Do bed linen need to be ironed after washing and how to do it correctly?
The phrase "ironing bed linen" in some housewives causes a feeling of horror, while other young ladies, on the contrary, treat this procedure with a smile.
Since the process of ironing bed linen is time-consuming, some housewives choose not to do it, using the saved time for other purposes. But there are also supporters of this process who have no idea how to make an unironed bed.
Each of the parties makes strong arguments in favor of their point of view. Let's figure out whether it is necessary to iron the washed bedding or whether this sometimes very tedious process can be bypassed and whether it can be somehow simplified.
Ironing benefits
Many housewives believe that it is necessary to iron the bedding, leading to their advantage the main benefits that can be obtained by completing this process.
- After ironing, the bed linen becomes soft, it becomes more comfortable and comfortable for sleeping. The ironed bed smells better and when you rest, you breathe in pleasant aromas that allow you to relax and fall asleep faster.
- If the bed linen is not ironed after washing, it takes up a lot of space on the shelves in the closet. If you iron out such textiles, then it becomes very compact, taking up a minimum of space, since it can be folded in neat piles.
- Curled edges on bedding, a crumpled sheet or duvet cover tend to look unkempt. Even a slight ironing or steam generator treatment can transform the bed after washing.
- Cotton bedding must be ironed if you want your bedding set to last a very long time. Under the influence of high temperature when ironing textiles made from this material, its fibers adhere more tightly to each other, as a result of which they become much stronger. In this case, the lifespan of the cotton bed will be much longer than if you do not iron it regularly.
- Many housewives prefer to wash clothes, observing a temperature regime that does not exceed 40 degrees. This is relatively cold water, so a variety of pathogenic bacteria and microorganisms remain on the bed linen. If you iron it well and in addition go with a steam, you can not only maintain hygiene, but also minimize the risk of a number of diseases that are provoked by harmful bacteria.
- Bed linen, which necessarily requires heat treatment, includes sleeping sets for newborns and patients with various infectious diseases. Exposure to high temperatures allows for complete disinfection of bedding.
- It is imperative that after washing, it is necessary to iron the linen on which the person suffering from allergies sleeps (this will reduce the risk of allergic reactions), as well as from chronic diseases of the skin (this will help protect other family members from infection and will alleviate the condition of the patient himself) ...
- The baby's bed requires ironing to make the surface perfectly flat. Extra folds and creases can chafe or squeeze the delicate skin of the newborn, causing additional discomfort. As a result, the baby becomes very restless and does not sleep well.
disadvantages
Despite all of the above positive aspects and advantages, some bedding should not be ironed.
The negative aspects of ironing bed linen include such moments.
- If the hostess has a very sensitive sense of smell, then the ironing procedure can bring a certain amount of discomfort. The fact is that under the influence of steam and high temperatures, aromatic substances that are contained in a powder or conditioner disappear faster, and not all housewives like pronounced smells. When all the pleasant smell has disappeared during the ironing process, the laundry becomes less fragrant when it comes time to go to bed.
- Ironing bedding takes a lot of time, especially when it comes to a large family, and you have to iron more than one set at a time. This disadvantage is very relevant for busy people who find it difficult to carve out a free minute, not to mention a few hours spent ironing things. Such a disadvantage can be leveled if you combine the unpleasant process of ironing clothes, for example, with watching a movie or an interesting TV show. This will make the tedious process much easier and faster. Some people combine this process with listening to an audiobook or learning foreign languages.
As a result, it turns out to simultaneously perform two useful things, while the mountain of unfinished linen quickly disappears.
- Many housewives do not like to iron the clothes in the summer, because it is already very hot in the apartment, and a hot iron adds a few more degrees. This disadvantage is not felt by people whose apartments or houses are equipped with air conditioning. The coolness created by these devices will allow you to carry out the ironing process in a comfortable environment, even in hot summer.
- Some people believe that it is harmful to iron bedding, because under the influence of high temperatures, the material of which sheets, duvet covers and pillowcases are composed lose the lion's share of hygroscopicity.Thus, there is a significant decrease in their ability to absorb excess moisture and sweat that are released during sleep. As a result, sleep quality may deteriorate.
- There are also certain fabrics that do not need to be ironed. For example, you cannot iron terry sheets, because under the influence of high temperature this material becomes very hard and it becomes very inconvenient to hide with such a sheet. Certain fabrics cannot be ironed as they become electrified. Such disadvantages can be avoided by using a quality conditioner for washing.
- Irons consume too much electrical energy, which significantly affects the growth of bills when paying for utilities
Fundamental rules
To iron the bed linen quickly, it is best to iron it while it is slightly damp. If the bedding is dry, then you can iron them well by using a spray bottle or choosing the "steam" function on the iron. Some housewives prefer to use an ironing press or steam generator, which greatly simplifies the ironing procedure.
Before starting the ironing process, you must carefully examine the surface of the iron. It should be free from any traces of dirt, scale or rust, as these traces can remain on things and provoke their damage.
Be sure to fill clean water into the dedicated compartment in your iron or steam generator. If the water "stagnates", then together with the steam, dirty spots may appear on the linen, and the bed will have to be washed again.
To facilitate the ironing process, many housewives prefer to carry out this manipulation on an ironing board. It is much more convenient than using a regular table. Even large textiles can be easily accommodated on the special ironing system. In addition, such devices have a special surface on which the iron glides much better, so the hostess will not spend a lot of energy.
Here are some tips on how to iron the various elements of your bedding set.
- Pillowcase. This attribute of a sleeping set is characterized by its small size, so it can be well ironed without folding it in half. To properly iron the folds in the middle of the pillowcase, turn the garment inside out and iron it.
- Sheet. This element of the bedding set is large, therefore it is recommended to fold it once long and once wide. This will give you a much smaller rectangle. The corners and edges of the sheet should be carefully aligned and straightened. Next, the textile is ironed on one side, then you need to turn it over and iron it on the other side. After that, you need to unfold the sheet and fold it with the ironed side inward. Finally, iron the sheet on the remaining 2 sides.
- Duvet cover. This part of the bedding set is not only large in size, but also consists of 2 layers of fabric, making it the most difficult to iron. If there is a zipper or buttons on the duvet cover, they need to be fastened. The corners of this product are well straightened and connected to each other. For this, the duvet cover is folded in half by analogy with the sheet. Further, the process of ironing such an attribute is no different from ironing a sheet.
The most inconvenient element of a bedding set is a sheet with an elastic band. It can be very difficult to iron out to avoid unnecessary folds. Many housewives recommend carrying out this process on a stretch sheet. Step by step, this process is as follows:
- the central part of the sheet with an elastic band should be placed on the ironing board;
- then you need to pull one end of a similar product and walk over it with an iron;
- the sheet needs to be moved in a circle until you get to the already ironed area.
Unfortunately, this method can take much longer than the classic analogue of ironing textiles. But you will get a perfectly ironed sheet with an elastic band without creases and unnecessary folds.
Compliance with simple rules will greatly simplify the process of ironing.
- Delicate material should be ironed at the minimum temperature setting.
- Silk items should be ironed slightly damp, turning them inside out.
- Textiles made from cotton fibers can be ironed at high temperatures, so that creases and creases can be quickly ironed out. Such material is not afraid of exposure to elevated temperatures, from which it only becomes stronger.
Storage features
If you do decide to iron the bed linen, then you must also fold it correctly so that it does not wrinkle during storage, but retains its perfect appearance, as if you had just ironed it. For these purposes, it is better to choose a spacious drawer or shelf so that the elements of the sleeping set can sit freely without squeezing each other.
If during ironing you used the steam function on the iron or ironed things with a steam generator, then before putting them in the cabinet, you need to wait a little for the textiles to dry thoroughly, since insufficiently dry laundry can acquire an unpleasant odor during storage.
Many housewives recommend not immediately laying the bedding that has just been ironed, letting them lie down for several days. This will provide a longer life for the textiles, increasing their durability. In addition, so that the fabric does not wear off quickly in certain places, it is necessary to periodically change the folds.
To improve the smell of bed linen, it is recommended to put aromatic bags filled with dried herbs that smell good on the shelves with it.
Ironing can be fun when combined with another activity. In addition, ironed linen will not only have an aesthetic appearance, but will also help to avoid various diseases. If you carry out such a procedure in compliance with certain rules, then it will not take much of your time and effort.
For information on how to properly iron bedding, see the next video.