What not to do when washing bed linen: 10 mistakes that will quickly make your sheets age

“This is the most common mistake that leads to rapid damage to bed linen: almost everyone loads sheets and towels into the machine together, believing that they are the same thing. As a result, washing leads to the fact that the thin fabric of linen stretches and wears out, and the fibers of the napkins become “stapled”, which reduces their ability to absorb water, explains Anna Brakefield, co- founder of a company that produces luxury bath towels and bed linen.

According to Katie Elks, director of design and product development at a large textile company, only people who sleep alone and never eat in bed can wash their sheets every two weeks.

“Underwear comes into contact with your body for eight hours every day, causing a build-up of sweat, oil and flakes. So many reasons that explain the aging of bed linen. If you don’t get rid of stains quickly, the fabric will start to look worn sooner,” says Katie.

Elks says one of the best tips for washing your sheets is to do it regularly. “Do it once a week, especially for pillowcases, which get dirty the most,” says the expert.

And the founder of a luxury bedding company, Parima Ijaz, recommends following the “three sets rule”: one in the closet, another on the bed and the third in the laundry basket.

“What you can’t do with bed linen is fill the drum to capacity. First, the objects will not rub against each other and therefore remain dirty. Second, it is dangerous for the washing machine and can cause a breakdown, ”says Ron Shimek, president of the home service company. In order not to damage the bed linen when washing, he advises always following the instructions both for the textiles and for the device itself, and not putting more things in it than what the manufacturer recommends.

“Want to know how to extend the life of your bedding? Avoid bleach and your pillowcases and sheets will last for years. Harsh detergents seem like a great way to get rid of stains, but in reality, they often damage the fabric or change the color of the stains instead of removing them. Use natural ingredients – they fit much better into the concept of proper care of bed linen,” says Anna.

As Parima explains, poor washing of bed linen and clothes is very often associated with our belief that the more powder, the better the result. “If you use too much detergent, the fibers simply won’t be removed, making colored sheets dull and white sheets gray. Never add more powder than recommended. It’s better to pour less – usually all manufacturers exaggerate the standards so that you use their product faster, ”she says.

“Do you want to know what mistakes even professionals make most often when washing sheets? My answer: water too hot! Cotton can actually withstand temperatures of 60 degrees, but this is not necessary – modern detergents perfectly destroy all bacteria at 40 and even 30 degrees. So feel free to save energy – this will only help you preserve your bed linen: in this case, the washing tips work in two directions at once, ”explains Anna.

Read also: How to choose the right temperature for washing: important tips from launderers

“Do not waste time – this is the main rule for caring for bed linen. It would be a mistake to put it in the washing machine without first inspecting it – a small hole after washing and spinning can turn into a huge one. I also recommend removing the pellets with a razor or special trimmer, otherwise the friction will make the problem worse,” says professional cleaner Will Cotter.

“You have to know not only how to wash the sheets so that they don’t get damaged, but also how to wring them. After 1200 rpm, you will, of course, remove almost dry laundry from the machine, but deep creases and creases will appear on it. Go for 1,000 rpm to keep the fabric intact,” advises Will.

“When talking about common mistakes when washing sheets, conditioner is rarely mentioned. However, I am against its use – this product reduces the fabric’s ability to absorb moisture. It may seem like this isn’t important in the case of bedding, but think about it: do you really want to sleep on something that can’t absorb sweat? If that doesn’t seem like enough of a reason, just consider the fact that conditioner can build up in fibers, dulling fabrics, says Laundry Guy star Patrick Richardson.

Read also: When not to use fabric softener: advice from a laundry worker

“We have long wondered why bed linen, which appears to be of excellent quality, ages quickly. We changed suppliers, tried many laundries and came to a simple conclusion: you should not lose control of the process, entrepreneurs are bound to make mistakes. Simply put, if you want something done well, do it yourself,” says hotel manager Shirley Trinder.

So, we figured out what actions spoil bed linen. Now let’s talk about the rules that will keep it looking fresh right out of the store for years to come.

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