How should you care for your bedding to help it last a long time and stay looking new? It can be very expensive to buy a new set of bed linens or a bed in a bag. Many things can contribute to how long it lasts. Proper care and storage can result in heirloom pieces.
First, you probably already know that not all bedding and linens are created equal. There are different materials, different thread counts, different designs and details that require different recommendations for cleaning and maintenance of the fabrics. Some bed linens can be washed in your washing machine at home whereas others need to be professionally cleaned or dry cleaned. For some blankets and duvets, it’s best to wash them minimally. You might consider purchasing a duvet cover for your best duvet so that you don’t have to wash it very often.
When it comes to washing your bedding in a machine, your fabric care instructions need to be carefully followed otherwise you’ll damage it. Many people regret not reading that little label after washing something without checking only to find shrinkage or damage to the material. It’s also a good idea to wash them alone rather than with other clothing which can result in pilling of the material and colors running from one garment into another.
Many pieces of your set may require less washing than others. If you use a top sheet under your blanket, duvet or comforter it will require less washing and last longer plus you won’t need to wash pieces such as bed skirts as often as other pieces.
Today’s options for blankets, sheets, pillows and throws are so extensive that it’s not just a matter of washing something in your regular laundry all the time. There are gentle cycle requirements or special soap requirements for specific pieces of fabric. If you own linens with embroidery or dyed fabric with photo bedding designs on it you’ll want to protect that investment for the sake of the sentiment as well as the monetary value of the garment.
There are comforters that can have gorgeous designs on them and you want the colors to have the same vibrancy a year from now as it has today. If you have matching pillow cases and shams you want to ensure that everything has similar washing schedules so that you don’t have some pieces from your bedding set more vibrant than others. If you wash your pillow cases weekly but your blanket once a month you’ll quickly notice a difference with color fading. Many people recommend that for your best set of bed linens you use the decorative shams only for decoration rather than sleeping on them where they will become soiled and need more regular laundering.
The higher the thread count, the higher the quality of any type of sheets or blankets. Spending that investment for quality means you’re more likely to have that pride in the things you own and appreciate details of fine things. If you’re unsure about how to care for a particular piece of bedding, ask for professional guidance by stopping in to your local neighborhood drycleaner.
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