtually nothing is untreatable should help you rest a bit easier. So, to help you have the cleanest, brightest white bedding possible, here are six laundry tricks to help you out.

Stay away from bleach.

This may sound borderline counterintuitive since bleach is often heralded as the end all be all for brightening and whitening your clothes, but using bleach can actually cause your white bedding to turn yellow. To avoid this, use natural whitening agents like baking soda and vinegar, which are gentler on fabrics and less likely to cause discoloration.

Pretreat your stains.

Whether it be makeup or juice, pretreating any stains you may get on your white bedding is a non-negotiable. This can look like a cold water soak or extensive rinse under cold water until the stain is no longer visible. You can also rub detergent into the stain and let it soak before putting your bedding in the washing machine.

Avoid washing your sheets with other items.

It may be tempting to throw as much as you can into the washing machine when cleaning to get things done quicker. However, white items are much more likely to pick up on any trace of bleeding pigment from other items. It may take some more time, but washing your duvet and sheets separately from your towels or other contrasting fabrics that can lead to pilling and lint build-up will leave your bedding looking better for longer.

Dry one item at a time.

We’ve all been there. We pull our sheets out of the dryer, prepared to make our beds and snuggle up for a good night’s rest after completing our weekly cleans, and boom, the middle is still wet, and our dreams for a cozy slumber have been postponed until we complete another two dryer cycle. To avoid this, dry your fitted and flat sheets separately to avoid them tangling up with each other and leaving them inadequately dried.

Bring in the heavy hitters every now and then.

Sometimes, your regular detergent may not make the cut when you’re trying to get the crispy white sheets you desire. White vinegar, OxiClean and Borax are great additives to use every few loads to keep up that polished look.

You may have to wash your white bedding more frequently.

From the lotions and oils we lather ourselves up with after a shower to the night creams we put on our face to get glowy skin, small amounts of residue can build up and appear more visible on white bedding. This means that while you might have been able to get away with washing your bedding once every two or three weeks, white bedding is much less forgiving, so get in the habit of washing your white bedding once a week even if you think you can stretch it another week or two.