where can one buy sheets that don't shrink when using the allergy setting, which is steam cleaning, on a washing machine?
thanks to everyone's advice. I am allergic to dust and dust mites and have had my mattresses and pillows in allergy casings for years. I use an allergy detergent to get rid of the mites and wash sheets in cold water. I never dry my sheets in a dryer, only on racks in the house or outside, in order not to have them shrink. but I still wake up with really swollen eyes, especially the side of my face that was against the mattress. I wondered if I am reacting to the chemicals in the detergent. We have an allergy setting on our new front loading machine, which steam cycle. I thought if I was willing to steam them, then I could use a mild soap. I had always been very careful to only use cold water, but decided to try the allergy setting for health reasons. And of course, my sheets shrunk. My allergies never act up in Hotels. Hotels must steam clean their sheets, so I thought I might be able to find sheets somewhere meant for this tough use. Thanks for your interest in helping me solve my problem.
This is the oddest question ever and this is coming from someone who is highly allergic to dust mites. I have a steam washer and dryer and never has anyone recommended only steam cleaning sheets or bedding. I use the sanitize setting and have never had my sheets shrink.
I would wonder what thread count you are using.
You may have outdoor allergies as well, and drying outside would be the WORST thing you could do. They may be collecting dust air drying them inside too. Use allergy free soap and your dryer.
Hotels don't steam clean their sheets.
I'm thinking your allergies are so bad because you have dirty sheets!! Wash them in hot water and use soap. Then put them in the dryer. I always select the "more dry" setting to make sure any potential dust mites are killed by the high tempurature.
My wash machine has a double rinse cycle.
I use it all the time and I'm sure all the soap residue is rinsed out.
I itch if I don't use the double rinse.
I think your detergent is the problem.
Use way less soap.
If shrinkage is a problem then buy bigger sheets.
Have you tried Tide Free and Clear or All Free? If you are waking up with swollen eyes, you might have an allergy to the dyes or perfumes in what you're currently using.
No idea.
I like good quality sheets and the directions were specific on my last set to wash in cold and do NOT use and fabric softener. Dry on med high. They are the best softest sheets I own and they came from Sleep Number.
We are a family with allergies living on a heavily wooded lot and no issues with bedding.
I have a steam setting on my washer but I never use it.
Once again, a new person pops up on a parenting website with a completely unrelated question. What?
I mean, I understand when someone with a history of being here reaches out and asks, but why do people seek out this site to ask off topic questions? Like, why wouldn't you look at a board about health or house keeping? Just curious.
you should def try a different detergent, are u using one for sensitive skin?
I've never heard of allergy setting on the washing machine. My sheets are all done in hot water wash and cold water rinse. then into the dryer. why are you steam cleaning your sheets?
I don't think they need to be put through that all the time.
Soap works. Add a little bleach or a little vinegar to each wash load. That will sanitize them.
As for drying them you just put them on medium setting and they come out fine.
If your allergies are so bad that you can't use your sheets without them being almost boiled every wash load then you might want to consider buying white sheet fabric and prewash it on the hottest water possible and dry it extended amounts of time on the highest heat setting on the dryer then make a set of sheets to fit your bed.
The white cotton won't fade or get bleach spots or be ruined by chemicals to clean them.
If you make them AFTER they've been washed and dryed on hot hot hot water and super high heat then they won't shrink anymore.
Otherwise, if you're going to continue to wash your sheets on a sanitize cycle that lasts for 2 hours in super heated water then in the dryer on the hottest temperature for a longer time you are going to wear them out and shrink them horribly. But the next size up or make your own.
what's with the trolls here today?
this is a particularly odd one. i've never seen an 'allergy setting' on a washing machine, and what sane person with severe allergies washes in cold water and then doesn't use a dryer?
bah.
khairete
S.
