How should I wash high thread count sheets?

[modernart]

About a year ago I bought said sheets from John Lewis and wash them at 40 degrees with Ariel biological tablets, no fabric softener then tumble dry. Sometimes the tablets do not seem to have dissolved; there are small grey spots on the surface of the sheets that scratch off with a fingernail. Also the sheets seem to be discoloured, a slight grey in areas, especially the fitted bottom sheet. What am I doing wrong? How can I get these sheets whiter? Any suggestions gratefully received

I am a bit of a white cotton sheet washing fascist

• cotton sheets always washed at least 60 degrees (everything else at 30 though)
• absolutely nothing in with them that is not pure white
• ariel liquid + a sometimes a scoop of vanish

I do find that over time they discolour a little bit, especially as dp sleeps naked

Thank you MTA. Perhaps the addition of Vanish and a higher temp then? I've got Vanish liquid - is that as good?

We too sleep naked but shower daily. I suppose it could be foot cream, body lotion, DP's hair gel, etc. Maybe we'll have to resort to full length nightgowns and nightcaps.

It could well be that the tablets are not dissolving properly. Try powder or gel, and tumble-drier balls.

The discolourlation could be sweat etc, though I would have thought that bio would deal with that. Try an oxygen bleach wash treatment?

You might also want to try cleaning the washing machine by running an empty cycle, maximum temperature, with just white vinegar in all compartments of the machine.

Prettycandles - I think that's a great idea about cleaning the actual machine. It's years old and the compartments are very gunked up. Can you recommend an oxygen bleach wash treatment? Is it the same as Vanish

I suspect the bits on the sheet are lumps of gloop/ mould from the machine, rather than non-disolved tablets (though it may be that if you're over-filling your machine, as the tablets need to slosh around a lot to dissolve).

So, firstly clean your machine....get some HG Service Engineer (or similar), and follow instructions, IIRC, you put it in the drum, and run a boil wash. Check all the seals, and scrub them with bleach if necessary, wash the drawer and get rid of all gunky bits.

Then wash bedlinen at 60 degrees without over-filling machine. We put bottom sheet and pillow cases in one load, duvet cover in another load on its own.

I was told by a washing machine engineer always to use powder, rather than liquid or tablets (powder contains bleaching agents, which help keep machine clean). add a scoop of Oxi-Clean or Vanish as well.

If at all feasible, hang outside to dry; UV light will help bleach sheets, too.

Oh, I second the "nothing that isn't completely white in the machine at the same time "rule.

You could try putting a colour catcher in the wash too, even though there isn't any colour in there, apparently they can absorb dirt.

Good luck!

Thanks Tissy that's all good advice. I do put six pillow cases, the fitted bottom sheet and the duvet cover in together. Never anything coloured in too though. I'll try separating it into two loads. And clean the thing! - when it eventually stops - I've got a big family so it always seems to be on the go.

oh, and once the machine is clean, always leave the door/ drawer open a bit to let air circulate.

Since doing all of the above, we haven't had any bits on our washing (over a year, I think).

you can get the HG stuff from Lakeland, btw

I got some of the HG stuff in my supermarket shop, but havent' got around to doing it yet - the vinegar is so much quicker and easier to use. Vinegar was all I needed to keep my top-loader clean, but I've got a front-loader now, and it needs a bit of help - there's 'stuff' all over the door glass and detergent drawer that the vinegar doesn't seem to shift.

I use the pink tub - Vanish? - in my whites washes.

Thanks you guys. I may try the vinegar first as I have some already but then invest in the HG from Lakeland if it doesn't completely clear it. Otherwise I'll probably find loads of other things I really want need on there.

I always shut the drawer too as I'm a neat freak but will leave it open next time. It's still currently churning away, would you believe.

I think the grey bits are bits of dead skin! They are in our household anyway - we get them if I shove too much stuff in the washing machine at once. I think there has to be enough space for it all to slosh around and for the 'bits' to work themselves out of the sheets, into the water if you see what i mean. Our once white sheets are very much white-no-longer...

40° is totally insufficient for washing sheets .

Imagine all the grease that comes off your skin and head and permeates the sheets. Grease only dissolves properly in hot water. Carry on using Ariel (which is an excellent brand of detergent) but use a double dose for a double duvet, and another double dose for a second wash with your undersheet and pillowcases. And wash your sheets at 90° - at the very least at 60° (bed mites survive any wash under 50°).

If sheets are still not white after a 90° wash with a double dose of Ariel, wash them again with some Vanish whitening powder (which is very good for your machine too, btw).