Almost mechanically, we slip the laundry into the washing machine and start it… making a few mistakes along the way! However, things are not that simple, especially when it comes to bedding maintenance. Choice of wash cycle, wash temperature, choice of detergent, etc. Many parameters come into play and make the difference between well-washed white or colored laundry and laundry that smells bad, is still stained and very wrinkled after drying. Here are some common mistakes when machine washing sheets to avoid in the future to keep your bedding sets lasting even longer.
And for impeccable household linen, also find on the site all our advice for washing your duvet, pillows, curtains and even towels to perfection.
1) Washing too infrequently
As the days go by, our sheets collect dust, dead skin, perspiration (and other bodily fluids), care products and germs, many of the elements that dust mites feed on and which encourage the development of germs. and mushrooms. These residues can also promote acne breakouts, as the pores of the skin become clogged. A study even highlighted the fact that we lose every night approximately 15 million cells skin and a dirty sheet shelters 39 times more bacteria than an animal’s bowl and thousands of times more than the toilet seat. And this even applies if you shower in the evening!
Ideally, sheets should be washed at least once every 10 days which can be extended to two weeks at most. In summer, it is better to count on one wash per week, as well as in other cases:
-If your pets sleep with you or you smoke in the room
-In case of heavy night sweats or illness and convalescence
-If you have allergies, particularly an allergy to dust mites
-If you sleep naked
-In case you work in the catering sector
2) Carry the sheets against you when changing them
Separating clean from dirty is a basic rule of hygiene, and this also applies to bed linen. When changing the sheets, avoid shaking them, which spreads bacteria and dust throughout the room. In addition, it is not recommended to hold the sheets against you to carry them to the machine. Remember, you are holding your dirty, damp sheets against your clean clothes! Prefer to remove them and fold them roughly before slipping them into a basket intended for transporting dirty laundry and dirty clothes.
3) Neglecting stain treatment
Washing in the washing machine can tend to set organic stains and make them difficult to deal with after washing. This is why it is always advisable to treat stains before washing clothes in the washing machine. Here, you can use any effective stain remover, starting with Marseille soap or the recipe for homemade k2r with baking soda and black soap. So, there is no need to rewash the sheets a second time, because no stain or dirt can resist them!
4) Washing with the wrong detergent
Except in the case of baby sheets which require a liquid detergent or particularly mild powder detergentit is not necessary to opt for a particular detergent. However, it is necessary to limit the use of aggressive detergent or bleach, particularly on natural fibers which this can make rough (silk, linen and satin). Sodium percarbonate is ideal for whitening sheets without damaging them. Bicarbonate can soften and preserve colors if added to laundry. Finally, white vinegar can be used as a softener and will remove bad residual odors from perspiration. This will be much better than fabric softener which will prevent the fibers from absorbing sweat in the long run.
5) Wash too hot
Oh no! no need to wash the sheets at 60°C minimum to eliminate germs. This was indeed true for old machines, but not for new models which wash better even at low temperatures. Additionally, washing too hot can weaken fabrics, and that’s not ideal for the environment. Otherwise, everything will depend on the material and type of fabric to be washed! The label will be valuable here, but if you have removed it, know that cotton is considered more resistant. Count between 40 and 60° for a perfect wash. For colored or black linen, however, do not exceed 40°, just like for linen. Polyester can be washed at 50° and satin at 30° maximum.
6) Load the machine incorrectly
First, avoid overloading the machine. In fact, this promotes knots and creases in the laundry and washes less well. Well-washed laundry should be shaken well! It is also always advisable to wash a matching complete sheet set. This thus makes it possible to wash the same colors and fabrics together (cotton with cotton, polyester with polyester, etc.). Thus, the colors and patterns on the duvet covers and pillowcases will remain unchanged. Washing different colors or textures may result in friction which can damage laundry more quickly. Let’s also remember that it is better to close any zipper. This will prevent the rest of the laundry from being damaged by friction! Finally, put your colored sheets inside out to preserve its color.
7) Dry laundry incorrectly
Leaving the sheets in your machine for too long before hanging them out is one of the mistakes to avoid when washing. Prefer a good drying in the open air without waiting after the end of the machine to avoid any bad unpleasant odor. As for the tumble dryer, it can be considered, but preferably at low temperature so as not to damage your textiles! And it remains much less ecological than the drying rack…