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AIBU?

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Original poster

To leave bedding on for two weeks?

347 replies

Eliza22 · 17/08/2015 15:44

Not riveting this topic, I know!

I've been unwell recently, still not great but a bit better. I'm a SAHM and care for my ds who is 14 with autism and OCD. It can be exhausting.

Obviously, as I'm not working, I do all household jobs/gardening/errand running etc and DH is often away. This weekend, I though f**k it! I'm NOT changing the beds (I usually do all beds on a Sunday). My question is: do you strip and change your beds weekly? Also towels... We each have bath sheets which get changed twice weekly. My niece recently stayed and went through 4 bath sheets in 2 days. We shower morning and evening (though ds just showers and hair wash each morning).

OP posts:
Justwhy · 17/08/2015 18:20

Everything in my house gets washed when it has enough bacteria on it to walk itself to the machine. Fact.

Queenbean · 17/08/2015 18:21

DawnDonna not trying to be inflammatory here - but why do you HAVE to do it then? If it's expensive, time consuming and you're having to frequently replace sheets?

Weebirdie · 17/08/2015 18:27

And ironing bed covers seems like such a waste of time - they're hardly crinkled at all from drying

The 'at all' matters Wink

BabyBrownEyes · 17/08/2015 18:28

I'm still in shock at the thought of not using a fresh towel everytime... I mean seriously, I wasn't raised by the queen or owt but if you not using freshly laundered towels to me that kinda defeats to object of having a wash! :o Generally we change our bedding weekly, more often in the summer. And straight away if we've been Ill. DD has her cot sheet changed daily..and my DS has fresh bedding every other day.

cosmicglittergirl · 17/08/2015 18:37

Sheets once a fortnight, towels when I think about it, it's interesting how different people are about this.

DisappointedOne · 17/08/2015 18:40

"I'm still in shock at the thought of not using a fresh towel everytime... I mean seriously, I wasn't raised by the queen or owt but if you not using freshly laundered towels to me that kinda defeats to object of having a wash! "

If you're dirty after having a wash then you're not doing it right!

MARTIN1 · 17/08/2015 18:41

So we are all in agreement that I am the most environmentally friendly poster on this thread?

gamerchick · 17/08/2015 18:41

Who the hell irons bedding? Hmm

Whattocallme · 17/08/2015 18:43

All beds changed once a week without fail. Was twice a week when in cots plus extra when nappies leaked. Kitchen towels changed several times a day as I use for all sorts. Downstairs loo towel changed twice a week, my bath towel twice a week, kids and dh no idea, whenever they put them in but fairly often I just take all the towels and wash them regardless.

Weebirdie · 17/08/2015 18:45

Who the hell irons bedding?

Lots of people.

They might even starch it as well.

RunAwayHome · 17/08/2015 18:49

few weeks at a time. But it's just me here. Not terribly dirty when I go to bed. I wear pyjamas. Towels are used to dry me when I'm clean. Don't see any need to wash bed linen or towels all that often. Towels washed slightly more often than bed linen as easy to sling into a load with clothes.

Queenbean · 17/08/2015 18:50

Who the hell irons bedding?

Lots of people.

But... Why?! It doesn't feel different, it barely looks any different, if anything it irons out the washing powder smell and you're just gonna wash it a few days later so is there really any point?

SlagBol · 17/08/2015 18:50

Not to sort your bedding out regularly is just plain laziness to be honest.

Weebirdie · 17/08/2015 18:55

But... Why?! It doesn't feel different, it barely looks any different, if anything it irons out the washing powder smell and you're just gonna wash it a few days later so is there really any point?

It feels different, looks different, and I dont worry about the smell of powder because I spritz it with perfume before I get in every night. And I change the bed everyday. So whats the point of it? Its just the sheer pleasure of a nicely kept bed.

Flashbangandgone · 17/08/2015 18:58

Indeed. I clean my clothes after each use so the same goes for towels and bedding. As for those who don't iron their bedding... Eugh, but to feel creases on sheets you're trying to sleep in makes me cringe!

Starbrite00 · 17/08/2015 19:04

I change mine every week sometimes every 3 day.
I read somewhere recently that a survey revealed a high percentage only change their sheets 3 times a year.. That is rank.
2 weeks is too long for my liking.
Put it this way, would you wear same pjs for two weeks? Gross.
I also have a fresh towel each day but I was raised like that.

Roussette · 17/08/2015 19:15

Not to sort your bedding out regularly is just plain laziness to be honest.

Ahhhh... but it depends what you mean by 'regularly'. AFAIC regularly for me is every 10-14 days. Other posters' 'regularly' might well meen daily. Or even monthly!

I wonder if it's how everyone is raised? But it was so long ago I can't remember! There were lots of us so I doubt my DM did anything more than fortnightly. Plus I'm old and was the youngest and I remember washing going through the mangle and my DM being quite exhausted.

Personally, I like the smell of fresh bedding that doesn't overpower with fabric conditioner as that's just a false artifical smell. But I don't like ghastly overpowering air fresheners either.

Also I just don't agree with constant tumble drying not just because of the huge bills. I rarely use my tumble drier. It either goes outside and is then aired indoors, or if it's winter it hangs around then goes on radiators.

Flossieflower01 · 17/08/2015 19:30

Bedding and bath towels are always done weekly, hand towels and tea towels daily. We both work full time. Itching at the thought of three weekly or less- yuck!

howabout · 17/08/2015 19:30

Does it make any difference what sort of bedding we are talking about? I only have 100% cotton and linen sheets. I wash at 60. I iron them as it gets rid of any lingering dampness (Aunt also claims ironing kills bugs). I have wool blankets and a light silk quilt which are not washable but are also naturally bug repellent. Natural bedding greatly reduces night sweats.

If I had synthetic fibres I am sure I would do more laundry. Also I am allergic to fabric softener and don't like washing powder smell lingering as it probably means it hasn't all been rinsed out properly in which case I would find "clean" bedding skin irritating and also migraine inducing.

DeputySlattern · 17/08/2015 19:32

betty you mentioned you wash your pillows every few months. How do you do this? Last time I tried to wash a pillow it went all funny, nobbly at one end. I would like to wash them but am worried about wrecking them.

bettyberry · 17/08/2015 19:37

I stick them in my machine. 2 at a time. It depends on the pillow. I find the spring back ones that don't ever seem to go flat wash the best. Others end up a you describe. Cheapest are usually the worst offenders. My silent night ones are going strong after a good few years. wash at 40c a little soap. No softener and perhaps some oxybleach to remove the stains. I air dry them too. Tumble drier and polyester filling isn't a good combo.

unlucky83 · 17/08/2015 19:41

Skanky confession ....Blush I aim to mine every 3 weeks -sometimes gets to 4 and the DCs the same (following week). (Honestly once out of nappies and before they started being sweaty I used to aim to do theirs every 6 weeks Blush)
Changing the bedding is my absolutely most hated domestic chore ...
For a start the dcs are in bunk beds - a pain -have never managed to change their bedding without banging some part of my anatomy more than once. They also have mattress toppers.
And we all have waterproof protectors (coffee spills, DCs bed wetting, then nose bleeds and periods) and quilted mattress protectors...
The worst - I hate doing most- is my bed. DP is a nest builder - I have 'grippits' elasticated fasteners on the corners of the sheets to keep them in place or he ends up on the mattress (yes he has even managed to lose the sheet, mattress protector AND waterproof cover in one night). And we have two double duvets -one each (thinking of moving to two singles when we next need to replace them)
I have timed it -trying my hardest to be quick I can just about get our bed stripped and made in 30 mins...then it all needs washing....
I know I should delegate it to DP - but he really doesn't care -would happily sleep on the same sheets for months and he does things like puts the duvet on sideways - so the fasteners are on the sides and it is too short or leaves the duvet twisted in the cover - and he doesn't tuck pillowcases in properly... and definitely doesn't use the grippits...
(Actually rather than two duvets twin beds might be better....I could leave him festering in his crumpled filth)
Now for the real confession - what makes me a true skank - realised they were due a change just before the DCs and I were going away for a week and DP left on his own will spend a lot of time lying in bed, snacking etc and I won't get the clean sheet pleasure...
So I left it till I got back ...except then I realised that I had run out of washing powder (I usually buy it in bulk and thought I still had half a big bag but didn't) and it took me a couple of days to get to a supermarket I could get some from (I only use eco friendly stuff).... then we had family visiting so out all the time - planned to do it today but found out DP is off today and tomorrow - so am going to do it tomorrow afternoon -so that's now 5 weeks Blush....although I will do the DCs and mine at the same time -and their beds were unused for one week...

Whatthefucknameisntalreadytake · 17/08/2015 19:44

Sorry, someone mentioned a steam roller and a laundry chute?? Can I ask where you live? I've never know anyone in the uk to have either of those. So who actually does the washing? Is it expensive? Sorry for so many questions but I am really intrigued!

We wash towels once a week or so, longer if we're busy and forget. Bedding can be two to three weeks between washes, more if we've been very sweaty. And I have never ironed bedding in my life!

GhettoFabulous · 17/08/2015 19:46

The people washing bedding and towels frequently - how do you dry them? I don't have a tumble dryer (no room, and couldn't afford the electricity anyway) and live in a rainy place with little opportunity for line drying. It's not cold enough to put the radiators on. Washing sheets and towels is a constant ballache.

RunAwayHome · 17/08/2015 19:47

there'd be no room inside to be drying sheets all the time, and I can't hang them outdoors as against the lease.

I also wear pyjamas for several days on end. Doesn't get itchy or dirty, and I just stick them in with the next load of clothes of the right colour. But it's probably why I don't feel the need to do bedding all that often. It never seems very dirty! Maybe it's because it's just me, nothing happens in bed but sleeping, I've usually had a bath earlier, I wear pyjamas, etc.

i do like the smell and feel of fresh sheets, but not enough to do it more than every two or three weeks. Really don't see a problem.

As a total aside, I also find the phrase "I was raised like that" - used about so many things as a way to just end the argument - quite an odd one. Loads of people were raised in lots of different ways, and have changed those ways if they disagreed as they got older. So it seems a bit of a cop out to fall back on that, just on certain arguments. Saying "I'm used to it", or "I was raised that way and I still like it", or whatever - fine. But it always seems strange to just finish things with "I was raised that way", as if it precludes changing your mind about something. I have a friend who often does that, ends many discussions with it, sort of absolving herself of responsibility for her own choices, just by claiming "I couldn't possibly ask/do/say that, because I was raised to xxx", when there are so many other things that she was raised as doing that she now chooses not to. She'd be a perfect candidate for saying "I have to have a fresh towel every time, because that's how I was raised".