Expert Advice: 10 Rules For Washing Bedding

Photograph by Kate Sears

It's a dreadful question: Is your bed really clean? We asked bedding maven Tricia Rose of Rough Linen for her top pointers on cleaning your bedding.

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Wash “sheets and pillow slips at least every two weeks, duvet covers and shams as needed, maybe every four weeks," Tricia advises.

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To clean sheets, says Tricia: “Use a small amount of a modern eco-detergent and select cold wash for linen. Spot clean with Shout or soak with Biz if you need to."

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“Your next line of defense is pillow protectors and a mattress cover,” says Tricia.

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“There is no need to use dryer sheets or fabric softeners,” says Tricia. “They can be toxic: they coat the fibers of your fabrics to make them less absorbent, and they give you problems with your dryer filters too."

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“Mattresses benefit from being vacuumed, and if you have a cleaner with a transparent receptacle you will be horrified at the amount of dust that comes up,” says Tricia.

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Wash delicate down and feather items like pillows and duvets at a launderette or have them cleaned professionally.

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Speaking as someone who uses a fountain pen and sometimes writes in bed, I can live with the odd spot, as long as I have a fresh-smelling bed.”

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"There is nothing quite as delicious as the consciousness of a crisp fresh bed,” says Tricia.

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To keep your clean bed smelling that way: “Essential oils and natural scents are an easy freshness option,” notes Tricia.

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10. Air and sunlight are sometimes all you need.

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For More Advice On Storage, Visit Us At Organized Home: Built-in Storage

Photo courtesy of Area Home

Expert Advice: 10 Rules For Washing Bedding

It's a dreadful question: Is your bed really clean? We asked bedding maven Tricia Rose of Rough Linen for her top pointers on cleaning your bedding.

Wash “sheets and pillow slips at least every two weeks, duvet covers and shams as needed, maybe every four weeks," Tricia advises.

1. You might be washing your sheets too often.

To clean sheets, says Tricia: “Use a small amount of a modern eco-detergent and select cold wash for linen. Spot clean with Shout or soak with Biz if you need to."

2. The golden rule of laundry? Do no harm.

“Your next line of defense is pillow protectors and a mattress cover,” says Tricia.

3. Remember to use protection.

“There is no need to use dryer sheets or fabric softeners,” says Tricia. “They can be toxic: they coat the fibers of your fabrics to make them less absorbent, and they give you problems with your dryer filters too."

4. Ditch the laundry accountrements.

“Mattresses benefit from being vacuumed, and if you have a cleaner with a transparent receptacle you will be horrified at the amount of dust that comes up,” says Tricia.

5. You should be vacuuming your mattress.

Wash delicate down and feather items like pillows and duvets at a launderette or have them cleaned professionally.

6. When washing pillows and duvets, proceed with caution.

Speaking as someone who uses a fountain pen and sometimes writes in bed, I can live with the odd spot, as long as I have a fresh-smelling bed.”

7. It's okay to embrace imperfection.

"There is nothing quite as delicious as the consciousness of a crisp fresh bed,” says Tricia.

8. Your bedroom should not feel stuffy.

To keep your clean bed smelling that way: “Essential oils and natural scents are an easy freshness option,” notes Tricia.

9. You can boost freshness with essential oils.

10. Air and sunlight are sometimes all you need.

“The best quick fix? Fresh air. Strip the bed, fling open the windows, shake out duvet infills and pillows, and hang them outside in the sun.”

For More Advice On Storage, Visit Us At Organized Home: Built-in Storage

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