\u201cEspecially in homes with pets, keeping fabrics on a regular wash routine can make a noticeable difference,\u201d says Scott Grillo, a home-cleaning and laundry expert at FurZapper. \u201cPeople underestimate how much fabrics throughout the home act like collection points for hair, dust, allergens and odours.\u201d<\/p>\n
Here are some fabric items that experts say you probably need to wash more often.<\/p>\n
Curtains and drapes<\/p>\n
Curtains trap dust, odours and allergens such as pollen and dander, but they are often overlooked when cleaning rooms with fabric window treatments. The Asthma and Allergy Foundation recommends vacuuming curtains weekly with an upholstery attachment and washing them every three months. Curtains in bathrooms that are prone to mould and in kitchens that hold on to smells and smoke from cooking may need more frequent washing.<\/p>\n
Throw blankets<\/p>\n
Throw blankets are easy to overlook on laundry day, and it\u2019s a problem \u201cespecially in homes with pets,\u201d Grillo says. \u201cThey collect hair, dander, dust and body oils pretty quickly.\u201d Aim to wash those that dwell on couches, chairs and beds every one to two weeks, depending on use.<\/p>\n
Upholstered furniture<\/p>\n
\u201cDust mites, animal dander and pollen can build up on and under furniture and should be vacuumed every week,\u201d Carver says. If the furniture has washable slipcovers, launder them regularly \u2013 especially, she says, \u201cif you have furry pets\u201d. Deep cleaning upholstery every three to six months with a carpet and upholstery cleaning machine is also recommended.<\/p>\n
Oven mitts and potholders<\/p>\n
\u201cMost people rarely think about washing these,\u201d Grillo says, \u201cbut they absorb grease, smoke and cooking oils over time. Every week or two is usually a good rule, depending on cooking frequency.\u201d<\/p>\n
Kitchen towels and dishcloths<\/p>\n
Kitchen towels are probably one of the biggest overlooked items, Grillo says. \u201cPeople use the same towel for drying hands, wiping counters and cleaning spills, and usually keep it around too long.\u201d Wash them in hot water every one to two days \u2013 and always after they have been in contact with raw meat, poultry or fish \u2013 and avoid using fabric softener, which can reduce absorbency.<\/p>\n
Hand and bath towels<\/p>\n
Hand and bath towels should be washed frequently to prevent mould, mildew and dust mites. \u201cThey should be washed after every couple of uses by a single person,\u201d Carver says. \u201cIf you have eczema, wash your bath towels after every use to help prevent infection.\u201d<\/p>\n
Cleaning cloths<\/p>\n
\u201cThese should be washed daily, depending on use,\u201d Grillo says. \u201cThey\u2019re constantly exposed to moisture and residue, so odours and bacteria can build up quickly.\u201d<\/p>\n
Bath mats<\/p>\n
\u201cThe moisture in bathrooms may promote mould growth, so regular washing of bathroom floor mats and rugs is important,\u201d Carver says. She recommends washing them at least monthly in hot water, but more frequent washing may be needed if multiple people use the bath mat or if the bathroom is prone to dampness and humidity. \u201cIf they get soaked with water after bathing,\u201d she says, \u201chang them to dry over the bath or shower and turn on the exhaust fan.\u201d<\/p>\n
Shower curtains<\/p>\n
Shower curtains and liners, especially plastic ones, are a breeding ground for mould and mildew. \u201cTo help reduce mould growth,\u201d Carver says, \u201cleave the curtain fully stretched out after showering, run an exhaust fan or open the bathroom window.\u201d Avoid using harsh cleaning agents, including bleach, which Carver says may trigger asthma symptoms, in favour of such gentle options as soap and water or vinegar diluted with water. Most fabric and plastic shower curtains can also be machine washed in cold water. (Check the care tag for instructions.)<\/p>\n
Pet beds<\/p>\n
\u201cPet beds are honestly one of the biggest hidden fabric offenders in the house,\u201d Grillo says. \u201cThey trap fur, dirt, odours and allergens constantly. Ideally, removable covers should be washed weekly, or at minimum every other week.\u201d<\/p>\n
Bed pillows<\/p>\n
The pillows we sleep on should be laundered every three to six months, Carver says, and always after someone has been sick. Check the care tag for washing instructions \u2013 most pillows are machine washable \u2013 and use dryer balls to help redistribute the stuffing and promote even drying.<\/p>\n
Stuffed animals and toys<\/p>\n
Stuffed toys, like pillows, are a source of dust mites, Carver says, and should be washed at least monthly. \u201cPlace them into a laundry bag or pillowcase and wash in a washing machine with hot water,\u201d she says. \u201cFor toys that are difficult to launder or can\u2019t withstand hot water, vacuum with the upholstery attachment to remove the dust mite carcasses and waste.\u201d<\/p>\n
Throw pillows<\/p>\n
\u201cLiving room pillows absorb a lot of everyday buildup from pets, sweat, skin oils and general use,\u201d Grillo says. \u201cWashing removable covers every few weeks can make a noticeable difference overall.\u201d Launder decorative covers every two to four weeks and pillow inserts every two to three months, according to the instructions on the care tag.<\/p>\n
Mattress covers<\/p>\n
In addition to washing sheets and blankets, Carver recommends washing mattress covers weekly if you have allergies and monthly if you have pets. Small households and those without pets or allergy sufferers can launder mattress covers seasonally (every three to four months). \u201cBedding, including allergen mattress covers, should be washed in hot water and dried on high heat, as recommended for killing and removing dust mites,\u201d she says. \u201cThe fully encased mattress covers that zip around the mattress may be challenging to remove and wash this often, so if needed, switch to vacuum cleaning.\u201d<\/p>\n
Fabric placemats and table runners<\/p>\n
These fabrics \u201ccollect more crumbs, oils, dust and hair than people realise,\u201d Grillo says. \u201cMost households probably don\u2019t wash them enough.\u201d He recommends laundering such items every one to two weeks.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"\u201cEspecially in homes with pets, keeping fabrics on a regular wash routine can make a noticeable difference,\u201d says…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":521668,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[3471,51585,69003,138,257757,112553,23966,37959,47896,27892,19474,29733,5978,130,5971,111,139,5006,69,9061,13491,131,1361,24359,5662,92404,6438],"class_list":["post-521667","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-business","tag-among","tag-bath","tag-beds","tag-business","tag-cleaned","tag-curtains","tag-enough","tag-fabrics","tag-frequently","tag-household","tag-items","tag-mats","tag-might","tag-more","tag-need","tag-new-zealand","tag-newzealand","tag-not","tag-nz","tag-often","tag-probably","tag-than","tag-that","tag-these","tag-think","tag-washing","tag-youre"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/521667","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=521667"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/521667\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/521668"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=521667"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=521667"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=521667"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}