We believe that our tips, tricks and guide to washing your bedding and other linens will help give you the clean, fresh you deserve and extend the lifespan of your linens to keep money in your pocket.
As experts in textiles we work with manufacturers to bring you the highest quality products and we want to enjoy that, new, freshly laundered feel and experience with every remake of your bed.
Wash Day for Your Flat Linens
For previous generations, washing was designated to one day, once a week and that day was more often than not, Wash Day Monday! Without the technology we have today, women (sadly it was the case, men were rarely involved) had to boil water before adding it to the washtub where, by hand, they rubbed and scrubbed to clean away the grime and stains accumulated over the week. Once clean the sheets and blankets were rinsed and wrung through a mangle to remove excess water and hung on the line to dry. After all of that ironing began and back then irons were definitely not state of the art like they are today!
Why do we reflect on the past, because even back then, without technology, whites remained white and colours bright? So what can we apply from the past to our washing today?
Tips and Tricks for Washday Perfection
Success lies in Separation
- Separate your whites from your colours. We all know machines have a button that says ‘mixed wash’ but at Vision, we don’t recommend this, just in case your colours bleed even the smallest amount.
- Separate your natural bedding from your synthetics, they will wash at differing temperatures.
The Label is the Rule Book
- Know your wash/dry/iron icons! Some icons are very similar, for example, machine washable and synthetics cycle. These two symbols are differentiated by one small line so take time to look carefully. You can find lots of guides online that explain the symbols in detail.
- Never assume whites will all be washed at the same temperature or colours can be washed at cooler temperatures. Different fabrics and varying textile quality will require different wash temperatures to maintain the look and feel you paid for. Check Your Items
Use Your Eyes
- Give your items a quick look over for any stains or grime that might need a bit of extra attention. If they do, pre-treat with a soaking solution of water and your washing liquid/powder or dab your cleaner direct to the spot and give it a gentle rub. History shows washerwomen taking to stains with bars of soap and rub a dub dubbing to remove anything that looks like it could be stubborn.
Loading Your Washing Machine
- Overpacking a washing machine will not save time. Your sheets, pillow and duvet covers need to be able to move about in the water and detergent, otherwise your sheets won’t be the clean you are looking for.
Don’t Guess the Temperature
- Washing at too low a temperature can do as much damage as washing at a too hot temperature. Manufacturers, Vision included, love their materials and want you to love them too, and for a long time.
- Cotton will stand up to a hotter wash than polyester or blends.
Choose Your Detergent Wisely
- Some detergents can contain chemicals that damage fabrics. Those that promise to get your wash whiter than white may rely on chemicals to achieve the job and you won’t need these as long as you follow the label instructions.
Wash complete, return to the label!
To Dry or Dry Clean Only!
- If it’s a sunny day and time allowing, then hanging your washing on the line is the best option for bedding and the environment.
- Tumble drying temperatures are just as important as wash temperatures, and beware of the red cross symbol which means ‘Do not tumble dry’ and the lonely green circle that means ‘Dry clean only.’
- Dry cleaners are professional and they always follow the labels, but if you are at all concerned let them know of anything you think is unusual on the label.
Ironing (hopefully not!)
- Again temperatures are vital. Your options cool, medium, hot, do not iron, do not steam!
- If you have washed and dried your sheets, pillow and duvet covers correctly and you have a non-iron option you should not need to get your ironing board out.
Time to Make the Bed!
Washday is over, hopefully in between the washing, drying and ironing you have found time for other jobs, a break and a cuppa thanks to technology!
If possible we recommend you rest your linens at this point, it will be good for the fabric to lie flat on a shelf with good airflow. This may require investment in multiple sets of bedding.
If you are remaking the bed a top tip from housekeepers for that pristine look is a spritz of water and a last stretch to ensure a completely crease free look.
Follow all these tips and tricks and your linens will last longer saving you money in the long term.
Vision Linens are suppliers of linens to the hospitality industry around the world and specialise in white bedding. Using and replacing our linens regularly means no need to sort the coloureds, familiarity with our labels and wash instructions and confidence in the quality of the look and touch that last wash after wash.
