Laundryheap Blog – Laundry & Dry Cleaning

Same-day collection. Free delivery in 24 hours.

Tag Archives: bedding


by Leave a comment

The ultimate guide to a perfect bed

On average, we spend 26 years of our lives sleeping, and a further 7 years trying to get to sleep. If we’re spending an average of 33 years of our lives in bed, it’s worth taking the time to make said bed perfect. 

  • How often should you wash your bedding?
  • How do you clean your duvet?
  • How do you clean your pillows?
  • How do you clean your mattress? 
  • How often should you replace your pillows?
  • How many sets of bed linen should you own?
  • How do you store unused bed linen?

How often should you wash your bedding?

As you sleep you sweat and shed skin cells. To keep your bedding adequately clean, wash your duvet cover, bed sheet, and pillow cases every 2 weeks. If you notice an increase in the amount you are sweating over night, such as in the summer months, you may want to wash your bedding every week. 

To make sure that your bedding is adequately sanitised, always check your beddings care label and use the hottest wash setting available. 

How do you clean your duvet? 

Your duvet should be washed every 6 months. How you wash your duvet depends on the material it is made from. 

If you own a synthetic duvet, use the gentle spin setting on your washing machine and add ⅓ of the detergent that you would use in a normal wash. Once your duvet has completed its cycle, leave it to completely air dry before using it again. 

Before washing a feather duvet, always check the care label to see if it is dry clean only. If your feather duvet is machine washable, use a gentle cycle and a gentle laundry detergent. Air dry your feather duvet completely before re-using it.

How do you clean your pillows?

Before washing your pillows check the care label to determine whether they are machine washable and safe to dry in a tumble dryer. 

If you can machine wash your pillows, try and wash two at a time to save on multiple loads. Always use a gentle cycle to prevent any unnecessary damage to your pillows, and only use ⅓ of the amount of laundry detergent that you would usually use. If your pillows can be tumble dried, use a low heat setting, or leave them to air dry before returning them to your bed. 

Photo by Castorly Stock from Pexels

 How do you clean your mattress? 

Regularly washing your bed linen does not deter you from cleaning your mattress. You need to clean your mattress every 6 months to remove dust mites and skin cells. 

Begin cleaning your mattress by stripping you bed linen and hoovering the surface to remove any dirt and dust. Don’t forget to hoover both sides of your mattress and around the corners- dust and dirt can linger in these areas. 

After hoovering your mattress, freshen it up by sprinkling baking soda over it. Sprinkle a generous amount over the whole of your mattress, using a soft brush or cloth to evenly spread it out. Leave it to set for 10-30 minutes before hoovering it up. This will help remove any lingering odours and body fluids from your mattress and leave it looking, and smelling, fresh.  

After removing the baking soda, leave your mattress to air out for a few hours before re-dressing your bed.

Photo by Max Vakhtbovych from Pexels

How often should you replace your pillows?

For optimum comfort you should replace synthetic pillows every 1-2 years, memory foam pillows every 2-3 years, and feather pillows every 5-10 years. 

If your pillows are causing you discomfort, have developed lumps, or are beginning to smell, it is time to replace them.

Photo by Cats Coming from Pexels

How many sets of bed linen should you have? 

As a rule of thumb, it’s good to have 3 sets of bed linen available per bed. This means that you have a set ready whilst you are washing your used set, and a spare set on hand if needed.

Photo by cottonbro from Pexels

 How do you store unused bed linen?

The best way to store your bed linen is in a dry and cool environment. Make sure that your bed linen is clean and folded before storing it away. 

Photo by Tatiana Syrikova from Pexels

To ensure that your bed linen is sufficiently disinfected, book a Laundryheap dry cleaning service. To book your Laundryheap service, simply head to the Laundryheap website or download the free Laundryheap app. 


by 1 Comment

How to fold bed sheets

Photo by Harry Page from Pexels

Washing your bed sheets is only half the challenge of keeping your bedding fresh. Once your sheets are dried, you have to fold them- which is much easier said than done. Luckily, we have devised this instruction manual to make folding your bed sheets as easy as possible. 

  • Before you begin 
  • Fitted sheet
  • Flat sheet
  • Pillowcases 
  • Storage

Before you begin 

Prior to any folding, it’s important that you have enough room to do the task at hand. Make sure that you are in an open space, with enough room to spread out your bed sheets to their full width and length. Ideally, you need a flat surface, such as a bed or table, to lay your bed sheets on, as this will make the folding process much easier. 

Photo by Mark McCammon from Pexels

Fitted sheet 

A fitted sheet has elastic sewn around the sides so that the sheet can fit over your mattress. 

To fold your fitted sheet, begin by inserting a hand in each top corner, and turning them inside out. Then, fold your bed sheet in half lengthwise. This will turn your sheet inside out and create pockets. Make sure to tuck your elastic corners into each other to bind the sheet in place. 

At this point, you should have two corners in each hand, with the tucked seam facing you and the folded seam on the bottom. 

Next, fold your bed sheet in half, lengthwise, bringing the remaining two opposite sides together so all four corners meet. Repeat the tucking of the sides to bind the sheet in place. Your sheet should now resemble a long panel of material. 

Finally, fold your sheet three to four times until you form a square.

Photo by Castorly Stock from Pexels

Flat sheet 

A flat sheet has no elastic in it, which makes it a lot easier to fold. 

 Begin by folding your bed sheet in three or four sections lengthwise- the number of sections you choose depends on how big your sheet is. 

Next, bring the top corners of your sheet down to meet the bottom corners. From there, fold your sheet three to four times to create a square or rectangle shape. 

Photo by Anete Lusina from Pexels

Pillowcases 

Pillowcases are small and don’t have any elastic in them, so they are the easiest thing to fold. 

To fold your pillowcase, simply fold it into thirds lengthwise and fold these thirds in half to create a square. 

Storage 

Storing your bed sheets in the correct way will limit the amount of wrinkles on them. After folding your bed sheets, place them neatly in a storing cupboard that is completely dry and will not become damp at any point. If you have multiple sheets made of different materials, It is best to separate them to prevent your sheets from becoming mixed up.

When you get your bedsheets dry cleaned at Laundryheap, we will save you the hassle and fold them for you. To book your Laundryheap order, head to the Laundryheap website, or download the free Laundryheap app. 


by Leave a comment

Fun facts about bedding

The average person spends roughly 26 years of their life sleeping, and 7 years of their life trying to fall asleep. Despite being in bed for that long, how much do we really know about our bedding? 

  • Wash your sheets every two weeks
  • Don’t forget to wash your duvet and pillows
  • Thread count
  • Don’t overfill your tumble dryer
  • Organic cotton 
  • Egyptian cotton 
  • Bamboo sheets
  • Spruce up your bedding 
  • Use Laundryheap

Wash your sheets every two weeks 

You should be washing your bed sheets every two weeks, or, if you sweat a lot during the night, every week. For the best care, make sure to always check the care label. You should wash your sheets using the highest possible temperature as this will kill bacteria and get rid of dust mites.

Don’t forget to wash your duvet and pillows  

Although you don’t need to wash them as often as your bedsheets, it is still vital to wash your duvet and pillows. Over time, your duvet and pillows will become loaded with dead skin cells and dust mites. To remove them, you should be washing your duvet and pillows at the beginning of every season. To wash your duvet and pillows, use cold water and a delicate cycle. If you use a hot wash, the fibbers will begin to break down and your duvet and pillows will wear out faster. 

Thread count

It’s logical to think that the higher the thread count is the better the quality will be. In fact, this is a lie. It’s not the thread count that is important, it is the quality of the thread. To find the best thread quality, look for the bedding with the longest thread; these are usually stronger and therefore will last longer. 

Photo by Suzy Hazelwood from Pexels

Don’t overfill your tumble dryer

If you’re using a tumble dryer to dry your bed sheets make sure to only half-fill it, even if that means having to dry your sheets in two loads. Over-filling your tumble dryer will leave your bedding twisted together, with no room for the fabric to dry and go back to it’s original shape. 

Photo by C Technical from Pexels

Organic cotton 

The best bedding is made from organic cotton, meaning that there was no chemicals added to the bedding throughout the whole process of it being made. When you are buying organic cotton bedding make sure that you always check the label. Some ‘organic cotton’ bedding may have been made using cotton that was organically grown, but was then mixed with toxic chemicals to produce the end result. For 100% organic cotton bedding check for a Oeko-Tex certification. 

Photo by cottonbro from Pexels

Egyptian cotton 

Egyptian cotton sheets are expensive because their fibres are strong and soft, making them durable whilst remaining comfortable to sleep on. Before purchasing Egyptian cotton sheets, make sure that they are 100% Egyptian cotton. Some companies will claim that their sheets are Egyptian cotton, but this could mean that only a percentage of the fibres used were Egyptian cotton. If you are going to spend your money on Egyptian cotton sheets, make sure that you are paying for 100% Egyptian cotton.

Photo by picjumbo.com from Pexels

Bamboo sheets

Bamboo sheets naturally regulate your temperature to keep you warm in the winter and cool during the summer. As soon as you become too hot and begin to sweat, the bamboo in your sheets pulls the moisture away from you, and into the sheets, keeping you at a regulated temperature. They are also sustainable and have anti-allergen qualities. 

Spruce up your bedding 

The most effective way to spruce up your bedding is to buy new pillowcases. Every 6 months buy fresh pillowcases and breathe some life back into your sheets. It is the most cost effective way to keep your bed looking fresh. 

Use Laundryheap 

At Laundryheap, we offer a special dry cleaning service to suit all of your bedding needs. Simply head to the Laundryheap website, or download the free Laundryheap app, to book your bedding service today. 


by Leave a comment

When should you use fabric softener?

Fabric softener can be a very useful addition to your laundry routine, but it shouldn’t be used all the time. So, when should you use fabric softener?

  • What is fabric softener?
  • When do I add fabric softener?
  • Hard water areas
  • Bed linen
  • Keep clothes looking new 
  • Sensitive skin 
  • Clothes likely to bobble

What is fabric softener?

Before answering the question of when you should use fabric softener, we need to first understand what it is. To begin with, as the name implies, fabric softener softens your clothing and leaves it smelling fresh. Asides from this, it will strengthen the fabric of your clothing, therefore making your clothes easier to iron. 

When do I add fabric softener?

Many people believe that fabric softener should be added to your washing at the same time as detergent. This is incorrect. You should add your fabric softener during your rinse cycle. Adding softener during a wash cycle will remove the chemical residue that makes your clothing soft, therefore making it ineffective. 

Photo by Sher Lyn from Pexels

Fabric softener should be used for the following situations.

Hard water areas 

If you live in a hard water area, you may notice that your clothing comes out of the washing machine feeling rough. This is because the mineral content in hard water is high and attaches to the fibres in your clothing, making the fabric stiffer than in soft water areas. Adding fabric softener to your wash can remove some of those harsh minerals, resulting in softer clothing. 

Photo by Steve Johnson from Pexels

Bed linen 

Everybody loves crisp, soft, clean-smelling sheets. When washing your bed linen, add some fabric softener. The next time you get into bed you will be met with soft sheets and a heavenly smell that will make it even harder for you to get out of bed. 

Photo by Harry Page from Pexels

Keep clothes looking new 

It’s awful when you put your favourite jumper in the wash and it comes out unravelled and with a hole in it. Fabric softener smooths the fibres in your clothing, reducing the friction caused when washing, and therefore reducing wear and tear. Adding a small amount of fabric softener to your washing can prevent the loss of your favourite clothing, and keep your clothes looking newer for longer. 

Sensitive skin  

For those that suffer from sensitive skin, be careful with the fabric softener that you buy. Some softeners are perfumed and can, therefore, cause additional irritation. That being said, if you buy a sensitive skin friendly fabric softener, it can eliminate irritation caused by rough clothing rubbing against your skin. 

Image by NIAID

Clothes likely to bobble 

Bobbles on clothing can really damage the aesthetic of your favourite look. They occur when friction causes the fibres on the surface of your clothing to rub together, resulting in small, irritating, balls of loose fabric. Fabric softener strengthens the fibres in your clothing, preventing bobbling from occurring. Now, you can strut down the street in your best outfit, completely bobble free. 

If you’re still not sure when to use your fabric softener, leave it to us. Book your contactless delivery slot on the Laundryheap website or by downloading the free Laundryheap app. 


by 2 Comments

How To Care For Your Bed Linen

Everyone loves to cosy up in fresh crispy bed sheets, but overtime your bed linen begins to wear out and no longer feels comfortable. It’s essential to take proper care of your bed linen to keep them lasting long and ensure you’re getting good sleep.

How To Care For Your Bed Linen

  • Check the care label
  • Wash Bed linen weekly
  • Don’t wash with clothing
  • Air dry them
  • Store linens well

Check The Care Label

By reading the care label instructions carefully on your bed linen, you can ensure that you’ll give your bed linen the proper washing, drying and ironing treatment it requires.

One thing for sure is that you should avoid using bleach as this is too harsh for the fabric. 

Wash Bed Linen Weekly

Since your bed linen comes into direct contact with your skin, it’s necessary to have them changed and washed every week. Sweat and dead skin cells end up accumulating on your bed, turning it into a breeding ground for bacteria.

Don’t Wash With Clothing

Wash your bed linen separately from your clothes to help keep them in good condition. It will allow your sheets to get the proper cleaning it needs and prevent clothes from potentially getting caught onto and ruining the fabric fibres of the linen.

Air Dry Them

The best way to dry your linens after washing is to hang or line dry them outside in the sun where the result will leave them with a natural crisp. Alternatively, you can dry them indoors.

If you must tumble dry them, do it on the lowest possible heat to prevent your bed linen from shrinking.

Store Linens Well

Before folding and storing away your linens, make sure they’re fully dry to avoid a mildew smell and mould from forming. Keep them stored neatly in a cool, dry, ventilated place that isn’t too compact. Air circulation will maintain the freshness of your bed linen and prevent any unpleasant smell from developing.

If you require a professional laundry or dry cleaning service for top quality cleaning, schedule a collection with Laundryheap. 


by Leave a comment

How Often You Should Wash Your Home and Bedding items

Your home and bedding items need just as much cleansing as your clothes do!

If you’re unsure of how often to wash your bed sheets or towels, here an infographic guide on how often is appropriate to wash your home and bedding items:

Home and bedding washes

 

How often you should wash your bedding:

  • Bedspread: Every 1-2 weeks.
  • Duvet cover pillow case: Every 1-2 weeks.
  • Blankets: If used daily then every week, if rarely used, every month.
  • Duvet: Every 6 months.
  • Pillows: Every 3-4 months.

Bathroom items :

  • Bathroom towel: Every 3-4 use/ after 3-4 days.
  • Bath mat: Once a week.

Kitchen items:

  • Table cloth: If stained – immediately,  otherwise wash regularly.
  • Kitchen cloth/tea towels: Everyday!

We, at Laundryheap, know how difficult it might be to wash the bulky items, that’s why we offer home and bedding dry cleaning and laundry services. Book with us today for fresh sheets tomorrow!