“You Are the Outlier”: SA Woman’s Blanket-Washing Routine Has Mzansi Questioning Blanket Habits

• Facebook page All Things Home with Mercy posted a photo of soaking blankets, sparking a debate about how often South Africans wash their bedding
• Mercy said she washes her blankets every two weeks, but the dirty water in the tub left her followers questioning her cleaning routine
• The post divided Mzansi, with some defending their own washing habits and others joking they only wash when things get truly desperate

A South African homemaker sparked a lively debate online after sharing a photo of her soaking blankets and questioning how people who wash theirs only once a year manage to sleep at night.

All Things Home with Mercy, a Facebook page dedicated to household tips and home life, posted the image on 18 August 2026. It showed a bathtub filled with murky water and soaking blankets, which Mercy said she washes every two weeks. The catch? The water looked too dirty for just two weeks,.

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In a follow-up post, Mercy admitted she was baffled. She said she washes her blankets every two weeks, but the water still looks like the blankets have not been washed in a year. She joked that she may need to start bathing twice a day to solve the mystery.

View the Facebook post below:

Mzansi weighs in on the great blanket debate

The post on her page quickly pulled in hundreds of reactions, with South Africans offering every opinion on the spectrum, from weekly washers to those who only act when things reach a crisis point.

Here is what people had to say:

Nomkhosi Cele said:

"You are the outlier"

Shauny Que asked:

"Are you wearing overalls when you sleep at night? 2 weeks with such dirty water, ai Never" (Is it really that bad?)

Prevy Mnqobi Kats joked:

"You wash every 2 weeks, but the water is very dirty 🤣🤣 try wash everyday"

Mercy herself replied:

"😂😂😂 I think I have to wash daily"

Blossom Mamu shared her own routine:

"Fleece ones every Saturday I wash them with sheets and duvet covers, but the blanket I wash it monthly, never more"

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Gladys Msipha was sceptical:

"No way, those are fleeces, not blankets. I don't,, because you can't wash blankets every 2 weeks unless you sleep with overalls from a construction site"

Mahadi Moleleki Mphanya kept it simple:

"The water says otherwise"

More Briefly News stories on washing

• Wits students celebrated Basotho culture by showcasing traditional Sotho blankets and explaining their hidden meanings.
• A South African energy expert compared the electricity costs of four heaters, prompting Mzansi to debate cheaper ways to stay warm.
• A Chinese husband touched Mzansi by gifting his Zulu wife a blanket and dollars on their wedding day.

Source: Briefly News