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AIBU

Rotating clean house linen

(83 Posts)
grandMattie Fri 22-Apr-16 09:56:06

As I was putting the clean linen away this morning, it struck me that I am following my mother's system (and, presumably, my grandmother''s, ad infinitum) of putting the most recent clean bedding at the bottom of the pile, and taking the top one off or vice versa.
I have never understood this - surely if you do that, all your 'stuff' (bedding, table cloths, tea towels, etc.) wears out at the same rate and at the same time. The replacement of the whole lot would then be prohibitive Is it a sort of puritanical thing of keeping your favourite for 'best' or what?

fiorentina51 Sat 23-Apr-16 23:36:01

I carefully rotate my bedlinen and towels too. I have a large airing cupboard and have to do a balancing act in order to put the various piles in order. This is now getting more difficult as it means me climbing onto a shelf (honest!) This was easy 40 years ago but age is taking its toll! I realise all this faffing about it totally ridiculous but I was brainwashed by my mum. I am in recovery though and hope to break the habit by the time I hit 70. ?

annifrance Sat 23-Apr-16 23:22:56

This is so sad. I do have a 'bedding' system but am too busy stuffing mushrooms to explain it.

rubysong Sat 23-Apr-16 21:31:10

I never iron towels but I do iron all the bedding. It is lovely getting into bed with clean, ironed bedding. My late MIL used to iron everything including face cloths.

granjura Sat 23-Apr-16 21:07:54

Hate ironing- but love getting in a crisp clean bed with freshly ironed sheets, duvet and pillow cases- so I do ...

wot Sat 23-Apr-16 20:12:37

I iron my duvet covers, tea towels and pillowcases. The fitted sheets I just roll up

mischief Sat 23-Apr-16 20:10:06

I only have two sets of bedding per bed and two sets of towels per person. One in use and one in the wash. Loads of tea towels though.

One extra question Gransnetters - does anyone else iron their bedding and towels? Or is it just me.

2old4hotpants Sat 23-Apr-16 19:34:29

Phew, that's a relief

wot Sat 23-Apr-16 19:26:32

And put the rest of them in Steradent

wot Sat 23-Apr-16 19:25:52

Yes, only got 11 left. I do go and brush them though.

2old4hotpants Sat 23-Apr-16 19:23:40

Your nocturnal feasts sound good, Wot. I'm a bit worried about the effect on the teeth though

FarNorth Sat 23-Apr-16 18:32:32

I'd hate to have all white bedding and/or towels - how boring.
I have my linen and towels reasonably neatly folded in the cupboard but I don't rotate them, I just take out whatever one I fancy using.
Keeps me happy anyway. smile

wot Sat 23-Apr-16 17:51:10

In my case, the duvet cover would soon get mucky even with a sheet. Chocolate milkshakes, carrot cake, bits of crisps etc etc would all descend onto the cover?

wot Sat 23-Apr-16 17:46:59

I think they do that in America too. Thinking about it, it was me who moaned about changing duvet covers so I might convert. I might be a bit inflexible.

wot Sat 23-Apr-16 17:43:43

I'm not being controversial, but putting a top sheet on seems such an English thing to do. Perhaps that's not a bad thing. We bought back duvets from Germany the first time we went (1963) and my mum had to make the covers from cheap 'candy striped' sheets as you couldn't but them at this time. All our friends thought duvets were weird until if they'd slept under them round our house. I hope I'm not being rude here and I may try it myself even.

tiffaney Sat 23-Apr-16 17:33:38

I hate changing duvet covers so always use a top sheet under the duvet then I don't have to wash the duvet cover every time I change the sheets. Does anyone else still use a top sheet?

EmilyHarburn Sat 23-Apr-16 17:00:54

I do not have spare linen it goes back on the bed the same day. Washed in the morning and in the evening finished off by the dryer if necessary before going back on the bed.

I do have towels - again one set for each bed room and 6 bath towels, 12 hand towels and 6 beach/swimming towels. As our towels I let dry naturally and change each week.

rubylady Sat 23-Apr-16 14:34:11

I'm very much like you Jing, I can't remember what is in my laundry cupboard. I have bought new duvet covers since moving so tend to use the same ones. Probably got the old ones from the other house in the laundry cupboard.

I also don't use sheets, I have a teddy bear blanket on as a bottom sheet, lovely and warm and cuddly and very comfortable on my memory foam mattress. Perfect. grin

GrannyRose Sat 23-Apr-16 14:05:30

Could you please share your recipe with us, BBevan?

wot Sat 23-Apr-16 13:18:03

As long as you and your cats are happy and comfortable, what does it matter!!??

carolmary Sat 23-Apr-16 12:59:05

I have dreams of pristine white bedding. Our duvet covers are ancient and tatty (but clean!).We have 2 cats who like to sleep on the bed, so ours is covered with a sturdy throw during the daytime. Reading everyone's posts has made me determined to do something about our bedroom. Not sure what!

HellsBells Sat 23-Apr-16 12:30:26

I have a favorite duvet cover - we bought it when we got married 42 years ago - it is in perfect condition - all fasteners complete and intact, not faded at all - It has seen plenty of action as we have had 6 children . Do you think if I let the manufacturers know (Dorma) they might send me a new one

We do not posess a winter duvet we just put our dressing gowns on top of the bed!

jinglbellsfrocks Sat 23-Apr-16 12:29:02

Can't stand the foot of the bed tucked in. I require freedom.

jinglbellsfrocks Sat 23-Apr-16 12:27:40

Adding a sheet to a duvet ruins the duvet-ness. shock

The snuggly-ness goes.

Granpammy Sat 23-Apr-16 12:19:26

Duvets take up so much storage space, especially in summer, when only the thin ones are in use. Desperate for somewhere to put them, I recently started putting spare duvets onto the spare beds, under the mattress covers. They act a bit like a mattress topper and are actually very comfortable.

BBbevan Sat 23-Apr-16 11:53:30

At one point I had over 20 white pillow cases. I hate it if they show the faintest hint of yellow.luckily I found a ' recipe' to make them white again. My DCs were given quite a few. My DH has to drag me away from the bedding in shops. I love looking even though I have more than enough to last quite a few years