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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think DH should know you don’t wash dirty bed linen at 30 degrees?

521 replies

BasinHaircut · 23/02/2021 08:31

I know it’s not the end of the world but honestly, he is 38 and now it’s probably going to have to go on again. He has a sweaty head and pillowcases are unlikely to be clean after this wash. I already have to do our bedding in 2 loads as it’s so big and we don’t have a spare set so it all needs to be dry and back in the bed tonight.

I’m so irritated!

OP posts:
starfishmummy · 23/02/2021 09:42

@Cam77

Oh no Armageddon!
Bedmageddon??
hibbledibble · 23/02/2021 09:40

Yabu. 30c works fine.

Ladywinesalot · 23/02/2021 09:40

OP my bed linen and towels go in at 60 and I agree, 30 would not clean.

The only reason I do clothes at 30 as they seem to fade easily with higher temps.

Ignore the posters that say anything else.

And we have to use non-bio as Bio detergent aggravates my children’s eczema.

MissLucyEyelesbarrow · 23/02/2021 09:39

@IAmcuriousyellow

He has Greasy Man Head does he.. pillowcases get orange over time, which is just lovely. I understand the thing of 30 not being hot enough to get the Greasy Man Head stains off, and my fancy white linen for the holiday lets absolutely has to be washed very hot, even then I’m replacing pillowcases quite often.
If you soak them overnight with an optical brightener, they will be white again.

(Optical brighteners are terrible for the environment, I know, but so is the production of new cotton)

Frauhubert · 23/02/2021 09:39

I always wash towels and bed linen at 60. The only set i was at 40 degrees is a set from the white company that has cashmere mixed in with cotton. It’s advised on the label to wash this on a ... cool cycle. F**k that.
Especially if he has a greasy head... that won’t get washed in low temperature. Grease needs high temperature to get dissolved.

Ohtheplacesyougo · 23/02/2021 09:38

Life must be dull.., just realised I’m reading a whole thread on temperature for washing bedding Grin

luxxlisbon · 23/02/2021 09:38

I don’t see why you think it is unreasonable to wash things at 30 degrees as a 38 year old but not unreasonable to only have bedding set!

LolaSmiles · 23/02/2021 09:37

YANBU but it's it funny how only girls seem to get taught this?
This thread is full of posters saying they also wash on lower temperatures.

MissLucyEyelesbarrow · 23/02/2021 09:36

@SquitMcJit

NHS recommend higher than 30 degrees for underwear, bedding and towels: www.nhs.uk/live-well/healthy-body/how-to-prevent-germs-from-spreading/

“...wash all underwear, towels and household linen at 60C, or at 40C with a bleach-based laundry product to prevent germs from spreading”

I'd love to know what the evidence base for that was. Bet you there isn't one.
Notanotherhun · 23/02/2021 09:36

@Porcupineintherough - an addiction to lovely, super clean washing machine drums. Smile

MyLittleOrangutan · 23/02/2021 09:35

I wash everything on 30. My bed linen doesn't need boiling, why would it. Do you wash your pants on hot, there's more bacteria there!

NotMeekNotObedient · 23/02/2021 09:35

YANBU but it's it funny how only girls seem to get taught this?

YABU for only having one set of sheets.

I always put mine in at 60 or over usually 90 for lights.

CounsellorTroi · 23/02/2021 09:34

Meant to add lower temps mean the stuff lasts longer too.

Belladonna12 · 23/02/2021 09:34

@JovialNickname

I wash mine at 60, but I wouldn't blame someone for not knowing that, as every laundry advert seems to have "wash at 30" "clean and fresh even at 30 degrees!" type stuff in it.

As an aside I used to work as a manager in a large office, and it unfortunately fell to me to have the "chat"over the years if someone's personal hygiene was poor. It was almost always either because they were wearing synthetic materials, or because they were washing their clothes, but at too low a temperature. And they never ever realised before it was pointed out, because you can't smell yourself. I think of that every time I'm tempted to put a wash on at 30!

They may have told you that they were washing at a low temperature but they were probably weren't washing much at all.
CounsellorTroi · 23/02/2021 09:33

Most stuff on 30 with Persil non bio here - that is the only detergent that doesn’t make me itch (including “sensitive skin” ones and environmentally friendly ones).

Belladonna12 · 23/02/2021 09:32

Why should he "know" that?. Either he doesn't normally do any washing or he does and washes at 30° and has survived like many other posters on this thread.

Porcupineintherough · 23/02/2021 09:32

@Notanotherhun why? What is it you've got exactly?

Nowisthemonthofmaying · 23/02/2021 09:32

There's a great AMA thread by someone who developed laundry detergent, which is now my laundry bible!

@Greygreenblue the answer to your question is in that thread too...

MagnoliaBeige · 23/02/2021 09:31

Everything done at 30 degrees here (except the bedcovers which haven’t been washed since just after Christmas Blush)

IAmcuriousyellow · 23/02/2021 09:31

He has Greasy Man Head does he.. pillowcases get orange over time, which is just lovely. I understand the thing of 30 not being hot enough to get the Greasy Man Head stains off, and my fancy white linen for the holiday lets absolutely has to be washed very hot, even then I’m replacing pillowcases quite often.

Wolfiefan · 23/02/2021 09:30

We have a superking and all bedding fits in the washing machine. You need a bigger machine.
Just rewash his pillowcase if that’s the issue.

JovialNickname · 23/02/2021 09:28

I wash mine at 60, but I wouldn't blame someone for not knowing that, as every laundry advert seems to have "wash at 30" "clean and fresh even at 30 degrees!" type stuff in it.

As an aside I used to work as a manager in a large office, and it unfortunately fell to me to have the "chat"over the years if someone's personal hygiene was poor. It was almost always either because they were wearing synthetic materials, or because they were washing their clothes, but at too low a temperature. And they never ever realised before it was pointed out, because you can't smell yourself. I think of that every time I'm tempted to put a wash on at 30!

LolaSmiles · 23/02/2021 09:27

I wash most things at 30 or 40, unless someone in the house is unwell and then all towels and bedding get washed on 60.

This is one of those AIBU where it's 'AIBU that a man does a household job different to my preferences?'.

isthismylifenow · 23/02/2021 09:27

@Greygreenblue

Ooh this thread just made me think of something someone here might be able to answer. What is the difference between “bio” and “non-bio” laundry powder??

I lived in the UK in my early 20s and never did work out what this meant. Detergent is not labelled like this in Australia.

No one I asked knew the answer. Even the English people I spoke to. Mind you we were all about 21. Never did occur to me ask one of my many older English relatives...

As a side note I always wash sheets in 30 degrees. Most things I was at 30 degrees actually and in when I lived in Queensland I used to only use cold water (the water there is not cold by anyone else’s standards).

I can't answer this, as I don't know either.

I do remember the two choices when I was in the UK. Now I am not in the UK our choices are hand wash (foams a lot) or automatic (doesn't foam that much).

So I just assume its biological but it doesn't say anything as such on the bag....

Notanotherhun · 23/02/2021 09:26

Towels and undies at 95 as that washes the machine weekly. Bedding at 60 and everything else at 40.