What Temperature Do You Wash Your Bedding? 79 - Mumsnet

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Find cleaning advice from other Mumsnetters on our Housekeeping forum.

Watch Flip Save Share 1 2 3 4 Original poster What temperature do you wash your bedding? 79 replies

Shell178 · 14/07/2011 22:37

I have been washing mine on 40° - following the care label but it seems from reading another thread that some wash theirs at 60° to get rid of germs.

Once I read that I'm worried that the germs are still there!

My washing machine only has 2 settings at 60°, one is a cotton cycle and the other is a synthetic cycle both are quite long at approx 2 hours.

How do you wash yours? :)

OP posts: See next See all Quote React Add post Share Watch lostinindia · 14/07/2011 22:38

40°

Quote React Add post Share Bookmark lachesis · 14/07/2011 22:39

Quote React Add post Share Bookmark ClaireDeLoon · 14/07/2011 22:40

60c but more to keep it white than worry of germs.

Surely bedding is no more prone to germs than any other item of laundry? I do admit though that the latest germ advice has probably passed me by.

Quote React Add post Share Bookmark Conkertree · 14/07/2011 22:40

60 - but partly cause ours are white and it seems to get them a little cleaner, and partly cause ds1 has bad eczema and gets a lot of emollient cream on his sheets so need the higher temperature to get them clean.

Quote React Add post Share Bookmark CeliaFate · 14/07/2011 22:40

60° at least. Bacteria's only killed at temps of 60° or above. Same for towels, dishcloths, flannels etc.

Quote React Add post Share Bookmark wasabipeanut · 14/07/2011 22:41

60 - along with towels, undies etc.

Quote React Add post Share Bookmark wasabipeanut · 14/07/2011 22:42

Bedding is more prone to germs surely ? You sleep in it for a week before you wash it. Most people don't wear the same t shirt for a week.

At least I hope they don't.

Quote React Add post Share Bookmark MrsDmitriTippensKrushnic · 14/07/2011 22:43

It's not germs, it's the fact that human grease (sorry!) only dissolves at temperatures of 60 degrees+ (how do you do the little degrees sign?)

They will look and smell clean at 40, but over time whites/pale colours will go grey from the build up. We always advise washing bed linen and towels at the higher temperature (I work in a textiles department).

Quote React Add post Share Bookmark PurveyorOfBaloney · 14/07/2011 22:43

I read somewhere recently that the recent explosion of bedbug numbers is down to the trend of washing at 40. They don't survive a boil wash!

Quote React Add post Share Bookmark timidviper · 14/07/2011 22:46

40 most of the time with the odd 60 now and again just to be sure.

I think 40 with a biological detergent is fine as above that temperature the enzymey bits are denatured so it is less efficient. I just do the 6- ones to reassure myself.

My american friend washes everything on really hot (think it's 85 or 95), how the clothing survives I don't know!

Quote React Add post Share Bookmark ClaireDeLoon · 14/07/2011 22:47

I see what you mean. Extrapolating that how manky must the mattress be? Because I don't wash that weekly. Can the germs penetrate the sheet?

This is where everyone says 'don't you have a germ proof mattress protector' and I'm outed as a bit manky for not having such a thing, isn't it?

Quote React Add post Share Bookmark HauntedLittleLunatic · 14/07/2011 22:48

40 - detergents kill bugs too (and dissolves grease)

I do a 60C when my washing machine needs a hot wash to clean the machine - so occasionally but not every tim.e

Quote React Add post Share Bookmark RMutt · 14/07/2011 22:55

60°

Quote React Add post Share Bookmark midnightexpress · 14/07/2011 22:59

Advice I've read for allergy sufferers is to wash bedding at 60 as dust mites aren't killed at temps below that, just come out cleaner.

Quote React Add post Share Bookmark nightcat · 15/07/2011 20:02

60 here and I try drying in sunlight to finish off any germs and make whites whiter

Quote React Add post Share Bookmark pinkytheshrinky · 15/07/2011 20:06

60 always - with bio for ours and non bio for the dcs - and ironed - no germs left surely?

Quote React Add post Share Bookmark ByTheWay · 15/07/2011 20:07

Ours goes on at 90 ! My mum always said to boil wash bed linens, so I always do it on the highest setting on the washing machine.

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thederkinsdame · 15/07/2011 21:38

60º for bedding and 90º for towels and cloths

Quote React Add post Share Bookmark Original poster Shell178 · 18/07/2011 00:26

After reading all your comments I'll continue washing at 40 but with a few 60 thrown in. The bugs haven't got me yet :)

OP posts: See all Quote React Add post Share Bookmark BooyHoo · 18/07/2011 00:42

i wash towels, bedlinen, dishclothes all at 95. also have a mattress protector that gets done at 95 weekly so hopefully very few bugs getting into the mattress.

Quote React Add post Share Bookmark rockinhippy · 18/07/2011 11:19

mostly at 60 degrees to kill off dustmites - but thats due to DDs Athma & my having Sinus problems - everything else gets washed at 40%

Quote React Add post Share Bookmark Scuttlebutter · 18/07/2011 11:53

60 as a minimum with occasional boil washes. Agree with others that it will kill mites, and keep stains/grease down. Try to dry outside and then ironed. Finally, a good airing before putting away.

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Jacaqueen · 18/07/2011 23:15

Bedding and towels get washed at 60 but I do the odd 90 every now and then. All other washing I do at 40 except the occasional wool/silk wash.

Quote React Add post Share Bookmark nannyl · 19/07/2011 09:15

I do it at 40 sometimes and 60 other times

My 60 wash takes nearly 3 hours so i normally only use that setting if its set to be warm and sunny all day, as i do like to get my bedding line dried

BooyHoo Do you really wash your mattress protectors everyweek? Shock Mine get washed probably 3 - 4 times a year, but never at 90! I have hippy chick which are washed at 60 or 40. (not sure if they can be washed at 90?)

The spare bed, which probably is slept in less than 20 nights per year, i wash those protectors once a year

Quote React Add post Share Bookmark Jojay · 19/07/2011 09:17

Unless it's been puked on, in which case 60.

It looks and smells clean, and that's good enough for me.

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