‘Best temperature’ to wash your bed sheets and pillows properly – and it’s not 60 or 90C
There's a lot of debate around how often to wash your bed sheets and pillows, but the best temperature to use is not often discussed.
Cleaning bedding can be a chore, but doing it right ensures that the simple pleasure of slipping under fresh sheets at the end of a busy day remains one of life’s most rewarding experiences. The care required for washing pillows and duvets extends to your bed sheets as well.
When it comes to washing pillows and bed sheets, it’s important to use the right temperature to get them as clean as possible. According to the bedding experts at Soak and Sleep, generally, you should wash your bed sheets weekly or bi-weekly (having an extra set or two is useful not only for a busy schedule but also for rotation). If there’s someone in the house with allergies, they recommend washing the sheets weekly to keep them as fresh as possible.
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What’s more, white sheets should be washed weekly to maintain their crisp appearance and prevent stain accumulation. However, even if bed sheets don’t appear dirty, it doesn't mean bacteria aren’t present.
When it comes to the best temperature to wash your bed sheets and pillows, the experts said: “As a general rule of thumb, we’d always recommend adhering to the care labels and following the instructions.
“Most fabrics can be washed at a warm temperature of 40 degrees as this helps to remove dirt and natural body oils and takes care of germs.”
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Not only will washing bedding at a lower temperature often kill bacteria, but the washing machine will also consume less energy, which helps the environment and will also save you some money on your energy bills.
Most modern laundry detergents are now designed to be very effective at lower temperatures, so there is really no need to put on a hot wash for bedding.
However, if households choose to go longer than a week before washing their bed sheets, a higher temperature may be necessary.
Laundry experts at Melt recommend washing at 60 degrees if bed sheets and pillows are not washed frequently, as lower temperatures may not effectively remove all bacteria, leading to a quicker return of unpleasant odours.
Linens experts at Belledorm agree, suggesting that 40 degrees is typically the “best temperature” for washing bed sheets and pillows.
However, they advised: “If, however, you’ve left your sheets a little longer than you should have, consider a higher wash, especially in cold and flu season.”
