Post by High Priestess on May 27, 2016 15:31:54 GMT
Carolyn shared Jan 2015 on Bedder Hosting Group
www.airbnb.com/groups/content/content-100919
How often to wash bedspread and shams?
Hi all, I generally don't wash my guest-apartment bedspread and pillow shams after each guest, but rather after two or three short bookings. Guests are not sleeping on the bedspread itself. Then I realized they might be using the decorative shams as pillow cases, not removing them or not using the other pillows I have for them. The shams are always on the pillows, and at first I assumed that people removed them to sleep then were kind enough to replace them before they checked out.
Do I need to wash the bedspread after every guest? How do I know if they have removed the shams?
(Perhaps I'll develop a secret knot to tie the shams closed; if they remove them, the knot will be different and I'll know! lol)
Thanks everyone!
12 comments
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Nic and Rach
Nic and Racha year ago
As Needed and we don't use sham We want everything simple and comfortable for the guests the most important thing is that it is clean and no stain or hair visible to their naked eye.
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Lula and Larry
Lula and Larrya year ago
I wash duvets and shams even pillow covers after each guest
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Carolyn
Carolyna year ago
Pillow cases of course, every time. No question there. Now I may re-think and do the shams and bedspread every time too!
Juliet and Ed
Juliet and Eda year ago
Many guests do not know what shams are. I certainly didn't! I am a British person who has lived in the USA for 20 years. Shams are not something we use in Europe. I think I only finally figured out what they were this year. I don't recommend using them at all! People will for sure sleep with their head on them, I know I have certainly done that.
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Carolyn
Carolyna year ago
Oh thank you Juliet! I appreciate that - I had never used them on my own bedding but thought they were a nice touch for the studio. So, not knowing about them either, I thought people generally removed them before sleeping. Will wash after every guest now. I am compelled to use them because they're so pretty! lol Thanks (:
Carrie
Carriea year ago
i used to have dec pillows, but i got rid of them after a while. after time and time again finding them on the floor, under the bed, or with stains, i realized people don't know what to do with them. actually i don't have them in my own bed because i also don't want to deal with them. i think just standard pillows (i supply 4) are enough. there are plenty of very nice pillowcase designs out there.
as for washing things that are on top of the sheets, i clean the cotton blanket and duvet cover every 2-4 weeks.
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Carolyn
Carolyna year ago
Thank you Carrie - that's very helpful. (:
Juliet and Ed
Juliet and Eda year ago
I realize I didn't answer the question about frequency for washing. I wash the duvet cover and the blanket after every 3 guests. So of course that varies: it might be once a month or less often. I usually only get 2-3 guests a month. And in the summer, we get more guests, but we don't use the duvet, just the light blanket!
Rick
Ricka year ago
eek! a perennial problem! I don't wash bedspreads & blankets after every guest...but I certainly think about it!! Europeans are more accustomed to using duvets as a top sheet...so if they are doing this, (or using blankets as sheets)...you will need to wash them more often..
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Gordon
Gordona year ago
Here in the UK, we use a bottom sheet (obviously) and a duvet on top (which itself is protected by a duvet cover). Both (and pillowcases of course) are washed after every guest.
Although I have decorative cushions, these are whipped off before the guest has a chance to rest their pretty (or otherwise) head on them!
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Juliet and Ed
Juliet and Eda year ago
So Gordon, how does that work? Do you show them their room, with the pretty cushions, and while they're watching, you go "Now I'm going to take these away"....? or what!
Gordon
Gordona year ago
Not quiet, no. But when they've dropped their stuff and headed out, I whizz in there and do the magic. In fact, exactly that normally happens in fancy hotels for turn-down etc. I'd like to think that my room is just as nice without the cushions and people generally 'get' that I wouldn't be washing them (they're velvet) every five minutes.
Juliet and Ed
Juliet and Eda year ago
Thanks! Good explanation. i guess the way i feel about that is that after they've dropped off their stuff in the room, they might not like to think I've been in there. But I guess they can see that all you've done is turn down the sheets. Do you do anything else? leave a light on, or a chocolate on the pillow?
Carolyn
Carolyna year ago
Hi Juliet & Rick, thanks for the frequency for washing comments. I can't imagine washing the bedspread after every guest. Many of my guests are here only 2 or 3 nights. The bedspread would show wear after such frequent washings, and it wasn't cheap. -- Gee, I sound like I'm complaining and I don't mean to! I just don't want to incur unnecessary expense, and of course it's a big job putting bedspreads and blankets through the wash.
So, I'll wash blankets and shams after each guest, bedspread after every three guests or so, unless of course it is obvious that it needs washing.
Thank you everyone!
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Rick
Ricka year ago
I spray with an antiseptic spray (like Lysol) in between washings to freshen them a bit---kills germs, but mostly makes me feel better & the room smell nicer!
Carolyn
Carolyna year ago
I give the soft furnishings, like chairs, a light spray with antiseptic.
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Tracy
Tracya year ago
I have developed a way to make the bed which seems to discourage top sleeping or using the duvet as an unprotected top layer of bedding (harder to wash!). I put the fitted sheet on, then pillows, then top sheet with a long top bit folded over and laid on top of the pillows - with the covered duvet top tucked into the folded over top edge of the duvet. People seem to 'get' that this whole thing is intended to be on top and it saves me freaking out about washing the duvet cover every single time. If I get someone who has obviously used the duvet without the sheet (I can kind of tell by how they appeared to lay on top of the top sheet) I do wash it.
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Carolyn
Carolyna year ago
Nice idea, Tracy! I always fold the top sheet over the blanket(s) but not the bedspread. I will start doing it with the bedspread too. Thanks!
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Tracy
Tracya year ago
It has saved me sooo much washing. King size bed = massive duvet cover!
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Liene
Lienea year ago
I wash the bedlinen (sheets, duvet covers, pillow covers) after every guest and have the pillows and duvets dry-cleaned 2x a year.
Bedspread and covers of the lounging pillows (shams?) after 2 to 3 guests. I find that it is the easiest to have those in white so it is very easy to see the first signs of them needing a wash or if there are any stains.
Also i don't recommend getting rid of those pillows, they are nice to use in daytime when reading or using a laptop in bed. Instead leave a shelve/chet or some other space open where they can be stored during nighttime.
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Deborah