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How to wash comforters and bed sheets




CNN

Washing bed sheets seems pretty simple, as long as it’s washed. Unfortunately, a lot of people are washing their bedding the wrong way – and, to complicate matters further, many of the old laundry rules we grew up with have changed in the process.

To solve the problem and get some solid guidance, we spoke with laundry and bedding experts on how to properly wash bed sheets, duvets and bedding, including Including the question everyone wants answered: Should we wash those sheets often anyway?

Katie Elks, director of design and product development at Brooklinensays, “For all sheets, we recommend washing on a cold or cool cycle.” Brian Sansoni, senior vice president of communications at American Cleaning Institute, repeating those instructions, “Most laundry can now be washed in cold water. That should be the default. ” Sansoni explains that cold water “usually works, but it lasts longer and your sheets will last longer,” because cold water washing reduces wear and tear as well as fading.

Tide Pods Coldwater Clean ($21.49, originally $24.99; amazon.com)

Tide Pods Clean Cold Water

Elks says everyone should own at least two sets of bed linen to increase longevity. It’s also a good idea to choose a variety of sheets for those days when you don’t have time to wash the sheets and put them back on the bed, or more importantly, in case someone soils the sheets and changes the sheets right away. request.

Brooklinen Classic Core Sheet Set ($126.65, originally $149); brooklinen.com)

Brooklinen Classic Plate Set

Both Elks and Sansoni recommend separating panels into light and dark loads, although modern technology has made this rule less absolute than it used to be. Because cold water is now the standard for washing, the need to separate textiles by color is less important than by type of fabric. If you choose to wash dark and light fabrics together, and dye transfer is a concern, use a color catcher in the washing machine to capture any dyes before they can. stain lighter colored items.

Shout Color Catcher Sheets for Laundry, ($4.22; amazon.com)

Shout out to colored papers for laundry

However, Sansoni notes that if all of your bed linen is dark, you may want to “consider a darker fabric bleach to reduce fading”.

Woolite Darks Liquid Detergent ($14.39, originally $16.29; amazon.com)

Woolite Darks Liquid Detergent

For stains, it’s a good idea to pre-treat small stains as they appear and use a booster if full-body stains are an issue. Protein stains like sweat, which are common on bed linens, are best treated with an enzyme stain remover, like Zout, while Shout is best for food and drink stains, like chocolate or coffee.

Zout Triple Enzyme Formula Laundry Stain Remover ($7; amazon.com)

Zout Triple Enzyme Formula Stain Remover

Shout Laundry Stain Remover, 2 Packs ($16.90; amazon.com)

Shout Laundry Stain Remover, 2 Packs

Basic things:

  • Wash white sheets separately from dark or very light sheets.
  • Pre-treat stains or use a clear wash enhancer to fix the entire stain.
  • Wash bed sheets in cold water by default.
  • Use a “normal” cycle (also known as “regular” or “permanent pressing”).
  • Do not overfill the washing machine; Bed linen needs to have room in the washer drum for water and detergent to fully penetrate the fibers.

One of the biggest changes in the way we wash our clothes is the switch to using cold water as the default for all washes. Often, people have been taught to use hot or warm water for whites and lamps, especially for items such as sheets and towels. But thanks to advances in both washing machine technology and detergent formulations, hot water is no longer necessary in most laundry situations.

iStock

Jessica Zinna, a senior scientist at Procter & Gamble, explains why you should consider switching to cold water when washing your clothes. “Switching to cold water washing is not only beneficial for your clothes and wallet, but also for the environment,” she says. “Up to 90% of energy is used in the laundry process to heat the laundry detergent for warm or hot cycles.”

Not relying on hot water washing will also extend the life of your sheets and bedding. “Washing in hot water can damage clothes, bed sheets, towels, etc., as it can discolor and shrink the dye,” says Zinna.

Zinna notes that all Tide cleaners are formulated with cold water cleaning chemicals, but she especially recommends the brand’s Sanitizing cleanser because it contains enzymes and active ingredients. Specially designed surface movement for superior cleaning in cold water.

Tide Sanitizing Clean Heavy 10x Duty Power Pod ($17.03, original $20.99; amazon.com)

Tide Clean Cleaning Heavy duty 10x Duty Power Case

Sansoni agrees that cold water should be the default but mentions that there will be times when using hot or warm water is required. “If someone sleeping in that bed gets sick, you can shower with warmer water and use a laundry detergent,” he said. “If you have asthma or allergies, hot water can help kill dust mites (a common pathogen).”

Lysol Laundry Sanitizer Additive ($9.97, originally $10.99; amazon.com)

    Laundry additive Lysol

Basic things:

  • Use cold water as default cold water for all laundry.
  • Use warm or hot water in certain limited circumstances, such as when a family member is sick.

Both Elks and Sansoni recommend chain drying as the ideal way to dry bed linens. “If it’s a nice day, drying on a line, out in direct sunlight, is a good option,” says Sansoni.

Honey-Can-Do T-Post Outdoor Line ($42.99; amazon.com)

    Honey-Can-Do T-Post Outdoor Line

If outdoor drying isn’t an option for you, but your laundry room or another space in your home allows it, you might also consider an indoor chain drying method. “For all panels, we recommend chain drying to preserve the original fibres, color and elasticity,” says Elks.

Yameaer Retractable Clothesline ($25; amazon.com)

Yameaer's retractable clothesline

If a tumble dryer sheet best suits your laundry needs, Elks and Sansoni say choosing a low heat setting and drying is the best option. Sansoni adds that using your dryer’s moisture-sensing feature, if yours has this feature, is a good way to avoid over-drying sheets, which can cause fading, shrinking and weakening of fibers. .

And, to avoid wrinkling, it’s best to take your sheets out of the dryer right away.

Basic things:

  • Dry the sheets or use the tumble dry/low setting on the dryer.
  • Take the sheets out of the dryer immediately to avoid wrinkling.

Most down comforters and duvets can be machine washed, although Sansoni reminded us to “read the label, if attached, and follow those instructions,” because of the linens’ material and construction. Beds can be very different.

Pre-treat any stains first, then machine wash your comforter or bedding on a gentle cycle. Sansoni warns of a common mistake people make when doing laundry: Washing too much detergent. “Read detergent labels to use the right amount, as too much can leave residue.”

If your home washing machine’s drum isn’t big enough to fit a blanket, Elks recommends spot treatment; stuffing it in a washing machine that is too small can damage the blanket’s bulkhead box construction.

“We recommend caring for your blanket with regular brushing, and cleaning the spot with a soft soap, like Woolite,” says Elks.

Woolite Delicate Care Laundry Detergent ($13.99; amazon.com)

Woolite Delicate Care Laundry Detergent

When your comforter or comforter needs a deeper clean, says Elks, you can take it to the dry cleaners. Another good option when a comforter or duvet requires more than on-site handling is to use a local laundromat, which will have oversized machines large enough to accommodate bulky bedding.

You might be surprised to learn that down comforters or duvets can also be washed in the dryer – Elks suggests “using the dryer on low heat to soften and refresh” the comforter. She said: “Regular brushing helps keep the comforter high and luxurious.

Basic things:

  • Treat stains on down comforters with a gentle cleaner like Woolite.
  • When a deeper clean is needed, wash the comforter in a full-size washing machine or send it outside to dry clean.
  • Blankets or comforters can be refreshed by putting them in the dryer on a no-heat setting.

When it comes to drying down comforters or comforters, Sansoni recommends using the dryer on a low setting and periodically stopping the drying cycle to break up any clumps in the mattress. Using a dryer ball will also help soften the duvet cover and ensure an even distribution of the stuffing in the blanket.

Whitmor Balls Blue Dryer ($7.73; amazon.com)

Whitmor Balls Blue Dryer

Make sure the blanket is completely dry before storing or returning to bed.

Basic things:

  • Dry down comforters or duvets on low heat.
  • Use a dryer ball to help stuff the stuffing and ensure even distribution.
  • Make sure the comforter is completely dry.

This is the question everyone wants an answer to – how often should people wash their sheets?

“Once every 1-2 weeks,” Sansoni says, adding that “weekly is better, especially if you are allergic to dust mites or during the summer when you may sweat more.”

Elks agrees. “We recommend washing your sheets every two weeks and alternating between two different sets to increase longevity. If you sweat a lot in your sleep, washing more often will help keep your sheets fresher.”

iStock

Some other factors to consider when determining how often to wash your sheets:

  • Do you sleep at home every night? Frequent travelers won’t need to change bed sheets as often.
  • Do you have easy access to laundry facilities? Otherwise, you may not be washing as often, so you may want to have more sheets than the two that experts recommend.
  • Do you shower before going to bed at night? Do you sleep naked? Are you a heavy sweater? Body dirt is a major cause of bed sheet stains, so people who sleep naked or have night sweats will want to shower more often than those who shower before bed, put on pajamas, or sleep cool. than.
  • Do you sleep alone or with your partner, child(s) or pet(s)? Two (or more) people in one bed means dirtier linens that will need to be washed more often.

Basic things:

  • Wash bed sheets once every 1-2 weeks.
  • Wash bed sheets more often depending on factors such as perspiration or illness.





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