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

I change beds weekly during the summer and then up to fortnightly during the winter. Wash them at 60 degrees with biological liquid and lavender scented fabric softener in the hope of encouraging sleep.Only iron if they are badly creased.

I have no timetable sheets are washed as and when they feel not clean.

I only use softener as I like the smell not because of its soft ing properties

Washed weekly here, in summer dried on the line, winter tumble drier.
Prefer tumble dried. Softener every time for the lovely smell and 60 degrees cos its a longer wash and I like clean sheets.

Fortnightly. This is a compromise. If I had staff, I would insist on it daily, because I love the feel of freshly laundered bed linen (which is actually 100% cotton, not linen.) Hot wash, and ironing.

Mattress protector gets washed every few months - depends a bit on the weather when I'm doing laundry, i.e. will I be able to hang it outside. It's due a change again. I also turn the mattress when I do that.

Still, I'm the only person who sleeps in my bed, so it's only my dirt. If I shared my bed, I'd probably wash the sheets weekly.

Guests always have clean sheets. Anything else is just wrong.

Once a week for us and DD (unless she has an accident). Sunday morning is bed changing day. Wash on 60C using non-bio and hung outside unless it's pouring down, in which case I reluctantly tumble dry.

One of my top 10 pleasures is getting into a clean bed!

I have 2 kingsize and 1 double to do here , they get done every 5/6 days , I do them on a long 40 wash ,with softener and laundry cleanser . Unless it's really hot out they get put through the drier . Mattress protectors get done 6 monthly .

I change ours every 7 - 10 days and the kids about the same. They are always clean when they go into their beds tho so I don't worry quite so much about theirs.
I was bedding at 60 and line dry if I can. So if it's a nice day I tend to go around stripping beds.
I bought a machine with an extra big drum so I can get loads in it.

I use fairy non bio powder and conditioner as dd has sensitive skin and it's the only one which doesn't cause her to break out in a rash.

I iron bedding yes unless it comes off the line/out of the drier looking particularly flat. I'm a dab hand at folding a fitted sheet too, thanks mum!

I wash mattress protectors about once a month. Is that scummy?!

fortnightly at the earliest frequency.we put them on a white wash at 40 with white powder not colour as we found this washes them better for some reason whether they are coloured sheets or not.sometimes we just need lovely fresh snuggle so will change the pillow cases more frequently for that most delicious of smells that can only be found in clean linen.its my favourite smell.
I hate changing the sheets.i deffinetly even used to dread it as it would be a two hour task at least with my ocd.including tears and anxiety attacks.but there is nothing better than clean sheets.
we used to wash them on a lot higher temp but its really not needed.

Fortnightly for us and 3yo, weekly for the dribbly 6mo.

I have multiple sets of everyone's sheets, crappy washer/dryer in this house so it's easier not to worry about getting it all done in one day.

40 or 60 degree wash, line drying if the weather permits.

If my DM is around she irons the sheets for us

Every two wèeks here. I always wash stuff at 90 degrees.

There's two of us. In the summer, bed has bottom sheet, top sheet, pillowcases and a lightweight bedspread. Sheets and pillowcases are stripped and washed at least weekly, and quite often more frequently if the weather is very hot and we're sweating a lot. Usually washed at 60. If weather is dry, all hung out on line. If wet, flat sheet hung over bannisters to dry, other sheets/pillowcases tumbled. Bedspread is light cotton and is washed every four to six weeks, but more often in case of dog footprints etc.

In winter, duvet set also changed weekly, but I might do it more frequently (say every five days) if I feel like it.

All bedding apart from fitted sheets is ironed.

Pillow protectors and mattress protectors are washed every four to six weeks. Pillows are replaced every two to three years. Duvet is washed every couple of months.

Mine and my adult daughter's bed nowadays.

My daughter has a boyfriend and her standards have shot up and she changes her bedding as and when he stays the night which can be several times a week.

I have three dogs who all sleep in bed with me! I have done away with a duvet and use blankets which are easy to wash and dry quickly and I have loads!

I wash mine several times a week as well. I also buy pillows frequently because of the dogs in bed with me. I have several zip up mattress protectors and elasticated ones.

I have always washed on 30 degrees or less but since buying a completely rubbish Samsung eccobubble machine I wash my bedding on a 60 degree wash. I use fairy conditioner every time.

I also add zoflora to my wash.

A kingside and two singles here.One is a cabin bed so a faff to change.
Beds are stripped fortnightly, washed at 60 with bio liquid and conditioner. Dried outside if fine, otherwise on inside airer and tumble drier.
Work uniform gets thrown in as well.

Always line dry if possible - prevents most of the creasing and makes them smell so much better.

Weekly wash is my ideal but if I can't, then definately within a fortnight. If can will strip, wash, dry put back on bed after a quick iron if necessary. If there are time restraints, will strip and put other fresh bedding on from the cupboard. If it's a wet day in summer will wait if possible for the dry day so can hang out on the washing line instead of using the tumble dryer.

I try to do it fortnightly but it slips sometimes, especially in the winter when we have the heavy duvet on, and, frankly, it's as good as a work out in the gym changing the duvet cover.

Drying is a pita as we don't have a dryer.... It adorns the conservatory until dry enough for the airing cupboard.

I (aim to) wash bedding on Wednesdays so one week I'll do ours, then the next week I'll do the DCs. If we've had guests that gets stripped, all put in one of the pillowcases in the spare room (to keep it tidyish, ready to go in and not clogging up the laundry basket) and put in during the next laundry gap. No softener and no ironing (until the DC are all at school anyway).

I wash all the sheets, pillow etc once a week for me and dc, at the weekend unless I have a day off in the week. Wash at 40 degrees with liquid and lots of fabric conditioner. Line dry outside if possible or tumble dry if raining. Then hopefully try and put back on the bed the same day, for me and dd who likes the same sheets, other dd likes to have different ones each week so I strip the bed and then put clean ones straight on.

Beds are generally changed fortnightly.

Strip beds, and put clean bedding on, dirty bedding into wash. 40C, and hung to dry (no tumble dryer) outside if possible. If not, I hang them over a large indoor frame.

I don't iron but do fold neatly.

I try to watch DP like a hawk when checking if the bedding is dry and can be folded. He like to get the stuff off the frame and folded and can be impatient in letting it all dry properly. So it get's folded when it still feels cold, no matter how much I try to tell him that if fabric feels cold it's still a bit damp. Then he wonders why it all smells fusty when it' time to change the bedding again......

Every Thursday :) just me and dd. To be honest I'm sure they're not dirty but I like having clean smelling bedding.
We strip the beds together with some music on, chuck in the wash and hang to dry ( no drier ) then I let her pick what set she wants from my wardrobe.
I don't use softener because I think it makes clothes / sheets look a bit murky!
I don't iron but do want to start and don't have a mattress protector

I change the sheets every ten days or so. Wash at 60 with bio powder, including mattress protector. Hang outside to dry, or on the airer if raining. No ironing!

I wash every fortnight at at least 60* all my bedding is White so I periodically use bleach in the wash too . I have a Miele washer which uses a twin dose system this is fab as I can use my own detergent and regulate the doses so I don't buy nearly as much as I did in the past

Monthly here. We all wear PJs.

I wash at 40, line dry and use softener. All our sheets are polycotton, perhaps I'll invest in some 100% cotton at some point to see what the fuss is about.

I wash sheets once a week. On a 60 wash. Use powder and fabric conditioner. Always aim for line drying. In the winter I use the dryer. Never ever iron them

I generally only do the mattress protector if it's been sick on

I am going to wash the mattress protectors now when I get home after reading this thread

I always put sheets back on the same day but I hate putting the sheets back on. It seems to take me ages.

Don't change sheets on beds as often as I should or would like. Kids beds are changed obviously if one of them has been sick or wet the bed.

Sheets washed at 40 and hung out if possible.

My husband loves clean sheets and always comments when sheets are fresh but unfortunately it doesn't encourage him to change beds more often.