Between sleeping and lounging, we spend quite a bit of time in our beds. Just how much? According to some research, the average person will enjoy more than 30 years cuddled up between the sheets.
With this in mind, we’re big fans of luxurious, just-right, treat-yourself bedding. From fabric to care to storage, consider this your guide to sweet dreams.
Bedding 101:
Fabric & Care Guide
Choosing the Right Fabrication
Jersey
You're not dreaming: Our casual-yet-durable, ring-spun cotton jersey bedding is on a level of softness all its own.
Percale
Just like your favorite buttondown, cotton percale is crisp, dry, and refreshingly cool to the touch.
Velvet
Luxurious, high-sheen velvet lends a textured, dramatic – and royally cozy – look to your bed.
Sateen
Oh-so-silky with a delicate sheen, sateen is sumptuously soft. It’s more tightly woven, heavier in weight, and less prone to wrinkles than percale.
Linen
With an airy, textured feel, linen creates a sense of lived-in luxury and gets softer over time.
Does Thread Count Matter?
Did you know that fabric thread count is not a true indicator of quality? When you look at the measurement of threads woven into a single square inch of fabric, a higher thread count doesn't always equate to high-quality, comfortable sheets. Instead, the condition or quality of the fiber and weave is what matters. For example, percale sheets feature a simpler weave at an average thread count of 180-200. Sateen sheets, contrastingly, feature a more tightly woven pattern, and therefore have an increased average thread count of 250-300. Both offer incredible softness and breathability. Similarly, Premium Egyptian or Pima cotton sheets with a lower thread count of 200-400 feel incredibly soft and promote airflow through the weave, providing superior comfort. So when it comes to what thread count suits you best, it all depends on the feel and fabric type you prefer.
What is Oeko-Tex Certification?
Introduced in 1992, Oeko-Tex is a globally recognized testing system that assesses the production and quality of textiles with regard to safety and environmental protection. From dyes, threads, and linings to prints and fasteners, each element is tested by independent third-party labs and certified to be free from over 300 harmful chemicals, toxins, and irritants. When your bedding is Oeko-Tex certified, you can rest assured that it was made in an eco-friendly way with the safest possible materials.
Bedding Care
How to Wash Bedding
To clean bedding, use the gentle cycle with cool water and mild detergent.
Keep in mind that harsh detergents, fabric softeners, dryer sheets, and bleaching agents will weaken the natural fibers of your bedding – consider using a color-safe bleach alternative when needed.
Add one complete bedding set or one duvet cover per wash so that everything is thoroughly and evenly cleaned.
Only wash items with similar colors and fabrics together, and never add clothing – zippers, hooks, and buttons can cause your bedding to pill and abrade!
How Often Should I Wash My Bedding?
As far as bedding basics go, your bedding will get softer with every wash and should be changed each week. That might seem like a lot, but when you think about the amount of dirt, sweat, and oil that can build up over seven days, it makes total sense. In fact, you might want to consider washing your sheets more often if you suffer from asthma/allergies, let your pet(s) sleep in the bed with you, or during summer months when you're more likely to sweat. However, if you travel often and therefore don't use your bedding as often, the number of washes per week might go down. Best practices aside, you should always read the product label on your bedding carefully in order to determine the frequency of washes required. Some fabrics such as bamboo, linen, or silk can last longer between washes.
How to Dry My Bedding
High heat settings can cause shrinkage or fiber/elasticity damage, so it's best to use tumble dry on a low-heat setting (we recommend delicate or permanent press) to dry bedding. Skip the dryer sheets, too, as these can increase pilling over time. To prevent wrinkles, immediately remove your bedding from the dryer if possible. (It's OK if they're still damp, just hang them upright to finish airing out). In a time crunch? Try using wool dryer balls to help speed up the process.
Storage
Store your bedding in a cool, dry place with adequate air circulation and limited exposure to direct sunlight, like a linen closet or a cedar trunk. Consider a bedding bag with breathable panels to keep seasonal linens safe from humidity and dust.
Freshness