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

668 replies

PoppyMumsnet · 01/08/2016 16:28

To celebrate Fairy Non Bio’s sponsorship of the Mumsnet Talk App, we’re launching the Great Mumsnet Laundry Debate – as with all great Wink 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 Blush?) 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 (Blush 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 Grin.

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

Thanks and good luck!
MNHQ

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OP posts:
cheapskatemum · 09/08/2016 20:37

I change all the bed linen slept in by DH and I every fortnight, so that's a kingsize fitted sheet, king size duvet cover and 4 pillow slips. Only youngest DS at home now and he's 18 so he does his own - slightly less often! I wash bedlinen at 40 degrees C and always use fabric conditioner. I line dry it whenever possible and only iron the pillow slips.

cookie09 · 09/08/2016 20:44

Mine get washed weekly on a 40 degrees wash. My dogs like to sleep in my bed so i couldn't possibly leave it any longer, lord knows what i would find under the quilt! There's nothing that quite beats freshly laundered bed sheets though, and as i'm typing mine are currently in the tumble dryer ready to be put back on the bed this evening.

ebc1 · 09/08/2016 20:50

Wash all our sheets weekly at 40C and dry outside if possible, or over radiators.
....just because it's what my mum did ! (and because I love getting into a freshly made bed :-) )

Clairemike21 · 09/08/2016 21:48

Once a week always

Castironfireplace · 09/08/2016 23:23

I wash the kids sheets once a week, 60 wash and then line dry (or slung over something). I don't like tumble drying bed linen as it eats other clothes in there (hoarding socks in particular) and never feels completely dry when I pull it out. I use the gel capsules things to wash but I'l just buy what's the best on offer when I need it.

Embarrassingly I wash our super king sheets much less often. Usually if one of the kids wees on itBlush or if I realize that it has been more than 2/3 weeksBlushBlush.

i never iron. Although for guests I will make the bed and THEN iron it with the sheets & duvet covers already on. It needs the extension cable to get round it but it's far quicker than anything else!!

MissBeaHaving · 10/08/2016 02:59

I was all 3 lots of bedding once a week,mostly on a 40 degree wash with powder & softener.
In the summer I add often add a 60 wash with some Napisan if it's been particularly muggy at night.

I much prefer line dried bedding,obviously this can't be done all the time during the winter but nothing beats crisp,clean bedding that's been line dried on a sunny day,in my opinion it's one of life's simple pleasures.

Hygellig · 10/08/2016 09:11

I wash the bedsheets in the following circumstances: 1) child wets the bed; 2) cat has spent a lot of time on our bed and made it very hairy; 3) I see a thread about sheet changing on Mumsnet; 4) it looks like a good drying day. We usually wash at 40 or 60 and never iron.

GinAndOnIt · 10/08/2016 09:57

I don't have a routine - I would probably leave it 3 weeks between washes at the most but it varies.

DP is a farmer and animals are allowed on bed, so it varies depending on how much mud gets between the sheets! I also wash the pillowcases quite often as DP's is always grubby after the first day.

I used to wash on a 60C wash but it takes too long on my machine so I do a 40C wash now with a scoop of stain remover (light coloured bedding)

I don't have a tumble dryer so I wash more frequently when the weather is nice because I hate seeing the sheets drying indoors! Also only have one set that I like, so wash/dry/make bed in one day.

Mattress protector gets washed about once a year Blush

Gadgaddy · 10/08/2016 10:27

I clean on average once every 2 weeks, I know I should probabily was then every week but can't be bothered. I take the shhets off and button up the poppers, I wash on a 90 with fairy and compfort freshener, then tumble dry and put back on, I don't iron them I don't have time xxx

nehaparmar88 · 10/08/2016 10:36

I wash every week at 30'C my daughter is still on pants during sleep time so it doesn't get that messy

Pam12351 · 10/08/2016 12:12

I was mine weekly, in a hot wash.

TwoTeaTessie · 10/08/2016 14:33

I wash all the bedding once a fortnight, kids one week mine the next. 90 degree wash with softener.

I hang my king size bedding over the bannister if it's raining and the kids go on radiators.

If I'm really lucky my mum might iron it for me, if not it goes back on in ironedGrin

LittleBee23 · 10/08/2016 14:42

The problem is a hot wash takes 1.5-2 hours on most washing machines which then means I can't get another load done. I usually alternate it and do a hot wash every second wash if I'm in all day at the weekend.

rabbit123 · 10/08/2016 14:56

all the main washes on my wash, 60 or otherwise, are all around 90 minutes-2 hours. There is a quick wash but I never use it. It only does 2 rinses and leaves a lot of residue behind and it's only supposed to be used for half loads.

RACHELSMITH45 · 10/08/2016 14:59

every couple of weeks really but more so in summer when everyones hotter and sweatier!! haha. Long lot washes for bedding too (and towels)

aarb0603 · 10/08/2016 15:15

Oh dear. Probably not as often as it should be. In an ideal world it'd be at least every week, but life doesn't work that way.

The children's sheets are done that often, but not ours. It's probably closer to a fortnight and really depends on the weather for hanging them out.

No softener - makes absolutely no difference to me and I rather like the crisp feeling of hang-dry sheets versus the tumble dryer. Same with towels by the way.

Esoresila · 10/08/2016 15:31

In the summer I wash the bed sheets every week on a 70 degree wash with fabric softener and those inwash scent booster (I absolutely love that freshly washed smell that seems to disappear as soon as my DH climbs into bed) I always hang outside to dry as I love the fresh air smell and the feel of the sun on the linen (yes we sometimes get the sun) I have Egyptian cotton sheets and I love them, but I know DH hates them as he says they are 'slippy' (what does he know....they are pure luxury)
In the winter I try to wash them once a fortnight but it's harder to dry as I have no tumble dryer and normally dry them by balancing the sheets over the banister of the stairs or on clippy coat hangers strategically placed over for ways upstairs (the things we women do to dry stuff-I think I need to invest in a tumble dryer but then I think where the hell would I store it in my postage stamp size kitchen of my new build house- you can tell they were designed by half wits)

SheStoodInTheStorm · 10/08/2016 15:38

Our bedding and DD's bedding about every two weeks, sometimes more frequently!

40 degree wash with detergent and fabric softener, dried on the line outside or on the airer X

(Love fresh sheets but hate making the bed!!)

kittensmittens12 · 10/08/2016 16:17

At least once a week, more like twice a week this time of year when it's hot ans striky

Liz7589 · 10/08/2016 17:44

I would like to say once a week as that's what I aim to do. Tends to fall more than that normally though. I was them at 40 generally but do them the occasional good 60 degree was. Always softener and line dried wherever possible.

Vickyyyy · 10/08/2016 18:06

Every 2 days..which I am told is ridiculous. However I love nothing more than the feeling of clean new sheets on my bed. I also do the same for my children even though they are unlikely to appreciate it as much as I do..as id I am doing mine I may aswell do theirs...

Vickyyyy · 10/08/2016 18:07

This is a full strip too...sheets, pillowcases and quilt covers Blush

Vickyyyy · 10/08/2016 18:08

Finally, all washing in our house goes on 40C...it is never changed. Honestly, I don't know whats meant to go on what temp and 40 has served me well since being 16 lol

Always fabric softener too

igglepigglepie · 10/08/2016 18:50

well, 8 beds here, some of which are bunk beds ie a total PITA to strip and remake!
Generally aim for every 2 weeks in rotation. So younger dc one week, older dc other week and ours somewhere in between. DS1 who is 18 is meant to change his own and put out for washing.... so that one maybe gets done every 7 or 8 months (joking - I nag him at about 4 months Wink)
generally wash at 40, every so often put them on a 60. Aim to dry outside, but will use tumble drier when its raining (all the time!)