I must don sackcloth and ashes because, lo, my sheets are musty

[froggyfroggyfrogfrog]

Please forgive me namechanging before I reveal my darkest secret: my sheets, pillow cases and duvet covers get inexplicably musty.

I change the beds weekly. I wash the linen within hours of taking it off the beds. I dry it thoroughly either in the drier or outdoors if the weather allows. I carefully fold them and put them away in my fresh-smelling and mould-free airing cupboard. And within a month or two of sitting there unmolested, they smell like the curtains in a National Trust stately home. I did try putting them away in a drawer rather than the airing cupboard but that made no difference.

Is there a time limit to how long clean and washed linen can just sit there before it spontaneously starts smelling like an ancient sock? Was I raised without learning the arcane knowledge about how to keep my sheets smelling fresh and clean? Or am I doomed to live out my secret shame, weeping over my stale-smelling duvet covers forever more?

Wash, dry in tumble dryer, straight on bed. Don’t store in cupboard.

Mine do this. They need to be used quite regularly to avoid long storage I think.

We only have two sets of bedding for each bed. One on. One washed. No time for mustiness.

That must be where I'm going wrong. I have quite the collection of duvet covers and sheets that I choose between based on the season or whim. This inevitably means that some, particularly those for the guest bedroom, can stay in the airing cupboard for quite some time. I noticed it today as I was getting one of my nice cosy winter sets out and it reeked of despair and sadness.

Thank you. I shall resign myself to washing the bastard things both before I put them away and when I take them out again.

Have you tried using a bio washing solution to break down the bacteria properly? It could be that once the artificial scent of whatever you’ve used wears off, the ‘real’ smell emerges and bacteria begins to build again. Just a thought.
I also have musty bedsheets but only use non-bio because of house-wide sensitive skin.

Are your sheets 100% cotton? Polyester cotton can hang on to grease, sweat and face creams, so best to avoid. Washing at high temperatures can even set the stains rather than removing them.
I can get through 3 sets of pillowcases (DH sweats through his head at night) before the sheets are worn out so I just buy more at the time. It’s also why we have a top sheet between us and the duvet cover (controversial on MN!).

Ooh. We have a top sheet under the duvet. Why is this controversial?

@froggyfroggyfrogfrog to avoid the smell of despair and sadness you can always vacuum pack the ones you don't use very often.

@Fgfgfg Some MNers think it’s a throwback to when people had eiderdowns that couldn’t be washed, that an extra sheet gets tangled or that it’s uselessly adding to the amount of washing when you change the bed. I just wash the duvet cover less…

Anything for a bit of controversy!

Is there enough air available? Mine get musty in a drawer, but DH packs the drawer so full air can’t circulate. At least that’s what I’ve been blaming…

When you choose your next set of bedding from the cupboard, top and tail the pile. Take half off. Turn the remaining half over. Return the first half, turned over.

If it was a peanut butter sandwich, you’d be turning the bread so the dry bread was in the middle and the sticky peanut butter on the outsides!

Just think that may help air them.

I would take everything out and wash and dry it. Use vinegar in the rinse. Some people say tannin is good for getting rid of musty smells so wipe the cupboard shelves over with tea.

It may be that your linen cupboard just hasn’t been aired for God knows how long. While your cupboard is empty, air it very well.

When you put everything back, pop some packets of school chalk on each shelf. They will absorb moisture and can be dried regularly in a low oven and put back.