The Great Mumsnet Laundry Debate, Part I. £300 Love2Shop voucher to be won NOW CLOSED

[PoppyMumsnet]

To celebrate Fairy Non Bio’s sponsorship of the Mumsnet Talk App, we’re launching the Great Mumsnet Laundry Debate – as with all great series, it's a three-parter. Part I is about how often you wash your bed sheets (as we know, always a hot topic on Mumsnet).

We all know that washing bed sheets can be total faff: there’s stripping the bed, then there’s putting the wash on (are you a warm 40C or a hot 90C type?) Then there’s hanging it out and the struggle for drying space (unless you use the dryer ?) After that there’s folding - and, for the super-keen, perhaps even ironing. Finally, there’s getting the darn things back on the bed.

So - how often do you wash your bed sheets? And how often do you wash your DC’s bed sheets? Do you have a specific process? Perhaps you change pillow cases weekly, but sheets and duvet covers every two weeks? How often do you change your mattress protector ( again)? Do you use softener?

Whatever your bed sheet-washing process, do share it with Fairy Non Bio in the thread below, and maybe even give us a live update from the Mumsnet Talk App as you're waiting for the load to finish .

Everyone who posts will be entered into a prize draw to win a £300 Love2Shop voucher.

Thanks and good luck!
MNHQ

T&Cs apply

Once a month Keep saying im going to do it every 2 weeks but doesn't seem to happen. Wash at 40, tumble dry then in the linen cupboard.

Sheets are changed once a week, and we all bathe at night. I cannot even IMAGINE getting into a bed dirty and then going back to that bed and then not changing the sheets less often than weekly. You would be sleeping in a pit of outside filth.

Oh right and the washing process: non bio, no conditioner, have been told to wash bed linen at 60, but don't always.

I used to do them weekly when I only had one bed to do now there are three I do them every 10 days, sheet, pillowcases and duvet covers. Mattress covers once a month. I do sheets and towels on 60, use a bio powder - but only 1 tablespoon as per the instructions of the Miele man - and fabric conditioner. Out on the line if weather fine, otherwise in the drier.

And I only iron pillowcases and only then if they need it. Our sheets are linen and therefore supposed to look crumpled and the dds are mostly easycare cotton.
My mum has a different system. She uses a topsheet under the duvet, and washes the sheets and pillow cases every 10 days and takes the duvet cover to the Laundry service to be washed and ironed once a month.

Once a week :)
Wash on a 40
Tumble dry with dyer sheets and iron

Love having a bath and getting into soft, cosy clean sheets :)

Beds are changed and sheets laundered at 90 degrees with Fairy non-bio liquid (mostly white cotton) every week or 10 days, sometimes more if anyone is ill or it's very hot. Lined dried outside in summer; in tumble dryer in wet/winter weather. No fabric softener as it triggers my dermatitis. Cleaner irons all of it as we like how it feels. Guest bed is changed every time someone comes to stay, but linen is left until the next arrival is imminent (to save dust accumulating). Visitors bedding is not always ironed, except pillow slips. Mattress protectors are washed a couple of times annually; pillow protectors old, tatty, pillow cases technically more frequently; I have a slight pillow hygiene fetish.

I wash the bedding weekly, on a low temperature, weather permitting as I like to peg out. Love the feel of fresh bedding that has been washed in Fairy & dried in the wind.

Weekly, at 60C, with detergent & Dettol laundry cleanser. Same for the kids. Dry in tumble dryer or outside if nice weather. Ironed next time I am ironing (have 2 sets in rotation). I love fresh, clean sheets especially when dried outside! My own sad bit of luxury 😊

Ours are changed fortnightly - but not necessarily washed the same day as have 2 sets i like to rotate.

During my period, however, due to heavy flow, bottom sheet sometimes needs to be washed a few times a week :( and if I am particularly active during my dream state the duvet cover needs a couple of washes too!

Always use washing powder and conditioner - only wash on 30 degrees unless any heavy soiling (see above!) then it's 60.

Love to line dry, but can tumble dry if necessary and only iron pillowcases if they are very creased.

Yes Finally the Topic I was waiting for is here Washing Laundry/Bed Sheets
I wash everyweek in summer/Winter every Two weeks even the mattress /pillow protector covers
I use yellow/green /pastel duvet sets for summers looks so colourful nd darker shades for winter

I prewash then on 30 degrees, I use them pearly balls from comfort to give that extra Ooooomph.

Why has changing the bed been made to sound like some sort of heroic enterprise for which you might have to undergo Olympic training? It takes a couple of minutes to strip the bed, and about five at most to make it with clean bedding. Washing consists of putting it into the machine, taking it out, then either putting it into the dryer, or hanging it on the line, total time about five minutes. Good grief - my Great Grandma had to wash it all by hand and use an iron heated up on some sort of Aga or coal fired oven in her tiny kitchen, so my mother told me - and for the record I change all bedding every week, and I do iron it because it is all cotton and it is wonderful to get into when it is clean and fresh. We use conditioner too - I wouldn't miss having a delightful fresh bed every week.

I always wash the bedding every Saturday afternoon, as it means I can enjoy a lovely breakfast in bed without having to worry about any food stains ;)

I separate the bedding from the rest of your laundry, and wash at 40C. I then turn the bed sheets and pillow inside out and roll them into a ball, as this helps fitted sheets' shape. I add a little fabric softener for a little extra comfort and fragrance.

I prefer for my bedding to air-dry- I find that a a little sunshine helps to keep the bedding bright. If I have to use a tumble dryer, I use a cool setting.

I agree Katherine. It's really no big deal.....unless it's a high sleeper at which point Olympic training may indeed be required.

Sheets, pillowcases and quilt covers all get changed every 1-2 weeks at 40 degrees.

When we first moved in together DH asked if I was going to iron them as his mom did . I suggested he could always do it himself and so we have unironed sheets.

Weekly, for everyone. Personally I like crunchy cotton sheets, so easy on the fabric conditioner...

Every 2 weeks or so. Wash on the hot 'baby care' setting - 90 degrees, I think. Dry over the banister.

I wash the big bed (mine and dh's) fortnightly and the dc's bed weekly. More regularly if they look grubby or if there has been any type of illness in the house. Sometimes the big bed goes slightly over schedule if we have a busy weekend as that is when I normally do the beds.

Once a week, one load (big drum), one bed. (Four of us, co-sleeping). Though we have three separate duvets. I have a small sheet/blanket under baby DD and myself in case of milk leakage in the night, so I can quickly just launder that rather than untuck the fitted sheet.
I also make dh shower before bed every night. (I shower too.)
Can't remember what temp - have a setting on the washing machine for bedsheets so I just press that button.

7-10 days on a 40 cotton wash, ds is 18 so I remind him to do his bed.

Line dry unless bad weather then tumble dry. Iron cotton but not poly cotton

Dd's at least once a week, ours at least twice a month. DD sleeps in hers twice a day! Washed at 60, non bio powder, softener, dettol laundry cleanser and soda crystals.

Wash all bedding weekly at 60C with non bio liquid (Bio-D). Matress protectors get done at the same time. I do ours on Fridays and the kids on Wednesdays and chuck in towels/flannels from our respective bathrooms at the same time. I don't use fabric softener as it can exacerbate my eczema and it smells horrible to me. Line dry if weather permits otherwise hang them in the laundry room. I don't iron bed sheets, life is too short! I might iron pillow cases if they're going on a guest's bed.

It's usually once a week but I've got a 3 week old baby so I've let it slide a bit! We have a superking bed so I hate changing the bedding, it's not bad taking it off but it's a nightmare to put back on! I wash it at 60 then tumble dry, I have an ironing press so use that if I have time (so usually don't bother!). I love fresh sheets and if I ever win the lottery I'm paying someone to change them everyday 😊