Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Housekeeping

Find cleaning advice from other Mumsnetters on our Housekeeping forum.

What temperature do you wash your bedding on?

89 replies

JKCR2017 · 10/01/2019 12:51

So I nearly always, wash bedding at 60
degrees. But a few days ago I had a new washing machine installed which has a bedding setting on it. You can set it to either 20,30 (definite no for bedding imo) or 40, no 60 😏 so I used another setting and washed at 60!

My question is, is it okay to wash bedding at 40? Does it get them clean enough?

Change my bedding weekly, clean pj’s every night etc so I can’t imagine my bed sheets are overly dirty but like to be sure and wash hotter. 💁‍♀️

OP posts:
IncomingCannonFire · 10/01/2019 12:54

I generally wash at 60.

SparkyBlue · 10/01/2019 12:54

I usually do a 60 degree intensive wash.

cowfacemonkey · 10/01/2019 12:55

I do it at 60. Plus it’s good for the washing machine to be run at a hot cycle once a week.

LooseSeal2 · 10/01/2019 12:55

I have only ever washed it at 40, same with towels. I seem to be minority though!

It’s very very rare that we get ill so can’t see the benefit in washing hotter.

FissionChips · 10/01/2019 12:56

Does it get them clean enough?

Clean enough for what?

Of course it’s fine, you won’t catch the lurgy.

rollonoctober · 10/01/2019 12:57

60 - I wash all our clothes on 30 or 40 but for me I think bedding and towels need a hotter wash.

GobblersKnob · 10/01/2019 13:00
  1. Blue moon 60 if bed occupant is ill.

Sheet changed every other day, rest of bedding weekly. Sheet just gets chucked in with another load of washing. Sheet needs washing that often as my dogs sleep in the bed, or under the covers.

I also wash pants with teatowels and dishcloths at 40 (not specifically just those, but they all go in the wash together).

I have not a single fuck to give about any of it. Including the always mentioned poo germs before someone does this face ---> Shock

BabyNameDilemma · 10/01/2019 13:01

I usually wash bedding and towels at 40 unless there's been a stomach bug. Sometimes put a cap of zoflora in to kill bacteria.

Printerneedsink · 10/01/2019 13:03

60, much for efficient if you want to get rid of dustmites and other allergenes.

Janus · 10/01/2019 13:09

Anything white is 60 for me so that’s sheets and some duvets. Other colour duvets at 30 same as all other clothes. Muddy pe kits/football kits 40. Sick bug stuff probably 60 but one of my duvets says no hgher than 40 so that one I suppose I wouldn’t. I do tumble dry sheets and towels and underwear though so that’s a high temperature as well.

DonaldDucksTowel · 10/01/2019 13:14

Bedding/Towels/Facecloths/Bath mat/Cleaning cloths are all done at 60

mydogisthebest · 10/01/2019 13:16

I always wash bedding and towels at 60. I don't feel 40 is hot enough

Mookatron · 10/01/2019 13:16

Depends if you use biological wash or not. I don't and am a slattern who hardly ever washes the sheets, so I wash them hot to kill dust mites etc. But if you use biological definitely no how than 40 (maybe even 30?)

Mookatron · 10/01/2019 13:17

*hotter not how

greenelephantscarf · 10/01/2019 13:18

normally at 40.
60 after illness

Cherylshaw · 10/01/2019 13:19

I do bedding and towels at 90, I used to wash everything at 90 till my mum shouted at me for it,she couldn't believe I hadn't ruined anything yet

MsMightyTitanAndHerTroubadours · 10/01/2019 13:19

60 for dustmites and anti yellow preventions

occasional 90 with bleach for extra anti yellow duties.

usually use bio for bedding and towels.

RiverTam · 10/01/2019 13:20

if you're changing it every week and you wear clean PJs every night, 40 should be absolutely fine.

But I wouldn't wash it so frequently and I certainly don't do clean PJs every night. What a lot of unnecessary laundry!

Narya · 10/01/2019 13:21

40 - only ever use 60 for illnesses or stuff that has got damp and gone sour.

MargoLovebutter · 10/01/2019 13:21

From a germ perspective the items that need hot washes are those that come into contact with your arsehole and dirty hands - as that is where the germs are likely to be nastiest. Obviously, the same goes for anything that got D&V on it.

To really blast germs, if that is what worries you, then you need 60 degree wash and a strong detergent, ideally with some bleaching agent in it.

Any fatty stains also need a high temp to help shift them.

Protein stains need a cold wash first, otherwise you set the stain in a hot wash.

For bed linen that has only been on the bed a week and the occupants wear pjs, then you really only need to freshen it all up with a lowish temp wash.

None of this matters if the inside of your machine is manky and has a load of gunk in the rubber seal, breeding germs to spread over every wash you do - so make sure that's clean.

Sunlight is also a really effective germ killer, so ideally get your laundry out drying in the sunshine.

All that said and done, I wash darks on 30 or cooler, including pants and I wash whites on 40, including pants, towels, bed linen etc.

Once a quarter, I nuke the bed linen on 60 and use an oxy wash product at the same time to ensure they don't start to go grey.

Mookatron · 10/01/2019 13:22

If you wash at more than 60 with bio wash you're killing the enzymes that make it work. I expect it has other soaps in it too though, but you'll probs find it gets cleaner cooler.

Disfordarkchocolate · 10/01/2019 13:25

30 for nearly everything here, occasional 40 if very muddy, 60 once in a blue moon.

butterfly56 · 10/01/2019 13:30

60 for all bedding and towels!

BatFaced · 10/01/2019 13:40

60 for pretty much everything I wash. I'm a 'hot washer' it would appear

BoffinMum · 10/01/2019 14:30

60 for dust mites. Very important.

Swipe left for the next trending thread