We’re supposed to spend at least 8 hours a night sleeping in our beds, so it’s only natural that we want it to be as cozy and inviting as possible. While a supportive mattress and a snuggly duvet might play a big part in this, so does the bed linen you choose. Here, Angie Tang from mobile laundry and dry-cleaning service Laundrapp shares her top tips for caring for your luxury bed linen so you can create the best sleep environment possible.
Our beds are the place we head to after tiresome days and weeks, and as research has shown we spend up to a third of our lifetimes asleep, it’s only natural that we want our bedrooms to be the ultimate sleep sanctuary. One of the best parts of designing your bedroom is choosing luxury linen to complement the rest of the room and give you a vozy place to snuggle into on a night.
But, when you’ve splashed out on buying fancy bed linen, such as the luxury bundles available at House Babylon, it’s important that you care for these the right way to keep them in tip-top condition for longer. Here, I’ll be sharing my tips with you to ensure you get the most life out of your luxury bedding.
Take initial care steps
Most good quality linens won’t have been pre-washed before being packaged up, so this is the first thing you should do when you take your new set out. Doing so will help to set the threads in the linen, ensuring your bed will look great for longer.
But, be aware that you’ll need to check the care labels on each set of bedding as some materials and designs will need to be hand-washed, rather than put through a washing machine.
Wash them gently
Ideally you should change your bedding once a week but, to preserve the life of your linen, I would recommend getting a few sets that you can use in rotation. When you wash your linen, it’s important to set the cycle to a gentle wash with warm water and a cold rinse at the end of it. This will ensure the cycle isn’t too rough on your delicate linens, which is especially important if they are embroidered.
You should avoid adding any bleach-containing detergents to the wash as these can cause the fibres to weaken and discolour. Instead, I recommend opting for a mild detergent and diluting it in plenty of water before adding it to the machine — just be aware that you’ll need about half the amount of detergent you usually use, and you should never use a softener as this can damage your expensive linens.
And, be sure not to overload the washer as this can cause your fine linens to become damaged quicker due to abrasion. Washing one larger piece of bed linen — such as the duvet cover — with pillowcases will help you to balance the load out.
Avoid putting them in the dryer
The dryer can be extremely rough on your luxury linens, and the extreme heat inside is notorious for shrinking even your most durable clothing items. Wherever possible, you should avoid putting your linen through the dryer and instead hang it on the line — as well as drying out in the fresh air, the sun also provides a natural bleaching effect so if you’re trying to keep whites looking white, this could be the solution for you!
If the weather is miserable and wet, you can dry your linens naturally on a clothes horse or by hanging them over the banister. I understand that life can be hectic so, if you do have to use the dryer for a quicker solution, make sure you’re putting it on the lowest heat possible to minimize shrinkage. Remove your bedding before it’s completely bone dry and hang or lay it flat to smooth out any creases.
Press and store them correctly
If you’re wanting to make your linen completely crease-free, it’s fine to iron it but there are some recommendations you should take on board. Iron your duvet cover and pillowcases on a hot setting while they are still slightly damp — just make sure that you iron them on the reverse side of the fabric. It’ll also be useful to have a spray bottle of water to hand to spritz onto any creases that won’t budge.
Once your bed linen is dry and pressed, it needs to be stored in a cool, dry place that is out of direct sunlight to prevent it from gathering moisture or becoming excessively bleached. Try to avoid plastic boxes and containers as the lack of breathability can result in discoloration. I recommend folding all of the bed linen into one of the pillowcases from the set to keep everything stored neatly.
When you’ve spent a pretty penny on luxury bed linen, it’s only right that you take good care of it. With my top tips and some sensible thinking, your bedding can look great for years to come.
Please be aware that the information in this article is not a substitute for checking the washing instructions and labels on your bed linen. If you are unsure about any of the tips in this article, I recommend getting a professional to wash your bedding for you.
