How to get greasy feel off pillowcases?

[Yohohaha]

After the exhaustion of having a baby our bed sheets didn't get changed quite as frequently as I'd have liked, sometimes 3-4 weeks in-between (disgusting I know) and the pillow cases, despite now changing them weekly and washing them at 60 multiple times, just have a greasy feel to them still. Any tips to get rid of this? Thanks

Soak in a soda crystal solution maybe. Reduce fabric softener if you use it. Try powder instead of liquid/pods (again if that's what you use)

Our pillowcases get a bit manky in the summer, mainly because we are all a bit sweaty at night 😩 but DH likes to sweat all year round 😆
I use a 50:50 mix of white vinegar and tap water in an old spray bottle. Then spray the pillowcases generously with this. Leave it on for at least 5 mins, if not a bit longer, before putting them in the wash as usual. Our utility room does smell a bit like a chip shop for a short while afterwards 🙄 but vinegar is so good for lifting grease, neutralising smells and general cleaning.
And it’s cheap 🙌

What temperature and detergent are you using?

Thanks, washing at 60 and using a Tesco non bio pod, usually without fabric conditioner as I felt that made it worse. DPs 'face falls off' (as he says) if we use any other brand as they make his skin react so not keen on trying a different detergent

You need to use biological detergent - this breaks down enzymes in bodily fluids including sweat

Stop using pods and conditioner. Use Tesco non bio powder instead.
Have you cleaned your washing machine lately ? I pour a bottle of white vinegar in and put it on the hottest wash.

In this weather you could do a wash and would fry naturally in 15 mins.

Either quick hand wash if you don’t want to use the electricity

or shove in wash daily

and both of you have a shower before bed

Agree with pp — you need a different detergent. Bio, ideally powder. Non bio pods just don’t get the job done, I’ve found.

I would say start using biological powder and drop the fabric conditioner. Once dry iron everything.

Thanks I'll give some of the suggestions a go and get some powder as well. Machine is cleaned fairly frequently. Not keen on using biological powder as I'd have to re-wash/extra rinse due to sensitive skin but maybe as an occasional wash that'd help!

Oh just a thought — are you tumble drying them? I find bedding cotton goes a bit flattened and weird-feeling if its tumbled.

Powder and line dry

My DH also has sensitive skin, he can’t use bio washing powder or liquid without a skin reaction. I use the bio powder and then run an extra rinse and this is enough to prevent reactions

This is info I found on the 'net but it works for me! DP sleeps naked and the sheets get yellowed and claggy, it won't come out with regular washing. I was at my wits' end over it, especially as I cannot use bio detergents (allergic). So what I do is this:

1. Soak the offending thing (sheets/pillowcases) in hot water in which there is a liberal squirt of washing up liquid (e.g. Fairy or whatever you use for dishes), normal washing powder and borax. Stir well to dissolve the borax crystals and leave for an hour or more. I use the bath to do this.
2. Place items in washing machine on a 60 degree cycle and wash as usual, adding vinegar into the rinse water.

This will remove the stickiness! As you can't buy borax in the UK, I use borax substitute (sodium sesquicarbonate) which works just the same.

For 'maintenance' you don't have to do the long pre-soak, I add the 3 essential ingredients into the washing machine with the clothes, then add vinegar when the rinse cycle is reached.

who has time to wash sheets daily!! Don't tumble dry or iron them, just natural drying

Soak them in hot water and soda crystals (can buy Dri-park in most supermarkets in a big green bag) overnight and then wash at sixty. Should do the trick.

If you can get your same washing pods in a powder version then I'd suggest trying those going forward as powder doesn't leave the same sort on residue on fabrics as the liquids do.

Shove in wash. Take out. Hang up.

About same time as it takes to start a mumsnet thread 😐

And you said pillowcases.

not sheets

Some people work 12 hour shifts starting at 6am and can't sit at home watching a washing machine every day

Seeing as you didn’t say this
i did not assume you did
hence my suggestion to shove in a quick wash or quick hand wash and line dry. Pillow cases.

If they are white, soak in a bucket with Napiisan.
Waitrose, Tesco sell it.
Home Bargains also stock it at a better price.

If it's serum that's making it greasy, bio powder/liquid or fairy liquid will dissolve the grease. If it's just excessive sweat, you could try halo sports wash.

I would probably do a monthly maintainence wash with bio, then run it straight back through with non-bio, then just wash as usual each week.

Just buy bio washing powder for your towels and sheets and do an extra rinse. You need the enzymes to get rid of the build up.

All you need is soda crystals in the drum, white vinegar in the detergent section of your drawer and a nice hot wash. Don't bother with laundry soap.

If you can get laundry ammonia ( it's common here in Australia), that is the only thing that worked for me. I put about a cup in with the laundry detergent and it sorts out that musty sweaty smell.