Bedding: Laundry expert’s hack to kill germs and bacteria without washing at 60 degrees
With water and electricity costs at record highs, millions of households are wondering if they can wash bed linen and towels at a lower temperature and still get hygienically clean results. Express.co.uk spoke to several laundry experts who shared their advice, with one suggesting using a detergent to ensure “99.9% of germs are killed”.
It was Katie Connors who wondered if 60 degrees Celsius was “the best wash to put sheets and linens in”.
Her comment on the Facebook group, Mrs Hinch Cleaning Tips, received many replies with varying advice.
Katie M Evans said: “I spend 60 for bed linen and towels. 30 for everything else.” Judith Oxlade agreed: “I set mine to 60 so they get really clean and kill germs.” Paula chimed in: “Always do 60 for sheets and towels.”
Diane Hudson, on the other hand, opted for a lower temperature: “I do mine at 40 and use antibacterial cleansers along with the softener l every week.”
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The product is “ideal for towels, children’s clothing, sportswear, underwear, socks, bedding and more, with an allergen-free fragrance”.
To use, add four capsules to the fabric softener drawer of your washing machine and wash as normal with your regular detergent.
You can also use it to soak items, just add two caps to 2.5L of water. Disperse the items completely and soak for 10 minutes.
Smol, on the other hand, suggests changing the temperature of a sink depending on whether bio or non-bio products are used.
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Kathleen Bell, a sustainable cleaning expert at smol told Express.co.uk: “Smol’s concentrated biowash capsules are best used in medium to low temperature washes (ideally between 30-40 degrees).
“The detergent contains enzymes that help break down common stains, such as food stains, sweat stains, grass stains and grease.
“These enzymes are very effective at breaking down these hard-to-remove stains and lifting them from your clothes.
“smol’s non-bio washing capsules do not contain the same enzymes, but are still effective in killing bacteria and at the same time are super gentle and delicate. For non-biowashers, you may need to use a higher temperature setting to aid in the cleaning process.”
When it comes to how often you should wash your bed linen, Ryan Thaker, Marketing Executive at MattressNextDay told Express.co.uk: “The general guideline is that these sheets and pillowcases should be removed and you should change your bed sheets at least once a week.
“If your sheets feel damp and ‘clammy’ after a night’s sleep, it’s well worth washing them and drying them so they’re fresh for the next night.
If you’re going through menopause and hot flashes or night sweats are part of your hormonal woes, putting on new sheets can make you feel better, says Ryan.
“Some medical conditions require your bed to be as clean as possible without bacteria or dust that can trigger allergies. If you suffer from a skin condition such as eczema or psoriasis, or a respiratory condition such as asthma, they can be aggravated by dust or bacteria. Therefore you should wash the sheets as often as possible.”
