Hardly any question comes up as often as this one in our customer advice: At what temperature should I actually wash my bedding? Some swear by 60 degrees because it feels more hygienic. Others wash everything at 30 degrees to preserve colors and energy. Both are partly right – and both sometimes do something wrong. In this guide, we explain which temperature suits which material, when 60 degrees really makes sense, and why the number on the program selector alone does not make clean laundry.
The short answer first: Pure cotton such as Flannel, Fine Flannel, and Renforcé can withstand 60 degrees. Wash Mako Satin, TENCEL, and Seersucker at 40 degrees. Delicate synthetic fiber qualities go into the machine at 30 degrees. Which of these three numbers is the right one in your household, however, depends not only on the fabric, but also on the detergent and how often you change it. The table below classifies each quality.
Washing bedding: Which material needs which temperature?
The right washing temperature depends above all on the fiber. Pure cotton is robust and withstands high temperatures, while fine fabrics and synthetic fibers react more sensitively. As a practical guide:
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60 degrees – for classic cotton qualities such as Flannel and Renforcé. These qualities are made for everyday use and can easily withstand a near-boiling wash.
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40 degrees – the standard for most other qualities. Our TENCEL bedding, for example, can be washed at 40 degrees, dries quickly, and remains pleasantly smooth. Mako Satin with its gently printed surface also performs better at 40 degrees than at 60.
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30 degrees – for delicate synthetic fiber qualities and anything that is particularly color-intense or textured. Here the rule is: better wash more often and cooler than rarely and hot.
The care label on the product is always decisive. If you are unsure what the symbols mean, our article Correctly Understanding Care Symbols on Bedding will help you.
Washing temperature by quality: the comparison table
This overview shows which temperature each quality in our range can withstand – and what you gain or risk in the process.
| Quality |
Temperature |
Property |
Ideal for |
Price range |
| Flannel & Fine Flannel |
60 °C |
napped, 160 g/m², very robust cotton |
Winter, frostbite, households with high hygiene standards |
from €25.95 |
| Melange Flannel |
60 °C |
100% cotton, even fluffier than Flannel |
those who like it particularly soft and warm |
€49.95–€64.95 |
| Renforcé |
60 °C |
tightly woven everyday classic, easy to care for |
year-round use, families, guest rooms |
from €25.95 |
| Mako Satin |
40 °C |
combed cotton, sateen weave 4/1, smooth and cool |
sensitive skin, summer, high comfort requirements |
from €59.95 |
| TENCEL |
40 °C |
moisture-regulating, year-round quality |
allergy sufferers, night sweats |
from €49.95 |
| Seersucker |
40 °C |
crepe structure, airy, 100% non-iron |
hot nights, ironing phobia |
from €49.95 |
| Jersey |
40 °C |
knitted cotton, stretchy, non-iron |
everyday use, those who like it cozy |
from €29.95 |
| Microfiber & Fleece |
30 °C |
synthetic fiber, quick-drying, heat-retaining |
budget entry, second set |
from €18.95 |
| Fitted sheet Jersey / Terry |
60 °C |
elastic, dryer-suitable |
all beds, more frequent changes |
from €10.95 |
A concrete recommendation if you often need to wash hot: The Castell Renforcé Bedding (Art. 0040760) from €25.95 is made as a tightly woven cotton for 60 degrees and forgives weekly washes for years. Those who like it warm and yet boil-proof should opt for the biberna Melange Flannel Bedding (Art. 0840500) from €49.95. All prices are directly from the factory, free of shipping costs without a minimum order value.
When are 60 degrees really necessary?
60 degrees is not a permanent program, but a tool for certain situations. The higher temperature makes sense if someone in the household has a cold or was infectious, if there is a house dust allergy and dust mite allergens are to be reduced, in cases of heavy night sweats, or if the bedding has been stored unused for a long time.
In normal everyday life, 40 degrees is completely sufficient for most people – provided you wash regularly. After all, cleanliness is not created by heat alone, but by the interplay of temperature, detergent, mechanics, and time. A full-wash detergent in powder form contains bleaching components that work from about 40 degrees and reliably tackle germs and graying. A liquid detergent for colors does not do this – there the temperature really becomes the deciding factor.
Even higher temperatures are tolerated by the molton mattress protector: molton pads are washable up to 95 degrees depending on the design. You wash the fitted sheet made of Jersey or terry-stretch at 60 degrees like bedding.
What argues against permanently hot washing
Those who wash every laundry at 60 degrees pay triple for it: higher energy consumption, faster color loss, and more fiber stress. Dyes dissolve more easily at high temperatures, printed motifs lose their brilliance, and the fiber ages faster. Read more about this in our article on the fading of bedding. Our recommendation: wash at 40 degrees as a rule and about every four to six weeks – or in case of illness – run a 60-degree program.
Three practical tips for a better washing result
First: Only load the machine to about two-thirds. Bedding needs freedom of movement, otherwise it will neither be properly clean nor evenly rinsed. Second: Dose the detergent according to water hardness, not by feeling. Overdosing leaves residues that make the laundry stiff and musty. Third: Do not use fabric softener. It forms a film on the fiber and takes away exactly the property you bought it for – the absorbency and the open, fluffy feel of qualities like Flannel or Melange Flannel.
One more word on quality: How well bedding withstands washing is decided long before the first wash. Because we have been manufacturing textiles since 1932 and still operate our own weaving mill in Hamminkeln today, we know every processing step exactly. You will notice this more clearly after the tenth wash cycle than after the first. You can find our entire range in the Bedding category.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are 40 degrees sufficient from a hygiene point of view?
For healthy households, generally yes – if you use a full-wash detergent in powder form and change the bedding every one to two weeks. In cases of infections, allergies, or heavy sweating, you should go for 60 degrees.
Can I wash different materials together?
Only if the temperature and color family match. Combine robust cotton qualities with each other and wash delicate or heavily coloring pieces separately. By the way, towels do not belong in the drum with the bedding – they pill heavily.
Can microfiber also withstand 60 degrees?
Better not. Synthetic fiber qualities such as microfiber are best kept at 30 degrees; higher temperatures can harden the surface and cost the color brilliance. Because microfiber dries very quickly, frequent washing is uncomplicated here anyway.
How often should I wash bedding at all?
Every one to two weeks is a good guideline, more often in summer. We explain this in detail in Correctly Washing and Caring for Bedding.
