Common Blunders in Laundering Bed Sheets and Pillowcases
Washing Your Bed Linen: A Guide to Proper Care
Keeping your bed linen clean and well-maintained is essential for a good night's sleep and overall hygiene. Here are some tips to help you care for your bed linen effectively.
Frequency of Washing
It's recommended to change and wash your bed sheets about once a week to every two weeks, with weekly changes being optimal for hygiene and skin health. However, those who sweat a lot, have allergies, share their bed with pets, or live in a hot climate may want to wash their bed linen more frequently, once a week.
Washing Temperature
The washing temperature depends on the material of your bed linen. For linens like linen fabric, it is best to wash in cold water with a mild detergent to preserve the fabric and avoid shrinkage. Tumble dry on low heat and iron while damp if needed.
Cotton sheets can typically be washed in warm or hot water to kill germs and dust mites, but check care labels for specific instructions. Delicate or specialty fabrics like silk or certain synthetics often require cooler water and gentle cycles or hand washing.
Generally, washing sheets in water at 40°C (104°F) is effective for most cotton and blends without damaging the fabric. Higher temperatures (60°C/140°F or more) are sometimes recommended for people with allergies or to thoroughly sanitize bedding, but frequent hot washes may reduce fabric lifespan.
Preventing Damage
To preserve the quality of your bed linen, it's important to avoid overloading the washing machine. Overfilling the washing machine drum can result in inadequate cleaning of the bed linen. It's also advisable to close the bed linen before washing to protect against lost items and preserve zippers and buttons.
Caring for Delicate Fabrics
If the washing machine drum is too small, it's better to do two wash cycles. Using a mild detergent is recommended for washing bed linen to prevent damage to the fabrics. Silk, satin, and linen require mild detergents and low temperatures for washing.
Maintaining Colours and Patterns
Washing bed linen inside out can help preserve colours and patterns and make making the bed easier later. Turning the bed linen inside out before washing also helps preserve colours and patterns and makes making the bed easier later.
Germs and Dust Mites
Germs can survive in bed linen if washed at too low a temperature. Sweat, dead skin, and hair can provide ideal conditions for dust mites. Therefore, it's crucial to wash your bed linen regularly and at the correct temperature to ensure they are clean and free of germs and dust mites.
Expert Advice
Following the care label is advisable when determining the washing temperature for bed linen. Experts also recommend changing bed linen every two weeks.
[1] Bed Linen Care: Tips for Washing and Drying (2021). [Online]. Available: https://www.bedlinen.co.uk/blog/bed-linen-care-tips-for-washing-and-drying/
[2] How to Wash Your Bed Sheets: A Comprehensive Guide (2020). [Online]. Available: https://www.thespruce.com/how-to-wash-bed-sheets-3126462
[3] The Ultimate Guide to Washing Sheets (2021). [Online]. Available: https://www.thespruce.com/washing-sheets-1399645
[4] How to Wash Bed Sheets: A Guide to Proper Care (2021). [Online]. Available: https://www.thespruce.com/how-to-wash-bed-sheets-3126462
[5] How Often Should You Wash Your Bed Sheets? (2020). [Online]. Available: https://www.thespruce.com/how-often-to-wash-bed-sheets-3126462
Maintaining a home-and-garden lifestyle can involve taking proper care of your bed linen, which contributes to a good night's sleep and overall hygiene. To preserve the quality of your bed linen, it's important to follow the care label instructions when determining the washing temperature and to avoid overloading the washing machine.
