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Washing bed linen: 7 mistakes that everyone really makes
"What can you do wrong when washing bed linen?" You're probably thinking that right now! Although it's a routine thing, almost everyone makes these 7 mistakes.
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Whether it's the temperature, detergent or frequency of bed linen changes - many people have developed their own methods over the years or adopted them from grandma and mom. But are they still up to date? Some people wash their bed linen however it suits them. We have put together a few tips for you to make sure you feel good in your bed linen.
Washing bed linen: 7 mistakes that everyone makes
1st mistake: Bed linen is washed too infrequently
Normally, bed linen should be washed every 14 days. This is enough to remove hair, dander etc. from the bed linen. Change your bed linen weekly if you
- perspire heavily at night
- animals spend the night in your bed
- have been ill (e.g. a cold)
- have allergies (e.g. house dust, mites)
- sleep naked
- smoke in the bedroom
- shower less often
- with incontinence
Basically, you should change your bed linen more frequently if it is more soiled than normal. Many people only change their bed linen every three to four weeks, which is definitely not enough. Remember: you spend around 8 hours a day in bed, excreting sweat, grease, body fluids, hair and flakes of skin. As if that alone wasn't enough, animals such as mites are also attracted to it, as vermin feed on our secretions.
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2nd mistake: You wash the inlets too little
Inlets also need to be washed regularly, because the same applies as described above. Stains on pillows and comforters become clearly visible if they are not washed for a long time. At some point, the dirt simply seeps through the bed linen. You should therefore also wash the inlets every one to two months. If you sweat a lot or have pets in bed with you, then more often.
3rd mistake: You wash the bed linen too hot
All bacteria are only killed at 90 degrees? That's not true! 60 degrees is perfectly sufficient to get bed linen such as cotton, terry cloth, beaver or linen clean and pure. In the past, bed linen was boiled in vats because there was no other option. With modern appliances, high temperatures are no longer necessary. So you can do without boiling laundry altogether, which is also better for the environment. Depending on the material, such as silk, manufacturers usually recommend only 40 degrees so that the bed linen retains its shape and structure.
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4th mistake: You're using the wrong detergent
All for one, one for all? Maybe that applies to the Musketeers. Bed linen is a different story. A heavy-duty detergent with bleach is best for white bed linen. This prevents a gray haze. Tip: It is best to wash together with other white laundry. If you want to preserve the colors of your bed linen, you should use a color detergent, just like with clothing. For fine silk bed linen, use a mild detergent - so use the same detergent that you use for your clothes. Tip: The detergent from Sieben Generationen does not contain fragrances, is suitable for sensitive skin and is biodegradable. The Ecover Color Washing Powder Concentrate Lavender is also popular with Amazon customers!
5th mistake: You use fabric softener
Whether you need fabric softener in general is a question anyway. But you should leave it out for bed linen! The product covers the laundry like a film, because it should be nice and soft. However, this doesn't make sense for bed linen, as it should be able to absorb sweat that we excrete at night when we sleep. Bed linen made of silk or satin can also be damaged so that the bed linen loses its fine structure. It is therefore better to avoid using fabric softener in your bed linen!
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6th mistake: You are using the wrong wash program
Depending on the material your laundry is made of, you should select the appropriate washing program. Depending on the age of your washing machine, different programs are available. You can always use the cotton or boil program for cotton and microfibres. For colored bed linen, it is best to use the appropriate program for colored laundry, for fine fabrics such as silk, please select the delicate wash or easy-care program. As described above, select the appropriate temperature between 40 and 60 degrees. Some washing machines also have a special program for bed linen, but this should only be used for cotton and microfibres, as the program is generally not suitable for coloureds and delicates.
7th mistake: You are not drying the bed linen properly
For reasons of space, bed linen is sometimes folded for drying - you should not do this as it will take much longer. If the weather is good, you should take advantage of this and hang the laundry outside. Make sure you smooth them out straight away, as this will pull out any creases. If there is a good breeze, the laundry often doesn't need to be ironed afterwards.