While washing machines in homes are more common nowadays than ever before, there are still plenty of things that are just inconvenient to wash and that make us dread doing laundry. One of those things is bedding.
There is nothing better than sliding into a freshly made bed that smells good and is cozy, but in order to do that, we need to strip it, remake it with fresh sheets and do the dreaded laundry task to ensure that next time we will be able to have the same feeling. And here is where the problems start, sheets are not really that inconvenient to throw in the wash, but duvets and pillows can become the vane of our existence as they are a lot harder to clean.
But do not worry, we have an alternative way to clean these hard items that will make it much easier and pleasant for you when you finally decide to cave in.
The easiest way to clean your bedding without using a washing machine
Steven Szary, of My Luxury Sleep Shop is an expert on bedding, and recommends a much faster and less cumbersome method of cleaning your difficult bedding, and that is using the sun. “Leave your duvet out for several hours (four to five is about right) and it’s best to do it in the late afternoon or early evening when the sun isn’t too harsh. A little bit of sun is good, though, as it helps to kill unwanted bacteria and germs.”
While this might sound absurd and insufficient to many, after all, isn’t soap or even bleach what we need to disinfect clothing? The reality is that the sun has plenty of natural disinfecting properties that can take care of bacteria and dust mites a lot easier than our washing machines.
Since duvets and pillows often come into contact with our skin and accumulate dust that can then get trapped between the fibers, it is important to make a point to shake them out (maybe even using a vacuum cleaner) and air them out to prevent any mold form growing. The good thing about hanging bedding outside to let the sun do its job is that the natural air will also penetrate the fabric and dislodge many of these particles while the sun eliminates odors and the chance of mold and other bacteria growing in the fabric. It also improves the smell and feel of the stuffing.
In order to do it properly, chose a day to air out your clothes that is sunny, airy and dry, and not after a rainstorm to avoid most of the moisture that might be trapped in the air. As Steven points out “If it’s cloudy or has rained recently, the air will be more humid and will not be as effective for airing out your bedding.” Since this is not something that most of us do every day, choosing a day where the conditions are in this sweet spot should not be too hard. And if you change the rest of your bedding once a week you might not need to do this more than once a month.
Again, if you can, choose to do this for four or five hours in the afternoon with softer sun, so that you get all the benefits from the disinfectant properties but none of the bleaching that can happen to the fabric (although if it is white, some bleaching will be appreciated). This hanging should take place in a clothesline where you can spread out your bedding, but if you do not have one available a drying rack or any other clean surface will suffice as long as you make sure to fluff the fabric.