A CLEANING expert has revealed the four common washing mistakes that could be ruining your bedsheets.
Washing your sheets and covers seems like a straightforward task – just chuck the bedding in the machine, add some powder, perhaps a bit of softener, and you're all ready to go. Right?
Well, according to one whizz, Linda Barker, things are not necessarily this easy, and there are mistakes that could damage your bedsheets.
Speaking to The Express, esteemed designer, Linda Barker said: “In my mind, the look of the bed is the most important aesthetic part of a bedroom's decor.
“A beautifully made bed is easy to achieve and is always worth the attention you lavish on it.”
When it comes to doing the laundry, the whizz warned against using complicated washing cycles – she even urged people to ditch the germ-busting hot water cycles altogether.
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Avoid hot water
“Hot water is always damaging to bedlinen as it is breaks up the cotton (or silk) fibres and makes them brittle.
“It’s what the ‘lint’ is in your washing machine – (the more lint, the more damage).
“I always use an eco wash with only a warm water temperature as this will be much kinder to your linen and the environment.”
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Stop washing bedding with clothes
Linda said: “I would never put anything in the washing machine that might snag or tear the linen, so save your regular dirty clothing, those with buttons, zips and fastenings, for another separate load.”
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Ditch chemical products
It's not just the temperature of the water to consider – the products you use are also worth a re-think.
Sharing her expertise, the guru urged cleaning fans to reduce the number of chemicals in each wash cycle – this will prevent damage and improve the freshness of their clean laundry.
She said: “Often our washing is to get rid of skin and sweat rather than a build up of dirt so don’t be too heavy handed with the chemicals which can be too damaging.
“I use eco-friendly, plant-based washing liquid detergents and I never use fabric conditioners.”
Linda added that once a year, it's worth washing your bed linens without any commercial detergents at all, and instead, add a cup of borax or baking soda.
This will benefit both the fabric the washing machine.
Never use heat for drying
When it comes to drying your bedding, keeping it simple is crucial, according to the whizz, who swears by drying sheets exclusively outdoors – even in the winter.
She said: “I’ll avoid rainy days of course but even in the winter I can usually get things dry.
“Thankfully taking care of the environment is the best approach for matching the care of our laundry so everything is good here.”
How often should you wash bed sheets?
“With these hot nights I’d recommend that bed linen gets washed a little more often than if the nights were cooler.
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“Washing bedlinen once a week is a good habit to get into regardless of the season, if this seems too much washing then at least the pillows and the sheet should deserve this attention.
“Your duvet cover can hold back a little longer, I suggest every two weeks.”
Cleaning hacks and tips
Here are some tips to help you clean your home like a pro:
- How to clean your washing machine in a few easy steps
- Keep on top of cleaning your oven regularly
- Clean your shower to ensure it's always sparkling
- How to clean your microwave using cheap household items
- Here's how to get rid of that nasty limescale in your kettle
- You're cleaning your carpet all wrong – here's how to get it spotless again in no time
- Unblock a toilet without a plunger
- Clean your fabric or leather sofa in a few easy steps
- If you haven't cleaned your mattress in ages, here's how
- Steps to cleaning your dishwasher to leave it looking brand new
- This is how to clean mirrors and windows without streaking
- Keep your toilet clean in four easy steps
- Give your TV screen a once-over
- Did you know your Venetian, Roman, vertical, or roller blinds also need cleaning?
- Deep-clean your fridge in five simple steps
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