This is why we can't have anything nice 🙄

[CharlotteStreetW1]

Indulge me while I wait for a 90 degree wash to finish..

With a bonus from work I treated myself to some Egyptian cotton bedding from John Lewis (i.e. stupidly expensive). Bit disappointed as they feel "crunchy" and the embroidered border only goes round three sides and not across the top (it's shown folded over online so you can't tell 😠 and yes I did complain, to no avail).

First night some black ink stains appeared - no idea how, they weren't there when we went to bed but were there in the morning. Soaked the duvet cover in washing up liquid then a hot wash. Faded but not gone.

Sulked for a few weeks but put them on again at the weekend. Went upstairs tonight and on my bastard cats has killed and left a mouse on the bed. Blood everywhere. Rubbed with a Vanish paste and put them on a 90 degree wash again.

Just been reading that I should have soaked in class water overnight and put on a cold wash.

Also I obviously put too much detergent in as the machine leaked foam earlier (hence I'm waiting for the programme to finish safely).

So. Will my duvet cover come out whiter than white or... not?

In the meantime, said bastard cat has brought in another mouse. Sigh.

Washing blood stains on hot 'sets' them, and they are then harder to get out. Best thing is to wash out immediately (asap) with cold water and soap. But since it's white bedding, you can use Oxyclean / Vanish until it's properly white again.

i have 3 sets of white bedding, its a pain in the ass .

I use vanish and hot washes all the time. My whites are sparkling. The risk with Egyptian cotton is shrinkage but dry it on the line and I’m sure it’ll be fine.

Put a bit of bicarb of soda in with your washing powder then wash on 90 degrees.

Get it out drying in full sun - it works wonders

I wouldn't mind a bit of shrinkage actually as it's a bit big anyway.

Right. Wash has finished. Here goes...

So. Will my duvet cover come out whiter than white or... not?

Probably not, sorry :( Vanish power gel is particularly good at shifting blood stains but I also pre-soak in cold water and put on a cold wash.

But you never know, 🤞🤞

Let me know if you find out what those tiny black ink dots are - they appear on my white duvet too!

Cold wash and a teaspoon (or two if too much blood) of salt does the trick here.

Now the damage is done I would wash with a stain remover and then leave in the sun to bleach.

If it’s white the sun will sort blood out DP don’t worry about that. Ink is an altogether different story.

Get it out in the sun.

Three side embroidery is normal so you don't have an uncomfortable chin/face.

Hairspray on ink. Sounds bonkers but worked on my white duvet after a biro leaked.

Incredible! No signs of blood at all 😊

Inkstain still there but will try hairspray.

Thanks for the company and tips!

This is why I have a house cat! 😂
Surely you could have returned it when you realised it wasn't as expected?

@DoughnutDreams
Is that the duvet or the cat? 😜

If a cat cat kept putting dead mice on my bed I'd be seriously considering it! 😂

I am amazed people with cats (or any pet/children!) buy white bedding!!
Maybe I am just bitter as my dogs/kids prohibit me from buying anything nice😂

This is why we don't have white bedding.

Life's too short to try and keep it white when one of the other residents of the house will take a clean duvet cover as an invitation to either wipe the remains of a rodent all over it or their muddy/oily paws, which amazingly remain so, despite walking up carpeted stairs, landing and bedroom to reach the bed.

I haven't owned anything white for decades since I binned a white blouse after I picked up one of the cats while wearing it only to find that they must have just come in from sitting under a car with an oil leak

cross posted with @TidyHomeTidyMind

Just don't equate white bedding with 'nice'. It looks so boring anyway. and those pointless throws and extra cushions aren't the answer.

😸

In their defence, in all my years of owning cats and pale bedding, this is actually the first time this has happened. Amazingly.

In the cold light of day, there is still a faint mark so let's hope the sun does its stuff.

(No cushions or throws here!)

Check out Nancy Birtwhistle on Instagram. She always has tips for shifting stains. Sunlight often features!

I have given up on white bed linen for this reason, so fed up of every little thing staining it. I now have grey because you can't see the stains. On a side note my children have a nosebleed (why?) everytime I change their bedsheets so the soaking in cold water is a regular part of the washing cycle here, even then it often doesn't fully come out.

And I totally forgot about our bustard cat and husband muddy footprints everywhere. I sympathise op!

I have no pets so not the issues you have OP, but I bought said sheets a few years ago and like you, disappointed in them.

What is wrong with you?? Your cat kindly brings home 2 gifts and you are upset!*

I often have ink stains on my bed because I easily fall asleep (not staying asleep sadly) and drop any pen on the bed. In the morning it can be quite a sight! I use vanish.

• You can tell I do not have a cat! I love them but not allowed them in my tower block. I really miss them.