Bed changing & washing… how?!

[Myeyeballsareonfire]

We are a family of 6 (4 children). 2 eldest DC have single beds, 3rd has a double, 4th is co sleeping. We (the adults) have a king size.

There are plenty of changes of bed clothes for the single beds, but we only really have one set of bed clothes for the double/kings.

I cannot figure out how people are managing to change beds weekly! Please tell me how?!

As it stands we do at least 1 full load of washing daily. With very changeable weather conditions here, the tumble dryer is also used frequently.

Bedsheets for each of the bigger beds are a full load each.

The ‘eco’ wash on our machine takes over 5 hours (absolutely insane, but there we are!), and then there’s drying time to factor in.

How the heck are people finding the time to change weekly?!

is it shorter cycles? More bedclothes? Lies?

I think it is a false economy to use an eco cycle. The cost of the washing will be less, but you will get the washing on to the line a few hours later and probably need the tumble dryer more.

Every 2 weeks here and do my bed and the 2 dc's on different days so I don't have it all to wash/dry on the same day.

On the line when I can, draped when I can't or at a push in the drier (trying not to use it). But yes, more than one set of bedding for each bed.

We have multiple sets of bedding, can see it potentially being a problem with only one (or even two) sets.

And I wash my bedding at over 60 degrees to kill dust mites.

several sets of bedlinen per bed.

all single duvets in our house so we can mix and match in case of higher demand (visitors/vomiting bug...)
plus it's a lot easier to change and wash/dry.

we only really have one set of bed clothes for the double/kings.

I think you’re identified your own problem!

We have at least 2 sets of bedding for each bed and change fortnightly

Week 1 - single beds are changed
Week 2 - double beds are changed

I never use the Eco wash setting on the machine

Same here! I don't understand why you'd only have one.

Holy god, why did I not think of doing the big bed and single bed together?!? I’m a total muppet 🤣🤣

Thsbks all, this has been so useful (and actually thanks really for saying not to use ‘eco’ and do a quick wash. I was sort of of the opinion that I really out to use the ‘eco’ and do a long, long hot wash for bedding (actually thanks to mumsnet!)

I will change my ways!

PS I definitely do NOT iron bedding. I’d rather do 1000 loads of washing than waste time doing that!

For your family - buy more bedsheets and use shorter cycles. Weekly is probably still a bit of a push unless you take them all to a launderette once a week.
We are a family of 3 and I only keep one set of our kingsize duvet covers (2 or 3 bedsheets though as sometimes I feel the need to change just the bedsheet). I wash and dry in a tumble drier the same day.

I don’t use the eco setting, I use a shorter cycle then add an extra spin as that helps it dry quicker. We have two sets of bedding for the adult double bed and the DC have 3 sets each (they are still little so we sometimes have sick and wee accidents!) so as one comes off a clean on can go straight on. Then in the winter we use the tumble dryer to get it all dried.

That makes my skin crawl!

What was the reaction?

I change beds fortnightly and have several sets. I also only have cotton for the superking duvet as I don’t like the smell of dh’s hair products on the pillow. We have 3 beds. 2 double duvet covers.

I use base sheet and top sheet, that way quilt doesn't need changing as often.

More than one set of bedding. Surely that's not difficult to figure out. I never use the eco cycle.

I discovered my local laundrette. I wash them at home and stick them in the big tumble dryer there. I appreciate not everyone has one nearby though.

I don't change weekly, I change fortnightly. Have two sets (at least) per bed. I confess I adore buying beautiful bedding for my room.

I also only have cotton, don't know where you're looking but I've never paid more than about £40 for a full set? I've got some from La Redoute (my favourite - their deep sheets are the best I've ever had) some from Ikea. Think we might also have some from Asda as well? We've got a king and two doubles to contend with.

I never wash on an eco cycle. Like you, I simply don't have enough time. I do a 'mixed fabric' wash for practically everything as it's about 90 minutes. 40 for bedding and 30 for clothing. Hang to dry overnight then blast in the tumble dryer purely so I'm not using it too much.

I will occasionally iron my silk pillowcase but generally tend not to.

That doesn't sound excessive for a large family. I live alone and do at least four loads per week.

@butterfliedtwo it wasn’t really the crux of the question, although a solution of course. It still means there will be possibly in excess of 10 loads of washing weekly to accommodate all of this changing. That’s really what I was trying to figure out.

Fair enough! Definitely no eco setting then (and every too weeks, perhaps).

Add bedding in together, not by itself.

We have 9kg washer. That easily fits our super king bedding, plus the bottom sheet from toddler bed, plus two hand towels ( all white). 60 degrees

I then wash toddler duvet and pillow another day with regular clothing on 40.

In your scenario I would do :
king size - add any similar colour small towels in same load
Double - add similar colour bigger towels ( trick is to buy towels the Same colour as bedding)
2 singles together

Two sets for each bed and change two weekly alternating between beds. I never use the eco setting on mine as like you say it's ridiculously long. I use the cotton setting and turn the temperature down and the spin to max.

I was mine weekly, I can't sleep once the sheets lose their freshness. Also, two sets per bed. When I was a student I only had one set and would have to go to the launderette.

We match sheets to duvet on each bed, roughly, to cut down on sorting. Also do you have any washes in the week that are half full? Eg we don't have many whites, so one child has all white or light bedding which can just go in with that.

I wash pillow cases weekly but the rest is fortnightly, or even 3 weekly in winter.

Dunelm are brilliant for cotton bedding. Buy online, a lot of their designs come in a choice of polycotton or all cotton, and the cotton's only a few £ more.

2 sets for each bed and don't change them all on the same day, get the kids to help by stripping off the beds so you only need to make them again later