Bed sheets

Bed linen should always be kept clean. This is the only way to ensure quality and healthy sleep for yourself and all family members.

It would seem that washing bed linen is devoid of any tricks. In fact, there are many small but useful secrets that help not only keep your bed fresh, but also significantly increase the service life of sheets, pillowcases and duvet covers.

Read the article about how to properly wash, dry and iron bed linen made from different types of fabric in an automatic washing machine (at how many degrees, in what program) and manually.

Preparation for the process

Preparing bed linen for washing is a mandatory condition that should not be neglected.

Basic recommendations:

1. Go through your laundry, sorting it by color and fabric type. White, light, colored and black items are washed separately.
2. Separate the laundry into sets if they have different colors.
3. Study the manufacturer's information on the label.
4. Shake the product several times to remove dust.
5. Turn pillowcases, duvet covers and mattress covers inside out. Remove dirt that has accumulated in the corners.

If there are difficult stains on the fabric, for example from blood or wine, they need to be washed in advance.

How to wash in an automatic washing machine?

Machine washable bed linen carried out according to the following instructions:

1. Load the items into the drum of the washing machine.
2. Select the appropriate washing mode.
3. Set the spin speed and water temperature.
4. Add or add detergent.
5. Turn on the “Extra Rinse” function. It is used when washing with granular powders or with a large load.
6. Start the wash cycle. After its completion, the laundry is removed from the drum and sent to dry.

In what mode, at what temperature?

When choosing a washing mode, you need to start from the type of fabric from which the laundry is made. Modern machines are equipped with many useful functions, so you can choose the best way to care for your bedding.

Basic recommendations:

• “Silk” mode is suitable for washing satin, silk and wool;
• delicate or gentle washing is intended for the care of synthetic fabrics, jacquard and chintz items;
• the “cotton” mode is suitable for washing natural fabrics (cotton and linen);
• washing with pre-soaking is required for heavily soiled laundry;
• The “Quick Wash” mode involves processing items for 15 minutes; it is chosen when the laundry is clean, but needs to be refreshed.

In most cases, you can limit yourself to a maximum washing temperature of 60 degrees.

Modern detergents allow you to remove dirt even in cool water. If it is not hotter than 40 degrees, the fabric retains its density and color saturation longer.

Temperature recommendations:

• For flax And cotton: 60 degrees;
• For synthetics: 40 degrees;
• for delicate fabrics: 30 degrees;
• for colored fabrics: 40 degrees.

Detergent

The choice of detergent depends on a number of factors:

1. Color. If the products are painted, you need to choose a powder labeled Color.
2. Compound. Aggressive detergents containing chlorine are not suitable for machine washing.
3. Bleach. Its presence in the composition is acceptable provided that white laundry is to be washed.
4. Release form. Liquid detergents and gel capsules can be rinsed well and dissolved in cool water.

To ensure that the laundry has a pleasant aroma, does not electrify and retains color saturation longer, you can add fabric conditioner to the washing machine.

Spin

Spinning at high speeds is acceptable when washing durable fabrics (cotton, linen). If the product is made of delicate fabric, then it is reduced to 400-600 rpm.

Delicate fabrics require avoiding automatic drying, or reducing the spin speed to minimum values.

How to properly wash by hand?

You can wash your bed linen by hand. This requires some effort, but this method of processing is considered more gentle. Hand washing is especially important for caring for delicate fabrics.

Step-by-step algorithm of actions:

1. Fill a large basin or bathtub with warm water.
2. Dissolve detergent in it. You need to choose either a universal liquid composition or a powder intended for hand washing. The packaging of detergent should have an icon in the form of a basin with a hand placed in it.
3. Soak bedding in water.The time it is kept in the washing solution depends on the degree of contamination of the fabric.

   General recommendations: for white items – 1-3 hours, for colored fabrics – no more than 60 minutes.

4. Remove difficult stains. If the material allows, you can use a brush with soft bristles.
5. Using gentle squeezing movements, stretch the entire surface of sheets, pillowcases and duvet covers step by step.
6. Rinse things in warm water. To make them soft, you can add fabric softener.
7. Wring things out and send them to dry.

It is necessary to rinse the laundry until the water stops foaming, since the detergent particles remaining in the fabric fibers will slowly destroy them. In addition, with constant contact with the skin, they can provoke the development of allergies.

How often?

Bedding should be washed as it gets dirty. Even if there are no noticeable stains on the fabric, It is recommended to change it every 7 days. In a week, the material does not have time to become salty, but it is difficult to call it fresh.

Clean linen is the key to healthy sleep. Such bedding does not spread dust mites or allergens. Read more Here.

Features for products made from different materials

Depending on the type of fabric from which the set is sewn, the rules for caring for it will differ.. There are picky materials that are not afraid of even boiling, but there are also expensive bedding that requires a delicate attitude.

Cotton

This is the most popular material for sewing pillowcases and sheets. It absorbs moisture well and is not afraid of automatic washing. In extreme cases, cotton underwear can be boiled.

When washed in water exceeding 60-70 degrees, bedding may shrink.

You can use bleaching agents for washing. Spin at maximum speeds is allowed. Linen has similar properties.

Synthetics

Synthetic fibers are included in most bedding sets. However, for a comfortable sleep, sheets and pillowcases with a high content of them are not very suitable, since they do not allow moisture and air to pass through well.

Features of washing such products:

• water temperature – up to 40 degrees;
• spin at a speed no higher than 600 rpm;
• detergent without aggressive components in the composition.

Blended fabrics

Blended fabrics are a combination of natural and synthetic fibers. Their content in a particular bedding set will vary. Therefore, before you start washing, you need to read the manufacturer's recommendations.

Basic care tips:

1. Hand and machine washable.
2. Avoid using chlorine bleaches.
3. The water temperature is not higher than 40 degrees.
4. Spin at speeds up to 500 rpm.

With proper care, high-quality PBC made from mixed fabrics will last up to 5 years.

Satin

Satin linen is very pleasant to the touch, so sleeping on it is a pleasure.

Caring for it must meet the following requirements:

• colored satin is washed at 40 degrees;
• white satin is washed at 60 degrees - this is the maximum temperature;
• spinning can be carried out at maximum speed.

For satin, machine and hand wash are acceptable. Read more about the rules for washing satin bed linen here.

Bamboo

Bamboo bed linen can be washed by hand or machine. Caring for it does not present any difficulties.

Rules to follow:

1. Do not exceed the water temperature of 40 degrees.
2. Do not use aggressive detergents.
3. Do not push at maximum speeds.

It is recommended to opt for the “delicate wash” mode.

Silk

Silk Linen is expensive and requires careful handling. That is why all machines have a separate item in the “silk” mode.

Washing is carried out taking into account the following features:

• water temperature – no higher than 30 degrees;
• detergents - only liquid;
• spinning is not allowed.

To prevent silk sheets from becoming electrified and shiny, it is recommended to use an antistatic agent for bed linen. It is included in most air conditioners (Laska, Ushasty Nyan, Synergetic, etc.).

Percale

Percale consists of cotton and other fabrics (polyester, linen or silk). The threads are woven quite tightly, which allows you to wash such bed linen in a machine.

Basic recommendations:

1. The water temperature during the first wash is no higher than 30 degrees. In the future, percale can be washed at 60 degrees.
2. Use of neutral liquid detergents, without bleaching components in the composition.
3. Spin speed is up to 800 per minute.

Jacquard

Jacquard bed linen looks attractive and is very pleasant to the touch. Such sets are rightfully considered a luxury item.

Basic care recommendations:

• Hand and machine washable;
• water temperature – no higher than 30 degrees;
• Spin is disabled.

You can iron jacquard linen only from the wrong side.

Velvet

Velvet bed linen is very demanding to care for. This is a delicate and noble material, which has been and remains a symbol of high status and high cost.

Basic cleaning recommendations:

1. Hand wash only.
2. Avoid granular powder, bleaches and conditioners.
3. Prohibition on any type of spin.

Do not rub velvet with a brush. You can use a sponge to remove dirt.

Children's sets

Features of caring for children's bedding:

1. The kit must be washed before first use.
2. Detergents should not contain aggressive components, including bleaches.
3. Washing should be done regularly as sheets and pillowcases become dirty.
4. It is recommended to load children's bedding separately from adult sets.
5. Use natural cleaning products to remove stubborn stains.

The best bedding for a crib: satin, chintz, calico, linen, bamboo.

Do new ones need to be washed?

New bed linen must be washed. Before reaching the buyer, the fabric can gather dust for a long time in a warehouse, after which it is touched by many hands: weavers, packers, seamstresses, sellers. As a result, a certain amount of dust settles on it.

The first wash allows you to get rid of various contaminants and excess dyes, as well as make the material softer.. The water temperature should be low, and detergents are sometimes completely abandoned.

Read more Here.

Removing difficult stains

To combat difficult stains, it is not necessary to use aggressive detergents. Available and inexpensive substances that everyone has in their home come to the rescue:

1. Blood. It can be removed using hydrogen peroxide, which is applied to a cotton pad and wiped with it until the stain disappears completely.
2. Urine, sweat and other secretions. Baking soda and vinegar work well with such stains.

   They are applied one by one to the fabric, wait until the foaming reaction ends, leave for 30 minutes and wash as usual.

3. Oily stains. They can be easily removed using a mixture of salt and starch. The powder is applied to the stain, left for an hour, and then washed.
4. Makeup stains. The most accessible means for removing them is laundry soap. It is grated, diluted with water and applied to the stain as a paste. After 30 minutes the item needs to be washed.
5. Wine, coffee Tea. You can neutralize the coloring pigment with ammonia. It is applied to a cotton pad, which is used to wipe the stain until it disappears completely.

Drying

Drying tips bed linen:

• Products should be hung in such a way that they are as straight as possible;
• the room must be well ventilated;
• Do not dry the bed on heating devices or near sources of open fire;
• It is not recommended to dry the bed in the sun, as ultraviolet radiation contributes to the destruction of fabric fibers.

Ironing

Iron bed linen depending on the type of fabric from which it is made.The manufacturer always indicates the relevant information on the product label.

If it is not there, then you need to iron sheets and pillowcases at a minimum temperature. To do this, switch the toggle switch on the iron to an icon in the form of a single black dot.

You need to start the procedure while the laundry is still damp. They look at it from the wrong side. It is possible to use the steam function. All about ironing bed linen - Here.

Helpful information

Washing Tips bed linen:

1. Do not overload the drum by more than 2/3. Otherwise, the quality of the wash will be worse.
2. After the machine emits a signal indicating the end of the wash, the laundry must be removed immediately. The longer it remains in the drum, the more likely it is to shed.
3. If a person is sick, it is recommended to change his bed linen every 1-2 days. When this is not possible, it is necessary to at least wash the pillowcase. Many viruses and bacteria settle on the fabric, which pose a threat of infection. Washing should be done at high temperatures.

You will find a lot of useful and important information about washing bedding in this section.

Conclusion

Bed linen can be washed either by machine or by hand; the choice of processing method depends on the type of fabric. To care for delicate items, use liquid detergents and cool water.

Before washing, laundry must be sorted. With a properly organized process, it will last for several years..