Spring Into Bed!

While we all must do spring-cleaning, unless we can coerce some unsuspecting soul of doing it for us, we do seem to neglect our bed.  Since we spend a third of our life in bed, shouldn’t you spend some extra effort to making this room the most amazing room in the house?  The bedroom should be your quiet sanctuary. A place of calm, serenity and the most lavish furnishings your paycheck will allow.  After all, a good night’s sleep will benefit your overall health. 

Set aside a weekend for your bedroom spring-cleaning.  I know cleaning on a weekend isn’t exactly what weekends were made for.  However, for the investment of a weekend, you can have a harmonious sanctuary waiting for you Monday through Friday. 

First, remove all the bed linens, including any mattress pad.  Then flip that mattress.  As a general guideline, the mattress should be turned head-to-foot, foot-to-head and then over.  This should be done about four times per year to add life to your mattress and help prevent sagging. 

Next, add the hose attachment to your vacuum cleaner and sweep the mattress thoroughly.  Also, sweep the edges around the frame, across the fabric headboard if you have one and underneath the bed.  Vacuuming will help rid the bed of dust mites.  Learn more about dust mites and how they affect your allergies at Dust Mite Facts.  You never know what those dust bunnies are holding hostage under there.  After you’ve finished vacuuming, you might want to consider a linen spray or spritz to give your bed a lovely fresh scent.  Select a spring floral, such as lavender or rose as these light fragrances work well without being overpowering. 

Now you’ll want to wash your bed linens.  There are guidelines you need to follow to insure that you launder your bed linens correctly.  You don’t want to pay top dollar for luxurious sheets and comforters only to damage them in the wash.  Visit this Bedding Care site for tips and videos on the actual washing process.  Below are a few highlights.

Pillow Washing

1.  Remove any pillow protectors.

2.  Read care instruction label on the pillow.  Be sure the pillow is machine washable.  Some silk fabric is machine washable, most needs to be dry-cleaned, so check that label.

3.  Inspect the pillow for any stains.  Use a stain remover on any spots before putting in the wash

4.  Place pillow in washing machine.  If you have queen/king size pillows, you might want to consider washing them one at a time.  Stuffing the washing machine full will not only damage the pillows, but could damage your washing machine, and it won’t clean your pillows very well.

5.  Add a teaspoon of dishwashing liquid.  It cuts stains and body oils better then laundry detergent. 

6.  Next is water temperature.  Hot water is best for killing any bacteria in the pillo, as well as lowering dust mite issues.  However, read your care instruction label to see if the manufacturer suggests using a cold water wash.

7.  When the cycle is complete, make sure ALL the water has been spun from the pillow.  If not, set your washing machine to the spin cycle one more time before putting pillows into the dryer.

8.  In the dryer, use the maximum heat setting.

9.  Add a clean tennis ball to help the pillow fluff properly during the drying cycle.

10.  Put pillow in dryer for 2 cycles.  Remove pillow between each cycle and fluff.  This will help the pillow keep its shape and help ensure that it is thoroughly dry. 

Comforter Washing

1.  Carefully read the care label on the comforter.

2.  For larger size comforters, you may want to consider a laundry with a commercial size washer. 

3.  If you can wash it yourself, that’s great.  It is important to NOT to wrap the comforter around your agitator.  Make it into a ball and place in washer.  This will lessen any possible damage to your comforter or your washing machine. 

4. You’ll want use a hot water wash, unless the manufacturer’s label specifies otherwise. 

5.  First, inspect the comforter for any stains.  Use a stain remover on any spots before putting in the wash.  Hot temperatures, particularly those of the dryer will set stains, making them impossible to remove.

6.  When the wash cycle is complete, check to make sure all the water was spun out of the comforter.  If it still feels heavy with water return to the washer spin cycle for another go-around. 

8.  If you have a clothesline, skip the dryer and hang your comforter outside.  Pick a sunny weekend and let it hang all day.  You’ll save money and help the environment by not using the dryer.  The sun will bake any bacteria out of your comforter and it will smell delicious.

Blanket Washing

Just because it’s spring, don’t neglect your blankets.  Whether you are putting them back on the bed for those last few weeks of cool weather or putting them away for the season, wash them first.

1.  Read the manufacturer label.  If your blanket contains silk, you might want to consider having it professionally dry cleaned. 

2.  Check for stains and use stain remover if necessary.

3.  Roll the blanket into a ball and place in washing machine.  Add a teaspoon of liquid dish detergent. 

4.  Hot water wash is preferred if the manufacturer label doesn’t suggest otherwise.

5.  Do not use fabric softener.

6.  Use an additional spin cycle if the blanket seems heavy with water.

7.  In the dryer, use a maximum heat setting.

8.  Add a clean tennis ball to the dryer to help speed drying time and to fluff the blanket.

8.  Always give your blanket at least 2 full drying cycles. 

10.  Remove and fluff between cycles.

11.  If you can hang your blanket outside, take advantage of the benefits of line drying. 

 Get ready to spring into bed.  No more flannel sheets, its time for high thread count cotton and lightweight comforters and blankets.  Go shopping; it’s your reward for cleaning all weekend.  Spending money on bed linens should be considered an investment.  A peaceful, contented night’s sleep is invaluable and this contentedness will carry over into every part of your life; invest in the best for your health.  Choose good sheets made from quality material, such as 100% cotton.  Cottons are great as they are lightweight, reasonably priced, and easy to launder.  In addition, they come in a rainbow of colors to fit any décor.  Mix and match solids, colors and designs to give your bedroom a sudden burst of spring.  If you experience night sweats, you should consider cool touch moisture wicking TENCEL blend sheets as well.  A lightweight down blanket can come in very handy for those evenings when spring weather can turn a little cool.    

To make the perfect spring bed, start with the right size bedding.  Nothing is worse then having a fitted bottom sheet that’s too small popping off all night, or a blanket that leaves parts of your anatomy out in the cold.  Begin with a mattress pad, for spring, staying lightweight is the key.  Next, add an exciting and bright fitted bottom sheet, then drape a flat sheet over this, tucking only the bottom under the mattress.  The top sheet can be in any complimentary color or pattern.  Now, add a lightweight blanket that matches the décor of your bed or bedroom.  Sprinkle thick, fluffy pillows across the top and you’ll have a perfect bed you’ll want to spring into nightly.