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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:
FredtheCatsMum · 24/02/2021 20:09

I wash at cold unless there's something very dirty. Hanging them out in the wind and (maybe) sun will also help.

poppycat10 · 24/02/2021 20:12

I washed my bed linen at 30 for years. The only reason I am now washing it at 40 is because it broke down in the autumn and the guy who came to fix it showed me some new wash cycles I had not noticed!

I didn't notice it was any more smelly before, or any cleaner now. It's just a faster and hotter (warmer) wash.

Bleachmycloths · 24/02/2021 20:12

YANBU. Most men are really dumb about stuff like this. No apologies for being ‘sexist’ 😊. They only see the big picture, not the detail. You just need to train him up. 👍

Thewordgame · 24/02/2021 20:14

Bedding and towels at 60, everything else at 40. Nothing feels clean at 30

Meatshake · 24/02/2021 20:16

Shit the bed! I had no clue about this 🤷 not dead yet...

Maryann1975 · 24/02/2021 20:16

I’ve just realised, I used to wash pretty much everything at 30, but now back to 40. I wonder when I changed...
I’m pondering that it was when we got our new washing machine, I think the old one had a 30 wash setting, this one doesn’t, I have to manually change the temperature. I might live dangerously and start washing at 30 again.

number420 · 24/02/2021 20:16

To be fair, most detergents these days are as effective at 30 degrees as they are at 60 degrees. Chuck in some vinegar if you're worried about losing the crispness of the colour

Mollyboom · 24/02/2021 20:17

60 degrees at least for bed linen and towels, maybe 90 even if it;s white egyptian cotton. I just wouldn't feel clean with a 30 wash. However, as many of the responses show on here, there is not a unanimous view on this, therefore your DH may well just be in the dirty birds 30 degree camp. It's a minefield out there Op

SlayDuggee · 24/02/2021 20:22

I’ve always been ashes bedding and towels at 60. I was told as a kid you had to put them on a hot wash to kill the germs. I’ve always washed everything else at 40. I’ve got small children so many clothes have food, pen, wee, poo, paint, etc on them. Only since I’ve got a new washing machine I’ve been washing at 30 for lightly dirty clothes mainly adult clothes as it has a descent 30 wash. My old washing machine had a quick 30 wash which didn’t get anything clean!

TrailingLobelias · 24/02/2021 20:25

If you wash at 30 they can smell a bit musty because they're wet and not disinfected so bacteria and fungus grow. But I could tolerate it for two weeks or whatever.

1Morewineplease · 24/02/2021 20:27

I feel pretty sure that you won't die and that life will go on if you wash your bedding at 30.

scoutingfornarwhals · 24/02/2021 20:27

there's no problem with washing it at 30, it gets it lovely and clean.

Harls1969 · 24/02/2021 20:28

Just be glad he can and does use the washing machine.

InkyPinkyPonky95 · 24/02/2021 20:32

I wash most things at 30. How dirty are your bed sheets? Maybe you just need to wash them more often?

LesleyA · 24/02/2021 20:36

Just a question but off topic. I’ve always wanted bedding that looks and feels as if I’m at a hotel as OP said. What should one look for? Not buy. Thread count? Fabric? Style of making bed. Um sorry if I’m hijacking your post. We should ask hotels what temp/how long they wash for as although they won’t have same sweaty man head every night they must have all sorts with all sorts of gel and other hair products

itsgettingwierd · 24/02/2021 20:38

It's 2021.

Washing tabs are designed to be used at 30°.

I do wash some things at 60 but it's purely habit rather than necessity and I keep trying to remember 30 is fine!

itsgettingwierd · 24/02/2021 20:41

I should add that forgetting sounds pathetic but my machine is 2 weeks old and the last one didn't have a 30 option!

This one washes great at either temp and it's purely something I need to get use to.

Carriecakes80 · 24/02/2021 20:48

Sounds odd to me to need it above 30 unless one of you has accidents in the bed!
Only time I do a hot wash is once a week with soda crystals to keep the machine clean when I do my towels, but the bedding never gets that dirty that it needs a hot wash...and my husband goes jogging every evening.
If it matters we use Fairy and everything comes out lovely on 30!

angelfacecuti75 · 24/02/2021 20:49

I'm assuming it is just once and it won't smell bad , it has been washed so has been decontaminated . You can get double sets of bedding cheap as chips on ebay. Wilko do a 'value' sheet for around £7. Invest in another set, maybe go for a plain one then it will be cheaper .

napody · 24/02/2021 20:50

Only have white bedding and it's the only thing I wash at 60... but do it for the sake of the washing machine as well as the bedding....to get some hot water through it once in a while.

angelfacecuti75 · 24/02/2021 20:52

And just tell him next time wash the stuff at 60 degrees but let it go this once.

morninglive · 24/02/2021 20:52

sniff the pillow. If it smells heady its not clean

hoopmatrix · 24/02/2021 20:55

be grateful he puts the wash on!

bluebluezoo · 24/02/2021 21:02

be grateful he puts the wash on!

Wtaf? No one’s grateful when I put the wash on, why are men so special?

justamummydoingherbest · 24/02/2021 21:05

I wash towels and bedding at 60, everything else at 40.