The quality of washing depends on many factors. And water temperature is one of the main ones. At best, things just don’t stretch well, at worst, they will be hopelessly damaged. Therefore, before you wet your clothes and underwear, you need to study the information on the labels. If they are not there, then knowledge about modes, fabrics and general rules for clothing will help you navigate.

Washing temperature

Many automatic washing machines allow you to set the washing temperature with an accuracy of almost 1 degree. Therefore, it is very important to know in what cases this or that heating is used, at what temperature it is better to wash things, depending on the degree of contamination and the material of manufacture.

Up to 30 degrees

This is cool water. It is used for slightly worn items. If the stains are stubborn and strong, then pre-soaking with powder or soap will be required. This heating is suitable for delicate fabrics (wool, silk, some types of synthetics) and products that require careful handling, for example, knitwear. Also, at this temperature things do not fade.

Up to 45 degrees

From 30 to 45 degrees is the most universal temperature range. It can be used on almost all fabrics and even for daily use. Fresh stains can be easily removed in this range.

Up to 60 degrees

This mode is used for more durable and strong fabrics, such as linen or cotton. At 60 degrees, even heavy stains can be easily washed off. In this case, additional soaking or treatment with cleaning agents is not required. This mode is used for bed linen and cleaning children's clothes.
90 degrees and above

At this temperature, things are not only washed, but also disinfected. This is a way to wash cleanly without resorting to expensive and often hazardous chemicals. However, a fairly small number of things and fabrics can withstand boiling: these are natural fabrics such as cotton and linen. Even when exposed to such temperatures, they do not deform or become unusable. But they may lose color. Therefore, boiling is used mainly for white or light-colored fabrics. It is recommended to boil children's clothes, medical clothing, underwear of sick people (especially with skin diseases), textile toys, etc.

Depending on the material

Everything is clear with the purpose of temperatures. But what to do if the labels are erased or lost, and only approximately is known about the item and the material it was made from? In this case, they decide which water is best to wash in, based on previous experience or understanding of the fabric. If absolutely nothing is known about the item of clothing, then it is recommended to first wash it in cool water by hand.

Natural fabrics

The most durable and heat-resistant material of all is flax. White fabric can easily withstand boiling, while colored fabric retains colors even at 60 degrees.

Cotton is not far behind flax. It can also be boiled or machine washed at 90-95 degrees. However, the color doesn't hold up as well. Products with patterns or dyed should not be washed at temperatures above 45 degrees.

Wool is one of the most whimsical materials. It can only be rinsed in cool water and using special products.

The same applies to silk. This delicate material does not tolerate heat above 30 degrees.

Artificial fabrics

In most cases, artificial and synthetic fabrics do not tolerate heat well: the fibers become coarse, brittle, or even change their properties. Also, things may become deformed or shrink. Therefore, it is recommended to wash any synthetic clothing at a temperature no higher than 45 degrees, or even better, limit it to 30 degrees.

Viscose is easily deformed; it is better not to expose it to high temperatures, but to limit it to cool water.

One of the most heat-resistant artificial materials is polyester. He calmly tolerates heating up to 40-45 degrees. However, when overheated, the fabric “breaks”. Acetate also belongs to this group.

Elastane or lycra are quite resistant to hot water. Typically these materials are added to another type of fabric (such as cotton). The percentage determines how resistant to heat a particular thing is. Typically, clothing can withstand hot water (up to 60 degrees).

Acrylic cannot be heated: it can barely withstand 30-degree washing. It is as finicky as the wool it imitates. It also requires the use of special liquids and easily loses its shape.

SanPiNs for children's and medical institutions recommend changing bed linen as it gets dirty, but at least once a week. You can adhere to the same frequency at home - within a week the laundry loses its freshness, but does not yet have time to become greasy, and as a result it is easily washed.

In winter, when a person sweats less and sleeps in pajamas and warm nightgowns, bed linen can be changed once every two weeks. By the way, in many European countries it is customary to change linen every 10-14 days, but there the beds are firstly ventilated, and secondly, the air temperature in the bedroom is often lower than what Russians are used to.

Pillowcases that come into contact not only with the skin, but also with the hair (especially if the hair is oily) usually get dirty faster - especially since in this case the remains of night creams, decorative cosmetics, etc. can accumulate on the fabric. At the same time, the fabric is in contact with the skin of the face all night. Therefore, it is better to change pillowcases more often - once every 2-3 days.

It is best to wash the bed of feverish patients after one day of use. If this is not possible, you must at least put a clean pillowcase on your pillow every day.

Preparing laundry for washing

• by fabric type(the washing mode for different sets may be different);


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  according to the degree of fabric dyeing(it is better to wash white and light colors separately from colored ones, even if they are items from the same set);


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  by degree of pollution(sheets that are only lightly soaked with sweat do not need to be washed intensively, as this will lead to premature wear of the fabric).

Duvet covers, pillowcases or mattress covers are usually turned inside out before washing - this will get rid of dirt that accumulates in the corners.

If there are stains (for example, blood) on sheets made of colored delicate fabrics, they must be treated with a stain remover before washing. Contaminated cotton or linen sheets do not require such treatment - it will be enough to adjust the washing mode.

How to calculate the weight of bed linen for washing

The washing machine has loading restrictions - they are calculated based on the weight of dry laundry. At the same time, if we are talking about washing sheets and duvet covers, we must keep in mind that these are quite voluminous products. And in order for them to stretch well, it is better not to fully load the machine: the weight of dry laundry should be about one and a half times less than the maximum load.

Approximate weight of bed linen:

• double duvet cover – 500-700 grams,


• pillowcase – 200 grams,


• sheet – 350-500 grams.

How and at what temperature do you wash bed linen?

Before automatic washing machines became widespread, clothes were typically washed in very hot water and often boiled to bleach and further disinfect. Now there is no need for such “harsh” washing - modern technology in combination with modern detergents allows you to wash clothes at lower temperatures, which ensures better preservation of the fabric.

The optimal temperature for washing light linen bed linen and linen made from thick cotton fabrics can be considered 60 degrees - this temperature is sufficient for disinfection, and the washing efficiency is quite high. If desired, you can wash such fabrics at higher temperatures - the laundry will be disinfected better this way, but the laundry will also wear out faster. To wash such items, you can use white laundry powder or universal powder. To wash heavily soiled laundry (including stained sheets), you can use powder bleaches or laundry detergent enhancers, as well as liquid bleaches for washing machines.

Colored bed linen and linen made from delicate fabrics are washed at 30-50 degrees. For colored laundry, products for colored fabrics are used (marked Color on the packaging). You can use liquid shampoos for washing - they are designed for use at low temperatures and wash things quite well. Heavily soiled laundry is pre-soaked or a pre-wash cycle is used. It is advisable to iron linen that is washed at low temperatures before use, even if you are not a fan of ironing bed linen.

To wash children's bedding, use detergents for washing children's clothes. Typically, children's underwear is made from natural fabrics, which allows them to be washed at fairly high temperatures.

Exact recommendations for washing bed linen are contained on product labels or kit packaging - it indicates the recommended washing temperature, drying mode, the possibility or impossibility of using bleaches, and so on. If we are talking about an expensive set of delicate fabrics or colored underwear with voluminous patterns, it is better to read the recommendations and follow them.

How to wash bed linen in a washing machine: modes for different types of fabric

Most modern washing machines allow you to install additional functions, adjust the spin level, etc., which allows you to select the optimal mode for washing bed linen depending on the characteristics of the fabric.

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  Linen – 60-95°C, soaking or pre-washing possible, strong spin;


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  Light calico, percale, ranfors– 60-95oC, soaking or pre-wash possible, any mode;


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  Satin,– 40-60oC, soaking or pre-wash possible, any mode;


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  Colored chintz– 40°C, without using bleach, medium-intensity spin;


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  Batiste, bamboo– 30-40°C, delicate mode without spin or with low spin;


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  Polyester or cotton with added polyester– 40°C, delicate mode or synthetic mode, soaking possible, double rinsing;


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  Silk – 30°C, delicate wash cycle (“silk” mode), special mild detergents and conditioner, low spin or no spin. Attention! Be sure to read the label: for some silk products, dry cleaning only is recommended.

Do I need to wash new bedding?

Newly purchased bedding must be washed before use. Firstly, during the production of bed linen, dust and dirt invariably accumulate on the fabric; secondly, new bedding is sometimes impregnated with a composition that helps the fabric keep its shape.

It is best to wash new bedding separately from other items and at the maximum temperature allowed by the manufacturer. This will not only disinfect the linen, but also (if the fabric is not dyed very well) will allow excess paint to come off.

During the first wash, bed linen may shrink slightly - this is normal and, as a rule, is provided for by the manufacturer when cutting.

Even if you shower every day, your bed will not remain perfectly clean. During the night, exfoliated particles of skin and hair, as well as sweat, accumulate on it. Therefore, over time, the laundry becomes dirty and requires washing. If you look at sanitary standards, you can find a simple recommendation: change bedding weekly. It is important to consider the season of use. In winter we wear pajamas, which keeps the sheets clean longer, and they can be changed every two weeks. In summer we sweat a lot, so it is advisable to freshen your laundry every seven days.

It is advisable to change bed linen once a week

The quality of the fabric also affects the frequency of washing. Cotton products are more durable and can remain more or less clean for two weeks. Duvet covers and sheets made from silk, bamboo and cambric require replacement after just five days.

To find out the permissible washing temperature in the machine, carefully study the product label. It should contain information about the composition of the fabrics and the manufacturer's recommendations for care.

How to wash bed linen in a washing machine

Depends on the following factors: the type of material and the degree of its contamination. To sew bedding sets, natural, mixed and synthetic fibers are used, which must be washed at different temperatures. But first, the laundry needs to be prepared for the upcoming wash.

Bedding must be treated separately from towels, clothing and other items. Children's sets cannot be washed with adults, as they require special household chemicals. In addition, you need to include an additional rinse. First of all, sort your laundry into colored and white, taking into account the characteristics of the fabric. Calico and satin are highly durable, so you can set the “cotton” program for them. Viscose, cambric and silk are delicate fabrics, so care must be careful. They are washed only on a delicate cycle.

Treat stains additionally before washing

If stains are observed on the laundry, treat them with the appropriate composition. Then turn all the products inside out, shake out all accumulated dust, fasten all fasteners, if any. Only after this can the bed be sent to the drum.

When choosing a kit, it is very important to consider the following fact: the ability to provide the products with proper care. That is, you must know exactly what mode to wash your bed linen. It depends on the type of fabric:

1. Linen and cotton can easily withstand high temperatures. The recommended value is 60 degrees, but if things need to be disinfected, values ​​up to 95 degrees are acceptable. Additionally, you can enable the pre-soak function and spin at maximum speed.
2. Satin - to process it, set the temperature no higher than sixty degrees for dry powders and forty for liquid gels. The spin can be both maximum and medium.
3. Bamboo and cambric - for these materials, set the delicate mode and low settings: for bamboo - no higher than 30, for cambric - 40 degrees.
4. Synthetics are a practical option, the care of which depends on additional fibers. It is not recommended to wash such products in hot water too often - pills may appear on them. The best option is regular treatment at forty degrees.
5. Silk is a delicate and delicate material, so it must be washed at a temperature no higher than thirty degrees. Spin and bleach are prohibited. It is recommended to add softener and pour only liquid powder.
6. Viscose is a delicate material that can be washed by hand or in a machine, setting the appropriate mode. The permissible temperature is no more than forty degrees. Viscose should absolutely not be twisted or wrung out.
7. Chintz fabric does not like high temperatures, so it is better to limit it to forty degrees, refuse bleach and set the spin cycle to medium speed.

The choice of temperature depends on the bed linen fabric

The type of material also determines the frequency of washing. Synthetics, which contain cotton fibers, are the most durable fabric that retains its freshness for a couple of weeks. Bamboo, silk and satin should be replaced every five days. Before washing items, carefully read the manufacturer's recommendations.

To ensure that your bed linen serves you for a long time, follow these simple rules during use:

1. Washing should be done as often as required. If any discomfort occurs during sleep, change the set.
2. It is better to pour liquid gel into the machine. It is easily washed out of the fabric, does not leave unpleasant stains and does not cause irritation.
3. New underwear must be washed immediately after purchase.
4. It is advisable to treat a dirty kit as soon as possible. Leaving crumpled fabric in a basket with other items for a long time can significantly deteriorate the condition of the material.

Leaving laundry in the hamper for a long time may deteriorate the material's condition.

If you wash in a machine, do not rely on the water temperature recommended for the manual approach. In air it cools quickly and does not destroy the structure of the material.

How to wash your baby's bedding. Despite the fact that diapers can be washed easier and faster in a washing machine, it is better to do it by hand. There are several reasons for this. Firstly, there is no need to accumulate the required amount of things. Secondly, you can use almost any product for hand washing, but for machine washing the choice is limited.

When automatically processing, it is recommended to wash a newborn’s underwear at maximum temperature so that they are additionally disinfected. However, remember that ninety degrees is an indicator permissible only for cotton and linen. As for detergents, the best option is laundry soap. If it is not available, choose specialized liquid products and include additional rinsing for children's kits. After washing, items must be ironed.

In some cases, sets can only be washed by hand. For example, if the car breaks down or you live in the country. In this case, the process will take a long time and take a lot of effort. To make your work easier, soak the items in water and add a large dose of powder or liquid gel.

Some sets need to be washed by hand only

The water temperature is selected taking into account the composition of the fabric and the brightness of the pattern. Dilute the powder in water and immerse the laundry. Add liquid if necessary. After an hour, when the dirt has disappeared, all that remains is to rinse the products well so that the water is clear.

Opinions are divided regarding ironing: some believe that it makes the fabric softer and gives them an attractive appearance, and high temperatures destroy microbes. Others believe it is pointless. The choice is yours, but experts recommend that you definitely iron your laundry in the following cases:

1. One of the family members is sick - the infection can be transmitted through the bed.
2. The set is intended for a child under one year old.
3. Increased humidity in the house when things cannot dry well.

The advisability of ironing bed sheets is still controversial

If the laundry is washed after washing, it must be washed again, setting the intensive mode and the re-rinse option. Products can be pre-soaked in oxygen-containing bleach for about an hour for maximum effect. In severe cases, digestion in ammonia will solve the problem.

Bleach will help get rid of stains on white sheets

Colored items can be saved in another way: prepare an ammonia solution and immerse the bed in it for thirty minutes, and then put it in the washing machine.

What does a bad smell mean?

If your clean laundry produces an unpleasant odor despite using a high-quality laundry detergent and softener, determine the cause of the problem. Perhaps you did not immediately remove the bed from the machine or did not dry it completely. Eliminate all provoking factors. If there is no result, you need to clean the washing unit. If this is not done regularly, mold will inevitably appear on the internal parts, which is the main source of bad odor. Try pouring citric acid into the powder compartment and turning on the longest program at the highest temperature, leaving the drum empty.

In the closet where you store your laundry, place bags filled with lemon balm, lavender or other pleasant-smelling herbs. You can place soap, coffee beans or cinnamon on the shelves. These simple and affordable products will add fragrance to your bed and keep it fresh for a long time.

The main goal of any wash is to get clean and nice-smelling laundry. If you follow simple recommendations, the set will retain its original appearance and bright color for a long time.

Tips for using washing machines

Reasons for the appearance of odors, grease, plaque and black mold in the washing machine.

Do I need to shut off the water pipes when the machine is not in use?

Reasons for the appearance of odors, grease, plaque and black mold in the washing machine:

Many people wash exclusively at 40 degrees. Nowadays, in addition, there is a tendency to use even lower temperatures for washing in order to save energy. Remember that at this temperature, ordinary powder cannot cope with contaminants (or copes poorly), and you need to use additional biological additives for a good result. It's also worth noting that bed mites (or their eggs) can reportedly survive low-temperature washing, and so it's best to wash your bed linen at 60 degrees.
In addition, regular prevention, in the form of washing at 90 degrees, is necessary.

Washing machines now often suffer from the accumulation of grease and bacteria in them, causing an unpleasant odor, rotting of hoses and door gaskets, as well as various breakdowns. Another serious consequence could be that the aluminum drum base could be corroded by this buildup, resulting in permanent failure of the washing machine.

Due to the fact that many wash exclusively at 40 degrees, which, combined with poor quality detergents (and in the wrong quantities), and the use of various stain removers for colored fabrics, without bleach (which allow bacteria to multiply), leads to because the washing machine is literally rotting from the inside.

When you wash a greasy plate in a plastic cup at a temperature of 40 degrees, it will wash off, but when you drain the water, you will find a greasy film already on the plastic cup. To defeat fat, you need higher temperatures. If you wash a greasy plate at a temperature of 60 degrees or higher, a greasy film will not appear on the plastic cup.
Currently, manufacturers recommend performing preventative cleaning of the machine once a month. This is especially important if you primarily use low-temperature washes and/or liquid detergents and non-bleach stain removers.

Preventative cleaning is done as follows:

Set the wash temperature to the hottest setting and add detergent, DO NOT add laundry.

If you usually use detergents that do not contain bleach, buy a product that contains it specifically for maintenance cleaning. This will help kill bacteria and prevent black mold and greasy deposits from forming in your washing machine. Do not use pure bleach; there are several types of bleach containing products (such as oxygen bleach) that are suitable for this purpose.

Another way to clean your washing machine is to use soda crystals, which help dissolve the grease and remove it from the washing machine. Soda must be poured directly into the drum. Also use without underwear.

To check if your washing machine has similar problems, carefully inspect its interior for dirt and grease: pull the rubber gasket on the front of the drum and look behind it, there is usually a fairly large space in which dirt and grease accumulate, which causes specific smell and rotting of this seal.

Unpleasant smell from the washing machine.

An unpleasant smell from your washing machine may be the result of a build-up of grease and dirt. It can also be caused by chemicals entering the washing machine from laundry, or coming from the sewer if a special drain valve is not installed (not installed correctly).

To get rid of the smell that remains even after two preventive cleanings, try pouring vinegar into the dispenser, set the temperature to the highest setting and run the washing machine idle. Repeat if necessary. This is a well-known remedy, vinegar has amazing properties.

Cooler or hotter?
Do you really save energy by washing at 40 degrees?
To achieve the best result, it is advisable to use biological detergents.

A powder with a “stain removal” function, like any washing powder, must, first of all, effectively cope with general contamination, that is, it must thoroughly wash dirt, dust, and skin particles held together by sweat from linen and clothes.

Its other task is to remove protein stains. These stains are dealt with by the biologically active additives contained in the powder - enzymes.

The most commonly used class of enzymes in powders are proteases. They help remove protein contaminants, as well as grass and some types of food.

In addition to proteases, the bio-powder may contain enzymes of other classes that are effective in removing starch (amylase), fat and oil stains (lipase), as well as pellets formed on clothes during wear and washing (Cellulose).

You need to know that most enzymes work at an average washing temperature (40-50 degrees), and die when it increases. Although there are now some enzymes (mainly amylases) that can withstand washing temperatures up to 80 degrees.

And here we have the first contradiction. Everyone knows that grease, oil and vegetable stains are washed off better in hot water than in warm water. But at high temperatures, not only enzymes are destroyed, but also protein stains coagulate, “sticking” to the fabric and leaving stains that are difficult to remove. Therefore, the best temperature for removing protein stains is 40 degrees. It turns out that a good wash is always a compromise.

If you wash with powder with enzymes, it is better to wash in two stages. First, soak the laundry - let the enzymes work at a moderate temperature. And then, when the enzymes have done their job and the protein stains have been removed, you can wash at a higher temperature and even boil, then other components come into play, removing fat and oil stains.

But we must not forget that boiling is a very rough attitude towards things. Washing at low temperatures is more gentle and allows you to preserve your items longer. In addition, washing with a machine at high temperatures leads to significant energy consumption, which is not cheap at all these days! High efficiency even at low temperatures is an undeniable advantage of washing powder.

In addition, with constant washing at 90 degrees, no maintenance is required!

Whiten or remove protein stains?

Unfortunately, here too you have to choose. The fact is that the quality of bleaching directly depends on the amount of chemical bleach included in the powder. But a high content of chemical bleach inhibits the action of enzymes until they are completely destroyed (if they are part of the powder). And the proportion of enzymes in the powder is already small - up to 1.2%, and an increase in their quantity does not lead to an increase in the quality of washing. So the combination of whitening power and effective removal of protein stains is always a compromise.

Removing black mold from the rubber seal on the machine door and from the detergent container

You can use a regular toothbrush or something similar for this to remove the mold.

However, when working with black mold, to protect yourself, you should wear safety glasses and a mask during the cleaning process.

You can try special black mold removers sold in supermarkets. But before using them, you should carefully read the instructions to make sure that this product is safe for rubber and plastic objects.

If the door gasket or detergent dispenser becomes too moldy, your only option is to replace it.

What causes black mold to appear in a washing machine?

This mainly involves using low temperatures when washing, as well as using detergents that do not contain bleach. The bleach in detergents (plus the heat) kills bacteria that might otherwise grow inside the washing machine.

It is also important to leave the washing machine door open after washing to allow it to dry completely.

Should you turn off the water supply taps when the washing machine is not in use?

All manufacturers recommend: it's worth doing it.

If the taps are always left on, and therefore under pressure, you may end up with a leak, or even a flood from leaking water, or a broken fill hose.