WINNER + Bedding Chit-Chat

First things first, the winner of the Cleaning Kit (chosen by random.org)  is....

email me at clean.mama@yahoo.com to claim your Cleaning Kit.   If you didn't win, you're still a winner because the Cleaning Kit is 10% off in the shop through Friday!  Don't forget to check out the free membership offer with 50 PV (shows up in your cart at checkout).  I also have free shipping for new members!  The free membership offer ends today, check out this post for more info if you are interested.

Today, I'm going to talk to you about how I clean ALL of my bedding.  Did you know you can wash everything?  I do this every couple of months - the process takes a day - mostly it's just about loading and unloading items into the washer and dryer, but start in the morning . You'll love how fresh and clean it makes your bed and bedding - I highly recommend it.  

Ready?   Follow this order for a clean and fresh bed:

• strip EVERYTHING off of your bed
• take pillow cases and pillow covers off of your pillows
• check the tags on your pillows and see if they are machine washable - if they are, toss them into your washer - I can fit 4 pillows in the washer at a time.  If your pillows aren't machine washable, toss them in your dryer on HIGH with a couple clean tennis balls and let 'er rip for at least 30 minutes.  
• pile all sheets, pillow cases, and other bedding together
• wash mattress pad with duvet cover
• check your comforters or quilts for machine washability - wash them on delicate if necessary
• wash bedding (sheets, pillowcases) last

While you're waiting in-between loads:

• use your hose attachment on your vacuum cleaner and vacuum in-between stitching on you mattress and under your bed.
• rotate and/or flip mattress

Then,

• move through the process of washing/drying your linens until everything is clean and dry
• put your bedding back on your bed

I love the look of a well-dressed bed with lots of pillows and layers, but for me it's not functional - I prefer a simple, well-made bed.  Here are my must-have bedding components:

• bedskirt
• padded mattress pad

• down comforter - I like a lightweight one for easy washing/drying and so we can use it year-round  (I wash the down comforter in the washing machine at least twice a year - throw in a couple clean tennis balls to keep the feathers from clumping)
• duvet cover - white cotton - looks fresh, crisp, clean matches any room and washes up beautifully
• fitted sheet and pillow cases - NO flat sheet (flat sheets are an extra bed-making step and something extra to wash - I wash the duvet cover weekly like a top sheet.  This is is the bottom of the bed with the duvet pulled back - no fitted sheet.

• 4 bed pillows and body pillows - behind the bed pillows

Here's our bed and how I "dress" it:

I use Get Clean Fresh Laundry for my laundry  - I love the clean, fresh smell and that it's non-toxic and free of irritants - no itchy skin!