Bedding Care

Taking care of your bedding and bedding accessories is as important as the care of the rest of your household. Even though your bedding can range from inexpensive bed in the bag to custom duvet covers. You still want to keep your bedding clean and fresh for years of luxury bedding enjoyment.

A neutral, pH-balanced detergent specially designed to be gentle on your fabrics can do the job without aging your linens prematurely.

Cotton:

Cotton, a highly versatile and tough fabric can stand a lot, so go ahead and use hot water and high heat unless the care tag says otherwise. Keep your whites and colors bright with a bleach alternative. It’s better to wash at least lite and dark colors separately if you can’t separate the colors.

Comforter Care:

Use a Duvet Cover. By using a duvet cover to protect your comforter it will need to be cleaned every three to five years. Also, with a duvet cover, you won’t need a top sheet, blanket, or bedspread. Making your bed will be easier and will just need a fluff. Remove and clean your duvet cover whenever sheets are laundered.

Commercial washers are best for large items, like comforters and bedspreads. A “triple loader,” which holds a 35-pound capacity or higher, results in better aeration after the rinse cycle.

Handmade quilts usually hold special sentimental value, especially when they are precious heirlooms that have been handed down through the generations. Dry cleaning these treasured items is the most effective way to keep them looking their best. Should you choose to hand wash your item, fill a large bathtub and add a mild, non-abrasive detergent. Gently work the detergent into the fabric, using slow, kneading motions. Be careful of stitching and any special fringe that may tear easily. Never use a brush or abrasive scrubbing materials, which could damage your fabric. To rinse, drain the tub and refill it with fresh water. Slowly work the detergent out of material, then gently roll it to remove all excess water. Hang out to dry away from direct sunlight. Remember to keep it properly supported.

Washable silk:

Silk is only ever washable when it is pre-washed by the manufacturer. If you have washable silk, soak the fabric in lukewarm water with a mild soap for about 5 minutes. If the water is too hot or cold, it may cause shrinking or stretching. Rub stains lightly under the soapy water, so not to damage the fabric. Wring out the water by spreading your silk on a towel, then rolling it. The towel absorbs the majority of the water thus wringing the silk. Wrap  the garment in a dry towel and let it dry somewhat. To finish drying lay it out, smooth any wrinkles and let dry.

Washing Sheets:

* Wash in cool or lukewarm water that’s less than 104F.
* Set wash cycle on “gentle”
* Use the extra rinse cycle.
* Use a gentle detergent, about half the recommended amount.
* Avoid bleach, this breaks down fabric fiber.

Drying:

* Avoid over-drying and excess heat.
* Remove sheets from the dryer promptly and fold immediately.
* If the sheets are forgotten in the dryer, and wrinkle (they will), wet a towel, add to the dryer and run it through a cycle to get the wrinkles out.

Keeping fresh clean Pillows:

Protect pillow from soil. A ticking cover will help protect the ticking and filler.

Occasionally place feather and down pillows in the dryer on low heat for ten minutes to remove humidity and help keep them resilient and fresh. Polyester fiber-fill pillows may also be freshened in the dryer on low heat. Foam rubber pillows should not be placed in the dryer.

Follow the manufacturers’ cleaning directions. If none are present, the following guidelines may be helpful. Although down-filled products are hand or machine washable, some manufacturers recommend dry-cleaning.

Wash pillows filled with down, feathers or polyester fiber-fill in the washer on the gentle cycle with warm water and a mild detergent. Check the ticking to be sure it is strong and that the seams are firmly sewn. Wash no more than two pillows at a time. Fill washer, then submerge pillows and wash four to eight minutes. Rinse in warm water three times to be sure that all detergent is removed. Thoroughly dry pillows in the dryer at low heat on the gentle cycle. The fillings hold moisture so this may take a while. Up to three to six hours for down; less for polyester. Placing a tennis shoe or a few tennis balls in the dryer will help fluff feather pillows. Polyester fillings may need to be pulled apart to fluff after drying. Some manufacturers recommend high temperatures for drying polyester pillows. Consult the label. You also can hang the pillow outdoors over night to ensure complete drying and outdoor freshness.