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

Every 2 weeks, I know it should be more often but I forget! All on on a 60c, preferably hang to dry (I forget things when they go in the tumble drier!) and always use softener.

I change our bed weekly in a 60 degree wash. I don't iron but it's all smoothed out and folded after drying and airing.

Ds is a toddler, he's not potty training yet so it's quite easy. Plus he sleeps in a sleeping bag (which gets washed after two nights). I was the sheet he sleeps on every week, but more regularly if necessary, again on a 60 wash.

I aim for weekly and strip the whole bed. 50° wash with bio powder and softener and hang outside when poss. Only iron duvet covers and pillow cases and same for kids ones. Nothing nicer than getting in a clean bed! Mattress protector washed probably four times a year. Duvets I take to the launderette when I change from summer to winter togs. Blimey all sounds exhausting now!

every three weeks, two in the summer, 40 deg wash with some napisan in it to make sure the sheets look clean.

Tumble dried sheet 'cos I like soft sheets

Weekly washers here. Everything is washed at 30 and dried on the line if possible. Then back on the bed that evening. It's do nice to be in bed with freshly line dried sheets... No ironing done, ever!

We change ours every couple of weeks but no set time just when we remember! Same for my dd although I do change hers a bit more often. 40 degree wash with fabric softener and hang outside to dry whenever possible or over the side of the shower if not outside. Definitely don't bother ironing and only fold them very roughly too...we are clearly totally slacking!!

Once a fortnight usually, more often if its hot - sweaty at night and will dry quickly when washed. Don't own a drier so our sheets get washed one week and the kids the next week. Husband puts the king size duvet cover on which is the big i hate. Love clean sheets. I sometimes do 40, sometimes do 90 for whites. No rhyme or reason to when I do what. Unless someone's been ill. Then it goes on at 90 and I get the steam cleaner on the mattress :)

Usually every 2 weeks, maybe every week when it is hot. 40 degree wash and try to hang them outside or over the banisters if wet outside. There is only one set which needs ironing (high cotton thread count, won't be making that mistake again). I have an electric airier and sometimes use it to dry the pillowcases. I should do them more often as I love the smell and feel of clean sheets, especially if they've hung outside for a bit.

Weekly bedwash on a 60 degree quick wash with capsules, non bio, and fabric conditioner followed by tumbledry with tumbledry sheets. Sometimes if needed they go on a long wash.

Adults sheets get washed once a week at 60 degrees. Preteen DS's bedding gets washed whenever I'm doing a wash of the relevant colour and happen to have enough space for an extra sheet/duvet cover/pillow case - on average I'd say about every fortnight. Teenaged DD has a high sleeper covered in cuddly toys which is an absolute nightmare to change so I'm not prepared to incriminate myself with a definite statement on that one. But bless her she's actually changed her bedding herself this week - now all she needs to do is clear the three foot deep layer of teddies from her bedroom floor.

We use biological liquid for colours and non bio tablets for white hot washes.

We wash weekly, always in non bio with conditioner- we have sensitive skin in our household. Linen is always washed at 90degrees here- and always tumble dried for convenience.

I have a large load machine so 1 double and two single sets go in the same wash.

We have two sets so one always in use while other is washed/dried/aired.

Mattress protectors and pillow case protectors are washed about once every 3 months unless they've experienced something yucky.

Weekly here - dcs strip their beds first thing sat morning and remake before breakfast. Mine and dhs stripped by whoever is last up - all washed at 60 then out on the line to dry - if wet the bottom sheets and pillow cases are hung on the Aga and the duvet covers are hung over the doors and banisters. No tumble drier since it blew up 8 years ago! No ironing apart from pillow cases.

Probably every couple of weeks - sooner if they get grubby or if ddog1 has an accident, and less often if Dh and I are feeling particularly lazy/slovenly.

The boys are either away at university or living away from home, so aren't here often - we give them clean bedding when they come home, and then it is up to them how often they want to change it during the holidays.

I don't generally use fabric softener, and I use a bio washing powder, and either a 60 degree or 90 degree wash, then tumble dry the bedding. I don't iron the bedding - Dh does that.

Bed gets completely stripped every couple of weeks or less if the dog gets on the bed with muddy paws! Grrrrr DS and DD about the same. Dry outside if poss. In winter I drape the quilt cover over the internal doors downstairs and its dry within a few hours, does anyone else do that?

Every 2- 4 weeks, toddler and babies whenever dirty so more often, 5 beds makes a lot of washing so I'm not doing it more often!!!

Wash at 60, non bio, hung on the ceiling maiden (I'm sure they have a proper name!), tumbled for 10 mins to decrease and finish off.

Then they are folded into very precise rectangles, coordinating pillows put inside the last duvet fold and put away in the linen cupboard - I gave to put them in at the very bottom of the pile, stock rotation is very important to me!!!

Adult sheets get washed at least every fortnight - we don't have a tumble dryer so it's a hassle in winter. In summer it's more like weekly (or more if the weather is hot) as drying is easy, & DH sweats a lot in hot weather. We don't have a mattress protector as they were too expensive when we bought our last mattress. However I do generally double-sheet the bed - cheap cotton one underneath & a better sheet on top. DH has a pillow protector & 2 layers of pillowcases which are all washed each time, & pillows are washed each month or so during the warm weather.

DD's sheets - currently about weekly but again more often in summer.

Most clothes go in on a 30 wash but towels & bedsheets go on a 40 with some Napisan alongside the detergent. Non-bio for most things as I've got very sensitive skin.

We have 2 regular clothes horses & a heated one, it's a bit like an old-fashioned laundry in our house in winter. We use them in summer too - they go in the back yard & I can get 6-7 loads washed & dried on a hot day, even without a tumble dryer.

What's this "ironing" you speak of?

3 beds here. 2 up ladders! All get stripped every 2 weeks. Washed at 60% (only towels and bedding get this temp). I make my own laundry powder. Equal amounts of non-bio powder and soda crystals. No fabric conditioner. I line dry when Scottish weather allows. Between Oct-Mar I time my logistics so that I can go to laundrette and dry the bedding in 15 minutes for £1! (Has to be better than hanging in the house eh?)
Don't iron it but fold it well having watched numerous 'how to fold a fitted sheet' YouTube videos.
Wash duvets frequently. Mattress covers (for allergy) are overdue as are the pillows.

Every two weeks here. 40 wash, 60 if illness. Mattress protector once a month. Cot bed is probably weekly. Line dried where possible (love that smell/feel) but tumble dryer if not. I use two aldi tablets and fabric conditioner but no tumble dryer sheet.

Love my clean sheets and would change them every day if I had the energy! I have far too many sets of bedlinen, I'm a bit of a sucker for buying new linen.

We have 2 doubles and a superking, white cotton go on a 90' hot wash to keep my machine clean too. Coloured sets wash at 40'.I only use fairy non bio as dd is allergic to other washing powders. Line dry whenever possible and always iron them - we now have an ironing press to make life easier.

I wash my bedlinen approx weekly in summer and fortnightly in winter. Dd now changes her own sheets - hurrah!

Mattress protectors get overlooked a bit, probably only done a couple of times a year.

3 beds here...1 gets changed, on average, every 8 weeks....to be fair it's dsd's bed and she only comes in school holidays 😂

My bed every 4ish weeks (as and when I remember) ds bed twice a week if his nappy pants leak!!

Always use non bio, sometimes with conditioner if I remember to buy it at 60°.

I'm beginning to think I haven't got this domestic thing laid down yet 😂

Usually every other week but sooner if it has been hot. 60 degree wash using aerial capsules and fabric conditioner. I love the smell of line dried bedding so in Summer it goes outside on the washing line and during the Winter I hang it over the bannister rail from upstairs and it dries naturally.

If I win the lottery I would employ someone to change the beds daily!

Every couple of weeks for our bedding and every week for the DC.

Wash 1-2 times a fortnight.

ALWAYS at least 60 degrees (sometimes even 95) not entertaining a temperature of either 7 degrees lower or 3 degrees higher than our body temperature (30/40) to wash laundry.

Even most clothing goes through at 60.

Reason Granny did not need Vanish/Dettol Antibac rinse or the numerous other products to stop her dingy whites or her machine from stinking is because she washed HOT with POWDER - not "gel".

Use fabric softener or those scent beads (don't know if I can mention the named brand) most of the time and scent is dependent on mood.

Children's sheets get washed when they get wet, which is usually every night. On a hot wash with disinfectant.

Mine once a fortnight.

The DH and I change our sheets every week. Line-drying is best and smells so fresh when back on the bed! I change the DDs' linen every 2 weeks. They have a bath every night as part of their bedtime routine so their beds stay very clean. I always wash theirs in an environmentally-friendly washing liquid so that it's gentle on their skin.