Do I need to iron the linen after washing and how to do it correctly?
The phrase “ironing of bed linen” in some housewives causes a feeling of horror, while the other ladies, on the contrary, refer to this procedure with a smile.
Since the process of ironing bed linen is time consuming, some housewives prefer not to do this, using the time saved for other purposes. But there are also supporters of this process who do not know how to lay an un-ironed bed.
Each of the parties makes a serious case for its point of view. Let's see if we need to iron the washed bedding, or we can bypass this sometimes very tedious process and can it be simplified in some way.
The benefits of ironing
Many housewives believe that you need to iron bedding, leading in their favor The main benefits that can be obtained upon completion of this process.
- After ironing, bed linen becomes soft, it becomes more comfortable and comfortable for sleeping. The ironed bed smells better and during the rest you breathe in pleasant aromas that allow you to relax and fall asleep faster.
- If after washing you do not iron bed linen, it takes a lot of space on the shelves in the closet. If ironing such textiles, then it becomes very compact, taking up a minimum of space, since it can be folded in neat piles.
- Curved edges on bedding, a crumpled sheet or duvet cover are characterized by an untidy appearance. Even a slight treatment with an iron or steam generator is able to transform the bed after washing.
- Cotton bedding must be ironed if you want a sleeping set to serve you for a very long time. Under the influence of high temperature when ironing textiles made from this material, its fibers are more closely adjoined to each other, as a result of which they become much stronger. In this case, the life of the cotton bed will be much longer than if you do not carry out regular ironing.
- Many housewives prefer to wash things, observing a temperature that does not exceed 40 degrees. This is a relatively hot water, so a variety of pathogenic bacteria and microorganisms remain on the bedding. If you carefully iron and, in addition, take a steam, you can not only observe hygiene, but also minimize the risk of a number of diseases that are provoked by harmful bacteria.
- To bed linen, necessarily requiring heat treatment, belong sleeping sets of newborns and patients with various infectious diseases. Exposure to high temperatures allows 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 alleviate the patient’s condition) .
- The bed of the baby requires ironing to make the surface perfectly smooth. Excess folds and creases may rub or squeeze the delicate skin of the newborn, causing him additional discomfort.As a result, the baby becomes very restless and does not sleep well.
disadvantages
Despite all the above advantages and advantages, some bedding can not be ironed.
The negative aspects of ironing bed linen include such moments.
- If the hostess has a very sensitive sense of smell, the ironing procedure can bring a certain amount of discomfort. The fact is that under the influence of steam and high temperatures, fragrances that are contained in powder or conditioner disappear more quickly, and not all housewives like pronounced smells. When all the pleasant smell disappears in the process of ironing, the laundry becomes not so 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, but several at a time. This drawback is very relevant for busy people who are quite difficult to carve out a free minute, not to mention a few hours spent on smoothing things. Such a drawback can be leveled if you combine the unpleasant process of ironing clothes, for example, with watching a movie or an interesting TV show. Due to this tedious process will be 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 smoothed linen quickly disappears.
- Many housewives do not like to iron clothes in the summer, because the apartment is already very hot, and the hot iron adds a few more degrees. This lack is not felt by people whose apartments or houses are equipped with air conditioning. The coolness created by these devices will allow to carry out the process of ironing in comfortable conditions even in the hot summer.
- Some people believe that ironing is harmful, because under the influence of high temperatures, the material that makes up the sheets, duvet covers and pillowcases loses the lion's share of hygroscopicity. Thus, there is a significant decrease in their ability to absorb excess moisture and perspiration, which 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 can not iron terry sheets, because under the influence of high temperature, this material becomes very hard and to hide such a sheet becomes very uncomfortable. Certain fabrics cannot be ironed as they begin to electrify. Such disadvantages can be avoided if you use high-quality air conditioning when washing.
- Irons consume too much electric energy, which significantly affects the growth of accounts when paying utility bills
Fundamental rules
To quickly stroke the bed linen, it is best to do it while it is slightly damp. If the bedding is dry, then you can iron it properly using a spray gun or by choosing the “steam” function on the iron. Some housewives prefer to use an ironing press or steam generator, which greatly simplifies the process of ironing.
Before you begin the process of ironing, you must carefully examine the surface of the iron. It should be free from any traces of dirt, scaling or rust, since these traces can remain on things and cause them to spoil.
Be sure to fill the clean water in a special compartment in the iron or steam generator. If the water stagnates, then dirty stains may appear on the laundry together with the steam, and the bed will have to be washed again.
To facilitate the process of ironing, many housewives prefer to perform this manipulation on the ironing board. It is much more convenient than using a regular table.Even large textiles are easily placed on a special ironing system. In addition, such devices have a special surface on which the iron slides much better, so the hostess does not spend a lot of strength.
Here are some tips on how to properly iron the various elements of a bedroom set.
- Pillowcase. This attribute of the bedroom set is small in size, so it can be properly ironed without folding it in half. In order to properly iron the curving part located in the middle of the pillowcase, the product should be turned inside out and ironed.
- Sheet. This element of the bed set is large, so it is recommended to fold it once in length and once in width. Thanks to this you get a much smaller rectangle. The corners and edges of the sheets should be carefully combined and straightened. Next, the textiles are ironed on one side, then you need to turn it over and iron it on the other side. After that it is necessary to unfold the sheet and lay the ironed side inside. In conclusion, you need to iron the sheet from the remaining 2 sides.
- Duvet Cover. This part of the bed set is not only large in size, but also consists of 2 layers of fabric, making it harder to iron it. If there is a zipper or buttons on the duvet cover, they need to be fastened. Corners of this product are properly finished and connected to each other. For this duvet cover fold in half by analogy with the sheet. Further, the process of ironing such an attribute is no different from ironing sheets.
The most inconvenient element of a bed set is a sheet with elastic. It can be very difficult to iron out to avoid unnecessary folds. Many housewives recommend 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 tighten one end of a similar product and walk on it with an iron;
- the sheet must 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 get a perfectly ironed sheet on an elastic band without wrinkles and unnecessary folds.
Compliance with simple rules will greatly simplify the process of ironing.
- Delicate material should be ironed by setting the minimum temperature.
- Silk products should be ironed slightly damp, turning them inside out.
- Textiles made from cotton fibers can be ironed at high temperatures, making it possible to quickly smooth out creases and various folds. Such material is not afraid of exposure to elevated temperature, from which it only becomes stronger.
Storage features
If you nevertheless decided to stroke the bed linen, then it is also necessary to fold it properly so that it does not crumple during storage, but retains the 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 be arranged freely without squeezing each other.
If in the process of ironing you used the steam function on the iron or ironed things with the help of a steam generator, then before putting them in the closet, you need to wait a little for the textile products to dry properly, as not enough dry laundry during storage can get an unpleasant smell.
Many housewives recommend immediately not to lay the newly ironed bedding, letting them lie down for several days. This will ensure a longer service life of textiles, increasing its wear-resistant characteristics.In addition, so that the fabric is not quickly erased in certain places, it is necessary to periodically change the sections of the folds.
To improve the smell of bed linen, it is recommended to fold aromatic bags filled with dried herbs that smell pleasantly on the shelves with it.
Ironing clothes can be turned into a fascinating process, if you combine it with another occupation. In addition, ironed linen will not only have an aesthetic appearance, but also help to avoid various diseases. If you carry out such a procedure in compliance with certain rules, then it will not take much time and effort from you.
On how to iron bedding, see the following video.