Gransnet forums

Style & beauty

top sheet under duvet cover or not?

(80 Posts)
willsandco Mon 13-Oct-14 18:53:00

I have got recently remarried and this is the only thing (so far) that we disagree about! DH puts a bottom sheet on the bed, then a top sheet and then the duvet with a cover on. Nobody in my family has a top sheet - we just put the cover on the duvet and lay it over the bottom sheet. What do you all do?

Marmight Tue 14-Oct-14 09:14:04

No top sheet - hate it; the top is either too short or too long over the top of the duvet and then slithers about all over the place.......
I used to get the late Mr Marmite to hold the ends of the duvet/cover while I was up at the business end. I do tend to get in a bit of a bad tempered mess these days. The inside out method is slightly easier but I usually end arse end up inside the bloomin' thing.
GA I had my first duvet in 1969 when I moved into a flat share. The first time I came across one was on holiday in Germany in 1964 and, as it was folded in half on the bed, I hadn't got a clue what to do with it [dimMarmightemoticon]blush

ninathenana Tue 14-Oct-14 09:36:48

No top sheet for me. When hotels have top sheets I have to un tuck them I don't like feeling confined.

I've always used the next size duvet to the size of bed. Double on a single, king size on standard double. DH likes to be the sausage in the duvet roll grin Where as I often sleep with one foot on top the duvet.

hildajenniJ Tue 14-Oct-14 10:19:10

I don't use a top sheet either. This came as a shock to DH when we got married, as his mother always used a one.
We have king size duvet and covers, I'm only little, changing the cover is a cardiovascular workout for me!!grin

Ariadne Tue 14-Oct-14 10:22:56

I use a top sheet in navel blue, because my duvet covers are quite heavy white pure cotton with blue designs on, and the top sheet, folded over, means there's less likelihood of coffee stains etc on the cover. Plus, they are a b****r to iron!

Gracesgran Tue 14-Oct-14 10:47:35

So many of you seem to love washing and ironing! I have a top sheet as I have no wish to wash the cover every week. I do the same for my mother too. I am not a make work person smile and don't find I am ever cold during the night.

ninathenana Tue 14-Oct-14 11:34:40

Grace is there much difference between washing a top sheet and washing a duvet cover ? The cover is just a double layer of cotton.

Who irons duvet covers anyway? smile

Ana Tue 14-Oct-14 11:36:33

Love the idea of your 'navel blue' top sheet, Ariadne! grin

I don't iron sheets or duvet covers either, ninathenana. Or anything else, come to that...

Ariadne Tue 14-Oct-14 11:48:00

Whoops!

I too hate ironing, love the heavy cotton, hate the creases - the NAVY top sheet is percale and so doesn't get ironed. DGD1 used to do my ironing to top up her allowance, but is now on her gap year doing community voluntary service elsewhere!

jinglbellsfrocks Tue 14-Oct-14 12:00:16

I iron duvet covers.

Purpledaffodil Tue 14-Oct-14 12:37:24

So glad to hear I am not the only duvet cover ironer in the country. Several friends have told me I am completely barking to do so. But it looks so much nicer! Would never emulate friend in 1970s who used to iron Terry nappies!!!

Grannyknot Tue 14-Oct-14 12:41:50

I iron my duvet cover in a perfunctory manner once it is on the bed. And then only the top.

Teetime Tue 14-Oct-14 13:18:19

Mr Teetime irons the duvet cover and everything else and if he didn't I would. I like a nice pristine bed no creases and sharp hospital corners on the bottom sheet - we don't have fitted sheets - to hard to iron.

elena Tue 14-Oct-14 14:01:18

purple, I had a friend like that, but it was the 80s so can't have been the same one.

Everyone thought she was crackers.

In any case, terry nappies don't absorb so well when ironed.

kittylester Tue 14-Oct-14 14:11:05

I iron the duvet cover and the pillow cases unless, like this week, I'm struggling to get them washed, dried and ironed so I take them to the laundrette and get them to do everything.

I fold my duvet cover into 4 (IYSWIM) and just iron the top surface and the bottom surface.

sunseeker Tue 14-Oct-14 14:46:08

I iron sheets, pillowcases and the duvet cover! However, I'm not as bad as a friend who irons underwear shock

Purpledaffodil Tue 14-Oct-14 15:58:52

So glad to hear there are men who iron. Mr Purple thinks his bits would fall off if he laid a hand on an iron. flowers Mr Teetime. Mind DH 's late mother used to 'iron' sheets by putting them under the cushion of her armchair and sitting on them for a couple of days, so no role modelling there grin

Purpledaffodil Tue 14-Oct-14 16:00:44

I understood that about Terry nappies too Elena. Ditto towels. She reckoned they folded more neatly in the airing cupboard. Takes all sorts I suppose.

Starling Tue 14-Oct-14 16:02:23

Grannyknot - how do you iron it once it is on the bed?
Marmight do you have a video of this? Sounds entertaining!

Faye Tue 14-Oct-14 16:49:48

I can't sleep without a top sheet and love that feeling of fresh, crisp sheets with a high thread count. I use fitted bottom sheets and my top sheet doesn't slip off. I have had navy blue sheets too, but then I love navy blue in anything. hmm

sparkygran Tue 14-Oct-14 18:39:57

Many years ago when I visited my GP for reasons long forgotten she said the immortal words to me "you look like a woman who irons pyjamas" which I did and she told me phrased in nicer terms "wise up".

Have never ironed underwear, fitted sheets, towels since then but sadly like ironed PJs and duvet cover - but like kitty I fold duvets in 4 and iron top and bottom - does that make me a bad person???? Should I go and have a lie down perhaps not just another glass of wine

rubysong Tue 14-Oct-14 18:55:02

My late MIL used to iron face flannels and towels. The towels were always flat and hard, I prefer them soft and fluffy but would never have dared complain.
I do iron duvet covers and boxers but not my underwear.

whitewave Tue 14-Oct-14 20:26:59

When we did domestic science at school (about 1000 years ago) we were explicitly told NOT to iron towels, face flannels or terry nappies.

All my linen is white - I have a thing about it!!!! Costs a fortune in washing bills as I always take it up to just about boiling (95c) in my washing machine, not remotely ecologically sound I must admit.

Ana Tue 14-Oct-14 20:32:21

Crikey! Is that really necessary? If so, why? shock

Mishap Tue 14-Oct-14 20:39:02

Ironing? - what is this thing?

whitewave Tue 14-Oct-14 20:46:29

ana I don't suppose for one minute it is necessary but I do it because I was taught that whites only keep their colour by boiling!! I have never tried them on a lesser heat. Been married for 46 years so want change now!