Cosmos Posted December 31, 2012 Share Posted December 31, 2012 My question is about those items that need occasional washing. Not clothing, sheets, towels, and kitchen linens, which of course are washed quite frequently, but the other fabric items in the home. How often do you wash the following items, if you have them and they are able to be laundered? If you have other fabric items that I've left out, feel free to add them in. curtains throw rug bath mat shower curtain shower curtain liner mattress pad pillow cover* (not a pillowcase, see below for explanation) pillows blanket on bed throw blanket on sofa/chair bedspread/quilt/comforter * A pillow cover is like a mattress pad for your pillow. It is a zippered case that goes on under a regular pillowcase. Do you have a system for washing these occasional items? Do you do them as part of a spring cleaning, for example, or spread through the year? Or do you simply wash them as needed? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest inoubliable Posted December 31, 2012 Share Posted December 31, 2012 My question is about those items that need occasional washing. Not clothing, sheets, towels, and kitchen linens, which of course are washed quite frequently, but the other fabric items in the home. How often do you wash the following items, if you have them and they are able to be laundered? If you have other fabric items that I've left out, feel free to add them in. curtains - no curtains in this house, but we did have some nice, thick cotton curtains in other homes and we washed those three or four times a year. We didn't have pets and we didn't smoke in the house so we didn't have a need to wash them more frequently. throw rug - no rugs here. bath mats - weekly, along with towels shower curtain - no shower curtain shower curtain liner - ours is one of those *gasp* plastic liners, so it just gets sprayed down with a water/vinegar mixture once a month mattress pad - once a month pillow cover* (not a pillowcase, see below for explanation) - once a month pillows - never. DH is funny about pillows so we end up replacing them every six months to a year. Unless it's something like we just bought the pillow in the last month and a kid puked on it. *sigh* Which has happened. And then it's in the wash with hot water. blanket on bed - twice a year? Not often. throw blanket on sofa/chair - twice a year? They get stored in the spring, so I wash them before they're put away. And they get washed again when they come out in the fall before being put on the furniture. bedspread/quilt/comforters - spot clean. Duvet covers get washed once a month. * A pillow cover is like a mattress pad for your pillow. It is a zippered case that goes on under a regular pillowcase. Do you have a system for washing these occasional items? Do you do them as part of a spring cleaning, for example, or spread through the year? Or do you simply wash them as needed? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laura Corin Posted December 31, 2012 Share Posted December 31, 2012 curtains - never? When they look nasty? throw rug - when I notice it looking grubby bath mat - every week with the towels - our bath mats are white shower curtain - when it looks grotty shower curtain liner - when it looks grotty mattress pad - every month or two pillow cover* (not a pillowcase, see below for explanation) - never? pillows - never blanket on bed - if it looks grubby throw blanket on sofa/chair - if it looks grubby bedspread - if it looks grubby quilt/comforter - I have to admit that I never wash these - we use duvet covers Laura Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Desert Rat Posted December 31, 2012 Share Posted December 31, 2012 My question is about those items that need occasional washing. Not clothing, sheets, towels, and kitchen linens, which of course are washed quite frequently, but the other fabric items in the home. How often do you wash the following items, if you have them and they are able to be laundered? If you have other fabric items that I've left out, feel free to add them in. curtains Twice a year-spring and fall throw rug Every other week bath mat Every week (one of my pet peeves. I clean houses.) shower curtain Twice a year with the other curtains shower curtain liner N/A I use plastic ones. mattress pad First laundry day after the first of even numbered months (Feb, Apr, June, etc) pillow cover* (not a pillowcase, see below for explanation) Same as above pillows Never wash. I throw them in the dryer every so often. We replace them once a year. blanket on bed Every other week. throw blanket on sofa/chair Every other week. bedspread/quilt/comforter Mine gets washed every other month. I'd love to do more but we have a Cal. King and it doesn't do well in our washer. My boys' both get washed every other week. We will up that to every week (or more) as they hit the smelly teen phase. * A pillow cover is like a mattress pad for your pillow. It is a zippered case that goes on under a regular pillowcase. Do you have a system for washing these occasional items? Do you do them as part of a spring cleaning, for example, or spread through the year? Or do you simply wash them as needed? I'm a touch OCD when it comes to laundry. This could explain why my dryer died this morning. :glare: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cosmos Posted December 31, 2012 Author Share Posted December 31, 2012 To answer my own question -- curtains -- I think these have only been washed twice in five years, though I do shake them well when I vacuum. shower curtain and shower curtain liner -- These are two I don't really have a system for. I always forget about it until the liner is very dirty. Then I wash them both. Maybe 3 months or so? mattress pad and pillow cover -- I do these monthly and at that time I rotate the mattresses and vacuum them and all around the bed frames pillows, blanket on bed, bedspread/quilt/comforter -- I have to do these large items at the laundromat. I aim to go twice a year, but it's been more like once a year lately. I fill up my car with all the pillows, blankets, quilts, and sleeping bags in the house. It takes a few hours but I do like having everything clean and fresh. I do have two wool blankets that cannot be laundered, and I admit they have not been cleaned in years, though I do shake them out very well and hang them in the sun. throw blanket on sofa/chair -- I probably do these once a month during the fall and winter when they are being used. I meant also to include other mats besides a bathmat. I have one in my kitchen and one in my laundry room that are both washable. I never think to wash them until they seem quite grubby. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reeciecup Posted December 31, 2012 Share Posted December 31, 2012 curtains Maybe once a year throw rug About once a month bath mat Once a week shower curtain Hardly ever....I need to do it now shower curtain line Same as the showere curtain mattress pad Twice a year pillow cover* (not a pillowcase, see below for explanation) pillows 3 or 4 times a year blanket on bed every week throw blanket on sofa/chair once or twice a month bedspread/quilt/comforter every week * A pillow cover is like a mattress pad for your pillow. It is a zippered case that goes on under a regular pillowcase. Do you have a system for washing these occasional items? Do you do them as part of a spring cleaning, for example, or spread through the year? Or do you simply wash them as needed? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lavender's green Posted December 31, 2012 Share Posted December 31, 2012 curtains - quarterly throw rug - don't have one bath mat - twice a week, when I do towels because it's a thick towel material shower curtain - quarterly shower curtain liner - replace often mattress pad - 1-2 times a month pillow cover* (not a pillowcase, see below for explanation) - 1-2 times a month pillows - never, I'm really bad about cleaning and replacing pillows! blanket on bed - monthly throw blanket on sofa/chair - twice a month bedspread/quilt/comforter - monthly Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coffeemama Posted December 31, 2012 Share Posted December 31, 2012 The short answer to your question (for me) is no I don't have any type of schedule for many of those items, though I probably should. I tend to go by how they look. curtains never wash, just vaccuum. I have full length drapes in three room that would cost $$$$ to dryclean throw rug door mats? I just shake out and vaccuum bath mat once a week shower curtain when it starts to look bad (maybe twice a year) shower curtain liner I replace probably 3 or 4 times a year (when it looks bad) mattress pad Once a month (I time it with my cycle) pillow cover* (not a pillowcase, see below for explanation) pillows blanket on bed N/a throw blanket on sofa/chair n/a bedspread/quilt/comforter once a year Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TechWife Posted December 31, 2012 Share Posted December 31, 2012 curtains - I don't have any throw rug - when it looks like it needs it bath mat - when it looks like it needs it shower curtain - about every three months shower curtain liner - about every three months mattress pad - maybe once per year pillow cover* (not a pillowcase, see below for explanation) - maybe once per year pillows - I don't blanket on bed - once each month throw blanket on sofa/chair - when it needs it bedspread/quilt/comforter - about every three months, but should do this more frequently Do you have a system for washing these occasional items? No Do you do them as part of a spring cleaning, for example, or spread through the year? Throughout the year Or do you simply wash them as needed? This is usually what I do Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ellie Posted December 31, 2012 Share Posted December 31, 2012 curtains Not often. There are some here in my office that are eight years old and have never been washed. They probably need to be dusted, though! throw rugbath mat When I see that they need to be washed; maybe once every couple of months shower curtainshower curtain liner Ditto. They are rarely washed. mattress padpillow cover* (not a pillowcase, see below for explanation) Not often at all. pillows Almost never. blanket on bed Mine are washable (as opposed to having, say, wool blankets, which mostly are not); I might wash them once a year. throw blanket on sofa/chair As needed, depending on how many cats and dogs have been sleeping on them, lol. bedspread/quilt/comforter Depends. A couple of my comforters must be taken to the cleaners to be washed because they are so big, and it costs about $40 to do that, so I try to avoid it. Two others can be machine washed; because they are in guest rooms and so not used very often, I only wash them a couple of times a year. Do you have a system for washing these occasional items? Do you do them as part of a spring cleaning, for example, or spread through the year? Or do you simply wash them as needed? No system, as needed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
amy58103 Posted January 1, 2013 Share Posted January 1, 2013 curtains - twice a year (fall / spring) throw rug - vacuumed weekly, spot cleaning when dirty bath mat - weekly shower curtain - twice a year, or when it looks dirty shower curtain liner - replaced once a year mattress pad - 3 to 4 times a year pillow cover* (not a pillowcase, see below for explanation) - don't use pillows - never, bed pillows are generally replaced every two years blanket on bed - monthly when used for sleeping, 3 to 4 times a year if just for decoration throw blanket on sofa/chair - 3 to 4 times a year bedspread/quilt/comforter - monthly Every spring and fall I do a "thorough" cleaning of the house. All the curtains get cleaned, windows are cleaned, every piece of furniture is moved to clean behind/underneath it, closests get cleaned out, basement is cleaned, hardwood floors get polished, etc. I learned this routine from my mother. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KungFuPanda Posted January 1, 2013 Share Posted January 1, 2013 Most of those items get washed seasonally at my house. The exception is the mattress pad, pillow covers, and shower liners. Those get washed monthly (ish). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TammyinTN Posted January 1, 2013 Share Posted January 1, 2013 My question is about those items that need occasional washing. Not clothing, sheets, towels, and kitchen linens, which of course are washed quite frequently, but the other fabric items in the home. How often do you wash the following items, if you have them and they are able to be laundered? If you have other fabric items that I've left out, feel free to add them in. curtain--once a year-dry clean or wash throw rug-every 3 months unless dirt bath math--every month shower curtain--once every 3 months shower curtain liner-I just buy a new one every couple of months and change it. mattress pads-every 3 months pillow cover* (not a pillowcase, see below for explanation)--when I do sheets every week. pillows--every 3 months blanket on bed--once a month throw blanket on sofa/chair--every 2 weeks bedspread/quilt/comforter--every 3 months * A pillow cover is like a mattress pad for your pillow. It is a zippered case that goes on under a regular pillowcase. Do you have a system for washing these occasional items? Do you do them as part of a spring cleaning, for example, or spread through the year? Or do you simply wash them as needed? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
applethyme Posted January 1, 2013 Share Posted January 1, 2013 My washer is always busy. curtains - quarterly throw rug - weekly bath mat - weekly or more often if needed shower curtain - monthly shower curtain liner - replaced often. mattress pad - every 2 weeks pillow cover* (not a pillowcase, see below for explanation) - every 2 weeks pillows - monthly blanket on bed - every 1-2 weeks throw blanket on sofa/chair - weekly bedspread/quilt/comforter - the one on my bed is washed twice a week. The one on the childrens beds are washed weekly. We have 6 cats. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cindy in FL. Posted January 1, 2013 Share Posted January 1, 2013 Those are all on an as needed basis, so it varies. We have no curtains and don't wash pillows. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted January 1, 2013 Share Posted January 1, 2013 My question is about those items that need occasional washing. Not clothing, sheets, towels, and kitchen linens, which of course are washed quite frequently, but the other fabric items in the home. How often do you wash the following items, if you have them and they are able to be laundered? If you have other fabric items that I've left out, feel free to add them in. curtains - cotton curtains maybe once or twice a year. If I can see dust along the top edge, I start thinking about it. Silk curtains in dining room - I've only cleaned this maybe 2ice in 10 years. I vacuum blinds probably 2-4 times a year. throw rug None bath mat There's only one in boy's bath; I wash it about every 2 months when I get around to it. shower curtain Only one in boy's bath; maybe once a year. shower curtain liner Plastic. Never wash this. mattress pad Hardly ever unless there was some type of accident. pillow cover* (not a pillowcase, see below for explanation) Once or twice a year unless there was an accident. pillows I never wash pillows. blanket on bed A few times a year unless it gets dirty. I wash these if someone had a bad illness. throw blanket on sofa/chair A little more frequently than bed blankets. I always wash these if someone was sick because they are in constant use. bedspread/quilt/comforter A few times a year. * A pillow cover is like a mattress pad for your pillow. It is a zippered case that goes on under a regular pillowcase. Do you have a system for washing these occasional items? Do you do them as part of a spring cleaning, for example, or spread through the year? Or do you simply wash them as needed? I don't have a system really. I just wash them once in a while if I'm doing a lot of substantial cleaning or if I notice it looks especially shabby. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thescrappyhomeschooler Posted January 1, 2013 Share Posted January 1, 2013 curtains- spring cleaning throw rug- when I notice they are really dirty bath mat- We use cloth ones like hand towels, so they get changed every couple of days shower curtain- n/a shower curtain liner- n/a mattress pad- every other time of washing the sheets pillow cover* (not a pillowcase, see below for explanation)- same as mattress pad pillows- spring cleaning or when needed for spill or something blanket on bed- same as mattress pad throw blanket on sofa/chair- when I notice it needs it bedspread/quilt/comforter- 2-3 times per year, or when needed for spill or something Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Melissa in Australia Posted January 1, 2013 Share Posted January 1, 2013 curtains once a year throw rug don't have one bath mat every few days shower curtain every 2 months shower curtain liner what is that? they must not exist in Australia mattress pad Do you mean the old wool blanket that is under the bottom sheet? every 6 months pillow cover* (not a pillowcase, see below for explanation) Don't have one pillows never blanket on bed in spring and autumn throw blanket on sofa/chair every few months bedspread/quilt/comforter once a year Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LucyStoner Posted January 1, 2013 Share Posted January 1, 2013 curtains- 1-2 a year. Spring Cleaning and possibly Fall Cleaning too. throw rug- N/A bath mat- N/A we don't have one- we use a towel. shower curtain- whenever someone vomits on it. Otherwise, it doesn't really get dirty. shower curtain liner- I spray and wipe this off as part of my weekly deep bathroom clean. mattress pad- every couple of months pillow cover* (not a pillowcase, see below for explanation)- same as mattress pad. pillows- um, never. They are in sealed covers and then a pillow case. Never saw the need. blanket on bed- usually every other week. Except for kids- their blankets don't get funky from sweat. So my younger son if he pees in bed and my older son maybe every couple of months. throw blanket on sofa/chair- N/A I don't have them. bedspread/quilt/comforter- monthly, more or less. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Farrar Posted January 1, 2013 Share Posted January 1, 2013 These things are so different. The bath mat goes in with the weekly laundry. The curtains maybe get washed once a year if they're lucky. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cosmos Posted January 1, 2013 Author Share Posted January 1, 2013 Some of you have mentioned washing bed blankets, bedspreads, quilts, and/or comforters on a weekly or semi-weekly basis. Goodness, that tires me just thinking about it. Are we all talking about the same things, I wonder? My bed is a queen mattress and I make it up with a fitted sheet and then a flat sheet, then several blankets and/or quilts. The top layer is our prettiest quilt or whatever I feel like displaying. I think right now we have one wool blanket and two quilts. My ds's bed is made similarly, but with more layers (he likes it that way). In the summer we use fewer layers -- usually just one quilt over the sheet. Our bodies go between the sheets, which are washed weekly. The quilts and blankets, though, only get washed a couple of times a year. Most of them are too big to wash in my washing machine, so I make a special trip to the laundromat. If I were able to wash them at home that would be at least 6 loads just for bedding. (And that's for a small family with just one child!) Is that what some folks are doing every week? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KungFuPanda Posted January 1, 2013 Share Posted January 1, 2013 I feel another bath mat/bath rug discussion coming on. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KungFuPanda Posted January 1, 2013 Share Posted January 1, 2013 Some of you have mentioned washing bed blankets, bedspreads, quilts, and/or comforters on a weekly or semi-weekly basis. Goodness, that tires me just thinking about it. Are we all talking about the same things, I wonder? My bed is a queen mattress and I make it up with a fitted sheet and then a flat sheet, then several blankets and/or quilts. The top layer is our prettiest quilt or whatever I feel like displaying. I think right now we have one wool blanket and two quilts. My ds's bed is made similarly, but with more layers (he likes it that way). In the summer we use fewer layers -- usually just one quilt over the sheet. Our bodies go between the sheets, which are washed weekly. The quilts and blankets, though, only get washed a couple of times a year. Most of them are too big to wash in my washing machine, so I make a special trip to the laundromat. If I were able to wash them at home that would be at least 6 loads just for bedding. (And that's for a small family with just one child!) Is that what some folks are doing every week? I agree. I demand an explanation for why blankets and bedspreads/comforters/quilts are getting laundered weekly. Also, I demand it be a BAD explanation because I do not want to add to my workload. I mean, come on, those things don't even touch you very much. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cosmos Posted January 1, 2013 Author Share Posted January 1, 2013 I feel another bath mat/bath rug discussion coming on. Oh, goody. Have I hit on a controversy? :hurray: We actually don't have a bath mat. I just put a folded towel on the floor outside the shower and change it every few days. When I was writing my list, I think I was thinking of the mats I have in front of the kitchen sink and the back door. They are washable, rubber-backed mats the same size as a bath mat. But what are they called? Kitchen mats? Kitchen rugs? Welcome mats? My brain froze and I wrote bath mat. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cosmos Posted January 1, 2013 Author Share Posted January 1, 2013 I agree. I demand an explanation for why blankets and bedspreads/comforters/quilts are getting laundered weekly. Also, I demand it be a BAD explanation because I do not want to add to my workload. I mean, come on, those things don't even touch you very much. Yes, why did I start a thread whose only potential was to make me feel even WORSE as a housekeeper? Dumb, dumb, dumb, dumb dumb. :lol: I wish someone would start a thread asking how often we clean our hand soap dispensers, because I really rock at that. I EXCEL at it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JeneralMom Posted January 1, 2013 Share Posted January 1, 2013 My question is about those items that need occasional washing. Not clothing, sheets, towels, and kitchen linens, which of course are washed quite frequently, but the other fabric items in the home. How often do you wash the following items, if you have them and they are able to be laundered? If you have other fabric items that I've left out, feel free to add them in. curtains - we have asthma so no curtains. When I did have the twice a year. throw rug - we don't currently have any but when I did would wash as needed. bath mat - weekly with towels. shower curtain - never but i will wipe it down shower curtain liner - don't have one. mattress pad - don't have one. pillow cover* (not a pillowcase, see below for explanation) - every other week. pillows - I spray them with a vinegar and tea tree solution and leave them out in sun weekly. blanket on bed - wash when needed or spray like pillows weekly. throw blanket on sofa/chair - as needed but usually monthly or more because of pets, kids, and asthma. bedspread/quilt/comforter - same treatment as pillows weekly. I will wash at least once per season or when needed. * A pillow cover is like a mattress pad for your pillow. It is a zippered case that goes on under a regular pillowcase. Do you have a system for washing these occasional items? Do you do them as part of a spring cleaning, for example, or spread through the year? Or do you simply wash them as needed? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JeneralMom Posted January 1, 2013 Share Posted January 1, 2013 shower curtain liner what is that? they must not exist in Australia I haven't seen one here. It is a clear piece of plastic you hang up along with your fabric shower curtain so the water doesn't leak through. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Desert Rat Posted January 1, 2013 Share Posted January 1, 2013 Some of you have mentioned washing bed blankets, bedspreads, quilts, and/or comforters on a weekly or semi-weekly basis. Goodness, that tires me just thinking about it. Are we all talking about the same things, I wonder? My bed is a queen mattress and I make it up with a fitted sheet and then a flat sheet, then several blankets and/or quilts. The top layer is our prettiest quilt or whatever I feel like displaying. I think right now we have one wool blanket and two quilts. My ds's bed is made similarly, but with more layers (he likes it that way). In the summer we use fewer layers -- usually just one quilt over the sheet. Our bodies go between the sheets, which are washed weekly. The quilts and blankets, though, only get washed a couple of times a year. Most of them are too big to wash in my washing machine, so I make a special trip to the laundromat. If I were able to wash them at home that would be at least 6 loads just for bedding. (And that's for a small family with just one child!) Is that what some folks are doing every week? "Bad" explanation coming for the sake of Panda. :) I would wash my comforter (huge, cordoroy cali king) every other week if I could. It can't take it. And I love it and don't want to replace it. So it gets washed twice a winter. I have a different, light bedspread for spring, summer, fall. We live in the desert. We only need heavy bed things for 4 months or so. Our bed is the only one to use a top sheet. My boys..... I have boys. Boys smell. They bathe daily. They still smell sometimes. They are active in sports and shower at night. Their stuff still has what I have come to call "the funk". Now, not my little one so much...yet. But, I had a brother growing up. A smelly brother. I get one small whiff of that smell and I freak. The boys don't have a top sheet because they just kick them down to the bottom of the bed or completely off the bed. So, I did away with them years ago. Both boys have a thick twin comforter on their beds and various throws. The comforters get washed every other week. The throws at least once a month or whenever I get a "whiff". (Have I mentioned that I have an over-active sense of smell? I do. I realize that no one else would probably smell what I do. My family must live with this. Poor Them.) So that's my bad explanation. Oh. This is translates into 2 loads of laundry one week. Four loads of laundry the following week. It coordinates with my work schedule so that my light week cleaning other people's houses has more laundry. Yes. I am OCD. My family must live with that, too. But, at least they are super sparkly clean while dealing with me! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Melissa in Australia Posted January 1, 2013 Share Posted January 1, 2013 Some of you have mentioned washing bed blankets, bedspreads, quilts, and/or comforters on a weekly or semi-weekly basis. Goodness, that tires me just thinking about it. Are we all talking about the same things, I wonder? My bed is a queen mattress and I make it up with a fitted sheet and then a flat sheet, then several blankets and/or quilts. The top layer is our prettiest quilt or whatever I feel like displaying. I think right now we have one wool blanket and two quilts. My ds's bed is made similarly, but with more layers (he likes it that way). In the summer we use fewer layers -- usually just one quilt over the sheet. Our bodies go between the sheets, which are washed weekly. The quilts and blankets, though, only get washed a couple of times a year. Most of them are too big to wash in my washing machine, so I make a special trip to the laundromat. If I were able to wash them at home that would be at least 6 loads just for bedding. (And that's for a small family with just one child!) Is that what some folks are doing every week? I make up my beds the same as you. My top covers are home made patchwork quilts. I don't think they would stand up to being washed every week, or even every month. Each one took a year to make. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arcadia Posted January 1, 2013 Share Posted January 1, 2013 curtains - ours are cotton and can be machined wash so when we feel like it. we have plenty of spare curtains too shower curtain - scrubbed when yucky, its the mildew resistant plasticky kind mattress pad - when dirty pillow cover* (not a pillowcase, see below for explanation) - when dirty pillows - never blanket on bed - when dirty Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reya Posted January 1, 2013 Share Posted January 1, 2013 curtains have only in 1 room, 1x/year throw rug never--I shampoo them 2-4x/year bath mat1x/wk--we have towel-like kind, not fluffy kind shower curta spray with shower cleaner--ours is the clear kind shower curtain linern/a mattress pad6-12 xs per year pillow cover* (not a pillowcase, see below for explanation) we have anti-dust mite covers. 2x/yr pillows never blanket on bed 1x/month throw blanket on sofa/chairwhen it gets dirty! bedspread/quilt/comforter 1x/month Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Melissa in Australia Posted January 1, 2013 Share Posted January 1, 2013 I haven't seen one here. It is a clear piece of plastic you hang up along with your fabric shower curtain so the water doesn't leak through. Oh! seems like a lot of extra work. Mine are some sort of nylon that doesn't leak, Oh and I have a plastic one. thanks for explaining. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
somo_chickenlady Posted January 1, 2013 Share Posted January 1, 2013 curtains - Never :svengo: throw rug - About once a month, or when it looks visibly dirty bath mat - Every time I wash the towels, which is once a week shower curtain - We don't have one shower curtain liner - same as above mattress pad - Every other sheet washing, so every other week pillow cover* (not a pillowcase, see below for explanation) - Every couple months pillows - Never blanket on bed - Every other week throw blanket on sofa/chair - Never bedspread/quilt/comforter - Bedspreads/quilts and comforters are different in my mind...I will wash a bedspread/quilt once a month or so, but I don't like to wash comforters b/c I don't like how they get lumpy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laura Corin Posted January 1, 2013 Share Posted January 1, 2013 My boys..... I have boys. Boys smell. They bathe daily. They still smell sometimes. They are active in sports and shower at night. Their stuff still has what I have come to call "the funk". Now, not my little one so much...yet. But, I had a brother growing up. A smelly brother. I get one small whiff of that smell and I freak. The boys don't have a top sheet because they just kick them down to the bottom of the bed or completely off the bed. So, I did away with them years ago. Both boys have a thick twin comforter on their beds and various throws. The comforters get washed every other week. Have you considered using a duvet cover? Basically it's a sheet made into a big pocket that covers the comforter and gets washed with the sheets. Laura Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reya Posted January 1, 2013 Share Posted January 1, 2013 I agree. I demand an explanation for why blankets and bedspreads/comforters/quilts are getting laundered weekly. Also, I demand it be a BAD explanation because I do not want to add to my workload. I mean, come on, those things don't even touch you very much. How about, we don't use top sheets and we also have dust mite allergies? :) Not bad, but prolly not applicable to you! I should wash comforters weekly. I don't. If I had DECORATIVE bedspreads, they would get washed maybe quarterly. When I had my handmade antique crocheted lace coverlet on a bed (PRE KIDS), I never, ever washed it at all. :o Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AHASRADA Posted January 1, 2013 Share Posted January 1, 2013 curtains: don't have them, I don't think I ever washed them when I did, just left them there when we moved and bought new ones throw rug: don't really have any; runners, etc. with rubber backing are just vacuumed bath mat: every 3-4 weeks, when they look dirty shower curtain: (plastic), wiped down occasionally shower curtain liner: (plastic), never, I replace it when it's yucky mattress pad: rarely, once every few years pillow cover* (not a pillowcase, see below for explanation): don't have them pillows: never, they get too lumpy if washed blanket on bed: once a year throw blanket on sofa/chair: don't use at the moment, maybe 2x/year bedspread/quilt/comforter: once every year or two Obviously these things are not on my radar, and are only attended to when necessary. I do have a plan for bedspreads: I intend to drag them all to the laundromat and wash them all in the jumbo utility washers before I put them away in the spring, or when I take them out in the fall. In reality, this has only happened twice in 6 years! Oh well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wheres Toto Posted January 1, 2013 Share Posted January 1, 2013 My question is about those items that need occasional washing. Not clothing, sheets, towels, and kitchen linens, which of course are washed quite frequently, but the other fabric items in the home. How often do you wash the following items, if you have them and they are able to be laundered? If you have other fabric items that I've left out, feel free to add them in. curtains - I don't think I ever have. We have curtains in the bedrooms only. throw rug - I have a throw rug right in front of my washer/dryer. I wash that one every other week or when it gets wet/dripped with laundry detergent. bath mat - every other week or when needed (if it gets excessively wet or something spills) shower curtain - as needed shower curtain liner - never but we replace it often mattress pad - don't have one pillow cover* (not a pillowcase, see below for explanation) - don't have one pillows - as needed. Not often. blanket on bed - don't have one throw blanket on sofa/chair - We have a bunch of these because we all sit with blankets on. They get washed as needed - which means whenever one of them looks like it's picked up too much fuzz, or someone spills something on it. Probably each one gets washed at least once a month. bedspread/quilt/comforter - ours needs to go to the dry cleaners and that is $$ so probably only once a year unless something happens and it really really needs it. * A pillow cover is like a mattress pad for your pillow. It is a zippered case that goes on under a regular pillowcase. Do you have a system for washing these occasional items? Do you do them as part of a spring cleaning, for example, or spread through the year? Or do you simply wash them as needed? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KungFuPanda Posted January 1, 2013 Share Posted January 1, 2013 Yes, why did I start a thread whose only potential was to make me feel even WORSE as a housekeeper? Dumb, dumb, dumb, dumb dumb. :lol: I wish someone would start a thread asking how often we clean our hand soap dispensers, because I really rock at that. I EXCEL at it. You can't wash that! If it gets gunky enough it can only become soap. What could be cleaner than soap??? "Bad" explanation coming for the sake of Panda. :) I would wash my comforter (huge, cordoroy cali king) every other week if I could. It can't take it. And I love it and don't want to replace it. So it gets washed twice a winter. I have a different, light bedspread for spring, summer, fall. We live in the desert. We only need heavy bed things for 4 months or so. Our bed is the only one to use a top sheet. My boys..... I have boys. Boys smell. They bathe daily. They still smell sometimes. They are active in sports and shower at night. Their stuff still has what I have come to call "the funk". Now, not my little one so much...yet. But, I had a brother growing up. A smelly brother. I get one small whiff of that smell and I freak. The boys don't have a top sheet because they just kick them down to the bottom of the bed or completely off the bed. So, I did away with them years ago. Both boys have a thick twin comforter on their beds and various throws. The comforters get washed every other week. The throws at least once a month or whenever I get a "whiff". (Have I mentioned that I have an over-active sense of smell? I do. I realize that no one else would probably smell what I do. My family must live with this. Poor Them.) So that's my bad explanation. Oh. This is translates into 2 loads of laundry one week. Four loads of laundry the following week. It coordinates with my work schedule so that my light week cleaning other people's houses has more laundry. Yes. I am OCD. My family must live with that, too. But, at least they are super sparkly clean while dealing with me! I GET the Super Nose thing. I have an over active sniffer, but I've been blessed with kids who don't smell. the room actually smells better after my 15-year-old walks through it, but she's OCD about personal hygiene. (I'll knock on wood here because my son is 12 and funk could hit any minute.) In your case, wouldn't duvet covers make life easier? Oh! seems like a lot of extra work. Mine are some sort of nylon that doesn't leak, Oh and I have a plastic one. thanks for explaining. We don't use a liner if we have a plastic shower curtain, but if you want to hang a cloth one (because they're pretty and match the adjacent bedroom), you have to line it to keep the cloth clean and the water in the tub. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Excelsior! Academy Posted January 1, 2013 Share Posted January 1, 2013 My question is about those items that need occasional washing. Not clothing, sheets, towels, and kitchen linens, which of course are washed quite frequently, but the other fabric items in the home. How often do you wash the following items, if you have them and they are able to be laundered? If you have other fabric items that I've left out, feel free to add them in. curtains throw rug bath mat shower curtain shower curtain liner mattress pad pillow cover* (not a pillowcase, see below for explanation) pillows blanket on bed throw blanket on sofa/chair bedspread/quilt/comforter * A pillow cover is like a mattress pad for your pillow. It is a zippered case that goes on under a regular pillowcase. Do you have a system for washing these occasional items? Do you do them as part of a spring cleaning, for example, or spread through the year? Or do you simply wash them as needed? I am going to answer despite the fact you all may think I am a disgusting pig and block me forever. Here is the ugly truth.... Curtains...We have custom made draperies in every room. They get dusted and vacuumed, but never washed. Throw rugs...are just pieces of cut carpet so they are shaken when we vacuum. Bath mats....Kids use a folded up, labeled towel. Each child has their own. These get washed at minimum once a week and as often as several times a week to daily for my health conscience teens. Dh and I have a thick, padded, vinyl kitchen type mat in our bath. It gets wiped when I mop the bath, every week or two. Shower curtain...seasonally. Shower liners....ummm...we just replace when gross. Mattress pads...monthly to seasonally, unless someone wets the bed. Pillows...never. We fluff couch pillows in the dryer, and replace bed pillows several times a year. I am a bit of a bedding snob and have to sleep on fluffy pillows. Lol! Blanket on bed...kids often, mine and oldest teen....way less frequently. They require being sent out and are ridiculously expensive. Throw blankets...when needed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Desert Rat Posted January 1, 2013 Share Posted January 1, 2013 I GET the Super Nose thing. I have an over active sniffer, but I've been blessed with kids who don't smell. the room actually smells better after my 15-year-old walks through it, but she's OCD about personal hygiene. (I'll knock on wood here because my son is 12 and funk could hit any minute.) In your case, wouldn't duvet covers make life easier? I've never tried a duvet cover. I would think it would be frustrating for me to take the cover off and put it back on. I mean, it works like a giant pillow case with a closure, right? It's easy for me to throw their comforters in the wash. A duvet would definitely cut down on the loads I wash, but I think the hassle of removing and replacing it would outweigh the load reduction. Of course, I don't terribly mind doing laundry. Duvet users, how is the removal/replacing process for you? My boys are very clean, just cause I feel the need to clarify. I just know when hormones kick in, they sometimes can't do anything about it (like my brother). I'm glad to know I'm not the only one sensitive to smells. Sometimes I feel crazy when no one else can smell the things I do! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cosmos Posted January 1, 2013 Author Share Posted January 1, 2013 Oh! seems like a lot of extra work. Mine are some sort of nylon that doesn't leak, Oh and I have a plastic one. thanks for explaining. Re: shower curtain liners. Many are plastic, but mine is made out of nylon or something like that and is washable in the machine. Then I have a cotton shower curtain that goes outside of the nylon one. I guess it's so the inside one keeps the water in and the outside one looks pretty. Anyway, our inside one gets dirtier much faster than the outside one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cosmos Posted January 1, 2013 Author Share Posted January 1, 2013 Obviously these things are not on my radar, and are only attended to when necessary. I do have a plan for bedspreads: I intend to drag them all to the laundromat and wash them all in the jumbo utility washers before I put them away in the spring, or when I take them out in the fall. In reality, this has only happened twice in 6 years! Oh well. I hear you! It would be nice to find a friend who does the same and make an outing out of it. I never see people at the laundromat doing bedspreads, though. They're always just doing regular laundry. I used to do ALL my laundry at the laundromat, and I rarely saw people bring in big loads of bedding even then. I don't know how so many people are able to wash theirs at home. I don't think my washer is particularly small, but it would only hold the smallest and thinnest of my ds' bedding (3/4 bed size) and certainly can't hold any of our queen size bedding. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joker Posted January 1, 2013 Share Posted January 1, 2013 I hear you! It would be nice to find a friend who does the same and make an outing out of it. I never see people at the laundromat doing bedspreads, though. They're always just doing regular laundry. I used to do ALL my laundry at the laundromat, and I rarely saw people bring in big loads of bedding even then. I don't know how so many people are able to wash theirs at home. I don't think my washer is particularly small, but it would only hold the smallest and thinnest of my ds' bedding (3/4 bed size) and certainly can't hold any of our queen size bedding. We wash all of our bedding weekly (due to dust mite allergies and asthma) but our largest bed is only a full. All the beds have quilts and they fit in our machines just fine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cosmos Posted January 1, 2013 Author Share Posted January 1, 2013 We wash all of our bedding weekly (due to dust mite allergies and asthma) but our largest bed is only a full. All the beds have quilts and they fit in our machines just fine. I'm going to thank my lucky stars that ours don't fit, so I have an excuse to continue my slothful ways. :smilielol5: Okay, so I might not be very diligent about my laundry, but apparently I am diligent about laundry STATISTICS, because I'm making a chart of all the responses in the thread. And I've spent more time in the last 24 hours thinking about laundry than actually doing any. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laura Corin Posted January 1, 2013 Share Posted January 1, 2013 I've never tried a duvet cover. I would think it would be frustrating for me to take the cover off and put it back on. I mean, it works like a giant pillow case with a closure, right? It's easy for me to throw their comforters in the wash. A duvet would definitely cut down on the loads I wash, but I think the hassle of removing and replacing it would outweigh the load reduction. Of course, I don't terribly mind doing laundry. Duvet users, how is the removal/replacing process for you? Once you've done it a few times, you get used to it. The way I do it: insert two quilt corners into the far duvet cover corners. Grab from the outside then shake the cover over the quilt. Then do up the snaps. Laura Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LucyStoner Posted January 1, 2013 Share Posted January 1, 2013 Why wash blankets and bedspreads regularly? When you have dust allergies, sensitive skin or are kinda sweaty. We are all three here. I don't wash weekly but if it were a seasonal or annual thing, they would be totally filthy. Also all sorts of stuff gets on beds from time to time. If your bed doesn't get stinky or dirty, more power to you but here with two adults, my bed needs regularly washed blankets and spreads. My main spread is a homemade quilt. It washes just fine monthly. The kids are both prepubescent and their beds don't seem to need more than the sheets washed often. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pawz4me Posted January 1, 2013 Share Posted January 1, 2013 curtains -- Every couple of years? We only have curtains on two windows throw rug -- Every couple of months, or sooner if they need it bath mat -- Twice a week. Ours are the heavy towel kind, so they go in with the rest of the towels shower curtain -- Never shower curtain liner -- As needed. Probably about every three months. mattress pad -- Three or four times a year pillow cover* (not a pillowcase, see below for explanation) N/A pillows -- Spring and fall blanket on bed -- Every two or three months throw blanket on sofa/chair -- Once a month or more (pets lay on them) bedspread/quilt/comforter -- Every couple of months We have a medium-sized front loader and it can easily handle queen-sized bedspreads and blankets. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lavender's green Posted January 1, 2013 Share Posted January 1, 2013 I'm one of the people who washes my blankets/quilts very often. It's because I have three black cats! Between the shedding and the occasional hair balls, the blankets really need it, and they're very sturdy and fit in my washer and dryer easily. Also...I've been known to drool in my sleep, and I usually sleep with the blankets touching my face...so...yeah. :closedeyes: I keep our nice handmade wedding ring quilt from DH's grandma on a quilt rack in our bedroom. I'd feel bad about drool and hairballs getting on that! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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