Making the bed

[waldenbound]

So I'm looking at the vans from the RTR and other camps, and I notice a lot of people have their beds made up like home (comforters, blankets, and sheets) while some have sleeping bags (backpacker's style.)

Question, how do you keep the bedding orderly and relatively clean? I mean, traveling, every night you stop at the Walmart or truck stop parking lot, you have to dig out the sheets, blankets, and pillows, put them on, then in the morning pack them up. (Wow, what a run-on sentence!)

In camp, where you stay for a week or two, you just have to put the sheets and blankets on, and leave them there. Of course I imagine they will get dirty, but the bedding can always be washed in town with the next laundry. I read so much about dust, mice, scorpions, (ewwww, shaking out the Rumpl, shake, shake, shake!)

So, here comes the question. How do you keep bedding relatively clean and in good repair whether in camp or traveling?

 

[Spaceman Spiff]

Question, how do you keep the bedding orderly and relatively clean? . . .

 . . . I imagine they will get dirty, but the bedding can always be washed in town with the next laundry. I read so much about dust, mice, scorpions . . .

So, here comes the question. How do you keep bedding relatively clean and in good repair whether in camp or traveling?

Bed is always made, so I can just park and jump in if I want.  I make it in the AM; the beagle will sleep on it during the day.

Being a lifelong mountaineer/backpacker I am used to dirt.  Sheets are washed once a month, blankets once a year.  My sheets are Realtree camo, blankets are a dark pattern so dirt doesn't show.  In dusty conditions I just shake bedding out when necessary.  Beagle keeps mice at bay; never had scorpions in camper.

 

[sreesekelley]

When my dog complains about the dirt i know it is time to clean things up. Ruby is pretty messy. I have sheets, comforter, afghan and sleeping bag on my bed. I just wash it like I do when i'm at the house . It'll all fit in a washing machine except the afghan.

 

[Stargazer]

^^^ what he said.

The bed is a bed and only a bed. It stays made up; I built it that way because I didn't want the hassle you describe -- setting up and tearing down all the time.  Bleh!

 

[Wanderer]

I use a recliner, comforter and if it gets really cold, 20 degree sleeping bag. Wash the comforter...Um...Well, I think it's been washed twice?

I also don't like the build and tear down daily, so went with this option.

 

[waldenbound]

Part of my problem is I need the top of the bed for some storage during travel. I'm thinking of my tent. I think I can compromise and leave sheets on but put a large plastic garbage bag over the sheets. Then when it's time for bed, just lay down the blanket and pillow.

 

[mayble]

in my house i use a heavy canvas cloth to cover the bed because my dog likes to nest.  he digs into the blankets, piling them up and burrowing into them, and tears up whatever is in the way - comforters, mattress pads, and even the mattress.  he's a powerful dog, with big tough nails, and the heavy canvas stays put and it's the only thing so far that he hasn't torn 
i just take it off and shake it before turning in for the night.  i'm guessing i'll do the same in the van

 

[B and C]

Part of my problem is I need the top of the bed for some storage during travel. I'm thinking of my tent. I think I can compromise and leave sheets on but put a large plastic garbage bag over the sheets. Then when it's time for bed, just lay down the blanket and pillow.

If you have a bag for the tent, wash it and use it.  It is clean, just throw it on the bed.  You may want some bungees or such to hold it in place if, heaven forbid, you are in a wreck.  Or just throw the tent on the floor (fastened somehow), you are traveling.  I would pack ground cloths in a plastic bag.  YMMV

I leave blanket and pillow (fully made up with sheets) on the bed at all times.  The blanket is kind of a dust cover as well as a blanket.  I pull it up and over the pillow too.  Not like I was taught to make a bed with the pillow on top (God rest mom).  I keep my windshield cover and Reflectix for the front windows on my bed while traveling.  If the blanket gets too dusty I shake it out and too dirty I launder it.  Not rocket science here.

 

[SondraRose]

I keep my bed made up. European-style duvets work well, just take the cover off to wash. Did 9 nights solo and sheets looked and smelled clean. Key is to go to bed relatively clean and wear pajamas.

When the dogs and husband are with me, all bets are off!

 

[missb]

I fold up the blankets and set aside and leave a flat sheet on the top for the day. That said I had the wheelchair lift removed from my 1991 Chevy Mark !!! G20 Conversion van. Now I cant use the side door as the latch was removed and a heavy duty can't make it budge screw put in its place. The bed was motorized at one time but its in the bed position now...I am trying to remove it to make more room but the floor bolts are so stuck I can't make t
hem budge either. I've tried!!! So frustrating!!!
The back doors would open except for an inside at the top latch piece...Ive tried figuring out how to release it but to no avail....any help would be appreciated. I've tried YouTube but can't locate anything....Thanks again...

 

[MrNoodly]

My fitted sheet stays on all the time, until it's time to change it. I don't use a flat sheet. My pillows stay on the bed. Sometimes the quilt just spends the day bunched up on the bed, sometimes I shove it in a stuff sack.

 

[Almost There]

My bed is made up as a bed at all times except when I'm doing the laundry which is about every 10 to 14 days.

By making up the bed first thing in the morning it doesn't get a chance to get dust mixed in amongst the sheets. I also take care to make sure that my feet aren't too dirty before bed but then I seldom wear sandals.

I make it a firm rule that my living quarters are not part of my storage areas. Outdoor mats, privacy tents, lawn chairs all go in the storage area when travelling, NOT in my living quarters.

If you have to have the tent in your living quarters then IMO, it goes on the floor, not on the bed.

 

[Weight]

My bed folds like a futon and becomes my seat. I have been using a doubled sleeping bag as bed clothes for many years. Like sleeping in silk. laundry day gets them washed as needed.

 

[MrNoodly]

Like sleeping in silk.

Or exactly like sleeping on nylon.

 

[RepublicOfTXPatriot]

I have my sheets and comforter for sleeping. Then place another sheet on top of that during the day. Also use all dark colors. This hides the skidmarks .....from my boots when I crawl over bed! Get your mind out of the gutter...LOL

 

[ben2go]

In the summers I live out of my trucks, '85 Furd Ranger 4x4 or '89 Mazda B2200 4x2. I had a white aluminum cap/topper that I used with both trucks, crank outside windows, and lift gate style rear hatch. I had an XL twin to sleep on. I kept it made up with regular bed sheets and my quilt my grammy made me. I mainly lived on the beach in FL. Even with all the sand, I just shook out the sheets a couple times per week. I washed everything after I got back to home base. I usually traveled from April to October. My bed was always made and ready for me.

 

[unicutie]

Make the bed? What, are we having company?

I've been sleeping in a sleeping bag, over the summer I just had a blanket. I'm not classy like some of yall, my mattress is on the floor

 

[tripper]

Yes I make it just like a bed at home, even when I am using my truck with shell and bed in back. The sheets and comforter give multi layer warmth and the sheets protect the comforter from getting smelly from direct contact with the human body as quickly. Sheets get washed often, comforter only as needed. Without the sheets, just a sleeping bag or only a comforter, everything gets smelly fast and the stuffing gets ruined from repeated washings.

 

[waldenbound]

After reading everyone's thoughts, here's what I think I'm going to go with.
Leave sheets on all the time. Lay sleeping bags in their storage sacks on the bed. At bedtime, all I have to do is lay out the sleeping bag, or Rumpl blanket and pillow. I have a Feathered Friends down bag from my backpacking days, I don't want to get it dirty and trashed. Sheets can take more of a beating.