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

[BasinHaircut]

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!

I too have suffered with the sweaty man head - all white pillowcases took on a yellow tinge and coloured ones got faded patches, very annoying. He's gone now so I have all the pillowcases and all the bed! :)

60 for bedding, towels and underwear.

@Chicchicchicchiclana

Yanbu. Why do most women know these simple things but so many men don't?

My dh simply forgets this sort of information. He isn't lazy or a housework shirker at all, but he forgets things like this and simple recipes. It's not that he wants to get out of doing them, it's like it's the sort of information that doesn't compute with him.

It's because our brains are wired differently. Obviously there are individuals of either gender who comply to a greater or lesser extent, but in general women are better at memorising things like these. Men are better at directions. Women are better at multitasking. Men are better at monotasking.

I do a short 60° wash, would put napisan or dettol in in though. It's £5 for the very large size. I haven't been able to buy the powder bleach locally. I used it on old white tablecloths.

All the laundry detergents advertise 30° washes. I have 3 sets of bedding at least.

You only have one set of bedding?
So if someone spills water on it, or has a nosebleed, or various other things that can cause bedding to become wet, you can't go to bed until you've done 2 lots of washing and drying?

I'd say the urgent need for emergency spares is somewhat greater than the complete non-issue of your bedding having been put through a 30 degree wash.

I wash mine at 60 but I’d never expect my OH to know that?! That stuff isn’t programmed into their brains.

@rawalpindithelabrador why?

OP I have pure white bedding and never wash above 30 degrees - no grubby spots on the pillow. I even for a while had purple hair, 30 degrees washed the transfer marks out easily.

I've no idea what temperature the bed sheets get washed at. I just select the bed linen option on the washing machine

Another one who doesn't get only have one duvet set. It's a prime example of where you have one to wear and one to wash. Also what if some one has a vomiting bug during the night and a quick change is needed?

@notsorighteousthesedays interesting

I’ll just get rid of him and I can wash all the bedding as I wish and also won’t have to worry about sweaty man head.

Last time I looked in Primark they didn’t have any super king bedding? I have found there to be much less choice around, and what there is, is not £20 a set.

I wash my bedding at 60. It’s also good to give the actual machine a really hot wash to prevent soap scum and limescale build up. When it comes to the debate about the environment and washing. I wash my stuff probably on the less frequent side and do not own a tumble dryer.

Isn't the NHS advice only for if there is actually someone ill in the house?

If not, I'm positively slovenly!

I did not know that 30 wasn’t ok. Isn’t it ok? I wash most things on the 20 degree eco setting (when I do the washing - mostly DH does). Maybe 30 if it’s a bit grubby. All seems pretty clean when it comes out.

I congratulate all the people who have a lovely non sweaty DH. Mine is equally ruinous to the pillowcases, despite being well showered! I have white bedding and although doubtless sheet and duvet cover would be fine on 40 his pillowcases need a really hot wash. I double up on his pillowcases, too, and wash our goose down pillows when we have a hot sunny spell. They come up sparkly in the sunshine.

On the other hand my side of the bed never looks used, I must sort of levitate while I'm asleep

My OH would have done similar 😂. I'd leave the sheets on but wash them sooner again than you would normally. I wash towels and bed linen at 60; especially towels tend to smell after a while if washed cooler.

@notsorighteousthesedays

I too have suffered with the sweaty man head - all white pillowcases took on a yellow tinge and coloured ones got faded patches, very annoying. He's gone now so I have all the pillowcases and all the bed! :)

I got rid of sweaty head too, but those white pillowcases....

I always bath or shower before bed, but I just cant keep them clean. Woke up the other morning and must have swatted a mosquito in the night. There is was splattered on the big pillow, that cover is white.

And I have a Labrador. Say no more.....

Sorry OP. Digressing a bit now, but really, 30 is okay.

My linen specifically state 30 degrees as they're delicate... Sounds like you're the YABU for being so stuck in your ways

If you use biological washing powder it’ll be fine.

Towels, tea towels, dishcloths, bath mats and bed linen all get washed at 60 here and everything else at 40. Do not trust 30 to get rid of bacteria’s. I too would have to rewash!

Expensive white bedding here too OP. (current set is Dorma, Billion zillion thread count :) )

I spend a fortune on one new set every 5/6 years washed and put back on the bed once a week. Always at 60 minimum with spoon of vanish and it stays white. Good quality bedding should keep it's colour and finish for years.

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

@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....

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?'.

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!