Monday, January 2, 2012

How To Care, Clean and Remove Stains from Satin Bedding

Satin sheets can offer a smooth and luxurious feeling to your nighttime slumber. Satin feels soft and cool against your skin. Satin sheets are most often made of silk, acetate, nylon, or polyester. In addition to the look and feel of this material, there is another advantage of satin bedding. Pillowcases made of satin are easier on your hair. Cotton tends to absorb moisture from the hair shaft as you sleep at night. This can leave your hair dry and unhealthy. Though satin may absorb some moisture, it will not dry out your hair as much as cotton. Satin sheets do require more care than cotton sheets and need to be treated delicately.


Tips for Everyday Care

Direct sunlight may cause satin to fade. If you think your satin sheets will be exposed to a lot of sunlight, opt for satin made from polyester.

For long-term storage it is best to store satin bedding in an airtight container in a dark, cool place. Sheets can then be aired out for freshness before you use them again.

Do not place satin too close to radiators or other heaters. The heat will cause the fibers to break down and will lower the quality of your bedding.

Avoid wearing pajamas that have metal buttons or zippers. These may cause snags in your sheets.

Remove pilling with care. Many stores sell small machines that will effectively remove pilling from sheets and clothing.

Tips for Washing and Drying

Hand washing is recommended for most types of satin. The exceptions to this are nylon and polyester satin. These types of satin can be washed using the gentle cycle of a washing machine. Use cool or warm water only. Use a detergent that is made for delicates such as Woolite or Kookaburra Woolwash. Always check tags for specific instructions for washing and drying your sheets.

If you have extremely delicate satin you should have them dry-cleaned to prevent damage to the material and to help prevent color fade.

Never use bleach on satin.

Do not twist or wring out satin sheets or pillowcases. Lay them on a thick, dry towel and roll the towel around the satin to remove excess moisture.

It is recommended that satin sheets are not dried in a clothes dryer. Opt to air-dry the sheets indoors. Polyester satin can be dried in the sun however this is really not recommended for any type of satin.

Tips for Stain Removal

Find a stain remover that is safe for satin. You should thoroughly read the label of any stain remover before you buy. Do not purchase a stain remover that contains any form of bleach. When a stain occurs quickly treat the stain with the stain remover per instructions on the bottle and then wash.


To treat bloodstains you should immediately immerse the stain in cold water and allow the item to soak. If this does not completely remove the stain you can then apply stain remover.

If your satin is very delicate you should leave stain removal to a professional dry cleaner.

Never let any stain sit on the fabric. Treat them immediately or they may become permanent.

Choose Quality Bed linens - Textile Materials

Good quality bedspreads and doona or quilts, are made with a number of high qaulity fibres. They mainly includes percale, sateen, Egyptian cotton, silk, matelasse, cotton chintz, chenille, or even velvet as these fabrics tend to have a tight weave and thick threads that increase the durability and opulence of the cover.


Australians are increasingly favouring pure cotton, says Myer Bedlinen Category Buyer, Rebecca Fanelli, but that's not to suggest that poly-cotton sheets don't have their place. If you're looking for easy care and affordability, a blend could be the way to go, she says. Synthetic fabric sheets is also used in some lower-end products today. Although synthetic fibres like modal, lyocell and polyester have strength and durability, they aren't the most breathable fabrics.

Sateen
Sateen, not to be confused with the material satin, is a type of weave, with a satin-like finish, often found in bed sheets. Sateen is usually applied to cotton, or sometimes rayon. Better qualities are mercerized to give a higher sheen. Some are only calendered to produce the sheen but this disappears with washing and is not considered genuine sateen. Sateen may be bleached, dyed, or printed. It is difficult to make good bound buttonholes on it as it has a tendency to slip at the seams.

Sateen produces the sheen and softer feel through the use of a different structure in the weaving process. The sateen structure is four over, one under, placing the most threads on the surface, making it extremely soft, though slightly less durable than other weaves. Standard, non-sateen, weaves use a one over, one under structure. Satin also uses this structure, however, instead of using cotton, different materials are used (e.g., silk, polyester, etc).

Egyptian Cotton
The term Egyptian cotton is usually applied to the extra long staple cotton produced in Egypt and used by luxury and upmarket brands worldwide. In fact, the cotton species which produces extra long staple "Egyptian" cotton is the native American species Gossypium barbadense which was introduced by Mohammad Ali Pasha in the 19th century. During the cotton famine caused by the American Civil War, Egyptian-grown cotton was promoted and received much investment, becoming a preferred alternate source for British textile mills. Indian surat cotton could only be used for coarse counts and would not spin on the existing machinery. Most of what is labeled "Egyptian cotton" today, however, also includes long staple cotton, the product of the other native American species Gossypium hirsutum. The ancient Egyptians made their clothing from linen, a product of the flax plant.


Percale
Percale is a closely woven plain-weave fabric often used for bed linens. The term describes the weave of the fabric, not its content, so percale can be a 50/50 blend of cotton and polyester, 100% cotton, or a blend of other fabrics in any ratio. A percale weave has a thread count of about 200 or higher, and is noticeably tighter than the standard type of weave used for bed-sheets. It has medium weight, is firm and smooth with no gloss, and warps and washes very well. It is made from both carded and combed yarns. Percale fabrics are made in both solid colors and printed patterns. The finish of the fabric is independent of its weave, so it can be either printed or unprinted. Percale was originally imported from India in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, then manufactured in France. The word may originate from the Persian parg¨¡lah, 'rag', although the Oxford English Dictionary (Dec. 2005) has traced it only as far as 18th-century French.

Organic Cotton
Organic cotton is not specific type of cotton. It refers to a group of cotton products that are made from non genetically modified plants. They grow without the application of any synthetic agricultural chemicals such as fertilizers or pesticides. The organic production additionally promotes and enhances biodiversity and biological cycles on the earth. Cotton growers who make the transition to biologically based growing practices expect to not only offer a healthier and cleaner product, but to also benefit the planet in many fields, such as protection of surface and groundwater quality,reduction of risk insect and disease control and yield soils with better organic matter content.

French bed linen

Fine bed linens from France are a taste of luxury and comfort that you won’t soon forget. The French have an age old tradition of producing the finest bed linen on the planet. The difference between French bed linen and ordinary bedding is that flare that the French have for fabric, color and craftsmanship.

A few of the most famous names in French bedding are:

Anichini
Yves Delorme
Bassetti

Paloma Picasso

The French tradition of craftsmanship, coupled with brilliant design innovations make their linens the best bedding that money can buy.

The difference of bed linen from France than other bed linens is the raw materials used are of a higher quality than your average linens. French bed linens are often made from 100% Egyptian cotton, known to be the finest in the world.

Egyptian cotton has a softer, smoother feel, a more shimmering look, and is stronger than the run of the mill cotton. In addition, French linens feature high thread counts, typically 300 and up, definitely in the luxury range. Generally speaking, the higher the count, the silkier the fabric will feel against the skin.

All of these features mingle to make French linens tantamount with luxury, comfort and durability.

You’ll find French bedding in a huge pallet of colors, prints and styles to match or compliment any bedroom decor. The only limit here is your very imagination!

It can be very hard to find authentic French Bedding linen in your local home town. This exclusive linen used to only be available in the finer retailers in the biggest cities across the world.

But online, you now have access to hundreds of importers of this sumptuous French linen. The prices have also become more reasonable too, because retailers are in stiff competition, which is a really great opportunity for us as consumers!

Luxurious bedroom linens Manufacturers

Luxury bed linens are used in the finest hotels worldwide, but are not reserved exclusively for the wealthy. Many manufacturers offer their products on the retail market and have them available for your home. Read here about some of the top manufacturers whose sheets, pillowcases, and duvet covers are considered five-star.




1. Frette
This Italian company has supplied the finest hotels worldwide, luxury ocean liners, and first-class trains with their luxurious bedding. They use French and Italian linens and Egyptian and Swiss cottons to fashion their first-class bed linens for people who like to treat themselves to the finest available. Their line includes apparel and baby bedding, as well. Frette retail stores around the world make their fine products available to the public.

2. Bellino Fine Linens
Luxurious bed linens are the staple of this Italian company. Their exquisite damask patterned sheets have special embroidered touches, hemstitched borders and jacquard motifs. Some of their line is available by special order only, but they do sell through fine retailers throughout the world.

3. Anichini
This company prides itself on producing the finest cotton, cashmere, and silk fabrics from around the world, fabricated into shawls, throws, upholstery, pillows, curtains, bedskirts, table linens, and bed linens. Their furniture and accessories are hand-made in Vermont. Their lines of bedding are manufactured from top quality Italian yarns and are adapted to home or commercial use.

4. Peacock Alley
Peacock Alley invites you to “nest” among their beautiful classic line of the finest 500 thread count Egyptian cotton sheets, matelasse covers, and fashion bedcoverings. Their traditional white and natural linens are joined by charming pastels and lively prints. Peacock Alley products are available through retailers in the United States.

5. Pratesi
This Italian company with retail distribution throughout the world, manufactures bed linens, table linens, blankets, beach wear, and baby apparel. Their classic sheets, pillowcases, and bed covers are highlighted with colorful checks, prints, and stripe patterned accessories for the bed.

6. Yves Delorme
Yves Delorme is one of the oldest textile manufacturers in France, having started business in 1845. This highly respected company prides itself with the finest quality and attention to detail found in all its collections. Their luxurious bedding line, made of long-staple Egyptian cotton, woven in jacquards and generously embroidered, invites you to enter a sanctuary of luxury and comfort.

source: http://interiordec.about.com/od/luxebedlinens/tp/top_luxebedding.htm

Friday, December 30, 2011

Girl Baby Unique Bedding Ideas

If your goal is to create a nursery décor that shouts, "It's a Girl!" then start by getting a frilly girl crib bedding set with cotton candy colors and feminine design. The crib will be the place where your precious princess spends most of her time so go ahead and make it the focal point of the room.
Use Crib Bedding Accessories for Unique Nursery Design



Once you've found a baby bedding set that adds feminine beauty to the nursery, you can begin to decorate the rest of your baby's room using colors from the crib bedding and accessories from the crib bedding set. Consider getting a baby bedding set that comes with the works, such as: crib quilt, bumper, fitted crib sheet, window valances, crib skirt, diaper stacker, decorative pillow and wall hangings.

Even though the crib bedding set is made for the crib, that doesn't mean you have to use every item in your baby's bed. For safety purposes, it's important not to use heavy bedding or pillows in the bed when your baby is little. Don't just store unused baby bedding items in the closet, use them as accessories to add splashes of color around the nursery. You can hang a baby blanket on the wall as a decorative art piece and strategically place the pillow, from the bedding set, on a chair to disperse the crib bedding colors and design around the room.

Add Accessories from Crib Bedding Set to Windows and Walls


Hang window valances up to adorn the window tops with the same beautiful design to match your daughter's pretty crib bedding. Instead of hanging the matching diaper stacker on the crib rail, why not hang it on a hook on the wall, close to your baby's changing table for convenient diaper storage that adds a beautiful design to another area in the nursery. If your crib baby bedding set includes wall hangings, use those around the room to bring the delicate colors from the baby bedding set onto the wall.



Baby Bedding Isn't Just for the Crib

There are many types of baby bedding sets that offer everything from the simplest items needed in the crib to 12 or more accessories that can be used as decorative pieces creating a nursery décor that's just right for any precious baby girl. If you search for girl crib bedding sets that include a grand variety of items then your nursery design efforts will be easier and the room will come together beautifully with soft colors and a delicate design that your daughter will love.

How to Choose the Best Crib Bedding Set

When on the search for a crib bedding set, you might get overwhelmed by the selection of colors, styles and themes. There are simple tips that can help you narrow down your choices. First, choose your nursery color, then only look at matching crib bedding. Next, decide if you want themed bedding or simple bedding that will grow with your child. Once you've made those decisions, it's on to doing research about baby bedding types. There are specific things you should take into consideration.



Crib Bedding Safety

When looking at crib bedding sets you might want to decide what items you want in a set. Many organizations recommend that you stay away from putting heavy blankets, comforters, pillows or crib bumpers in the crib. Some cases of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) have been attributed to using heavy bedding in cribs. If you buy a set that includes some of those items you might want to figure out how else you can use them, such as: using the comforter as a play mat when you're playing with your baby on the floor. You could also hang the comforter or blanket on the wall as a decorative piece that will go beautifully with the rest of the items in the crib bedding set. You could place the pillow on the rocking chair as an added accessory.

Machine Washable Fabric

Your baby will make lots of unexpected messes in the crib and you'll find that you'll be washing the crib bedding more than your regular sheets. It's important to choose machine washable bedding that is also drier safe. This will be a much more convenient option then fancy dry clean bedding. Bedding that is sewn with cotton or cotton blend threading is the best option because it washes well and stays intact after several washings. Nylon thread might melt in the dryer and cause the bedding to bunch or fall apart. We also recommend you stick with woven patterns because stamped designs that are on-top-of the bedding can fade in the wash.

Crib Bedding Sets vs. Separates

You might be wondering if you should buy a crib bedding set or separates. Well, there are benefits to both. Crib bedding sets will have all the items you need to create a beautiful crib look, and if you use the added items such as: blanket, comforter or pillow as accessories around the nursery you'll create a lovely, matching space. We'd also recommend purchasing additional flat and fitted crib sheets so you have extra bedding on hand for those unexpected baby messes where a quick sheet change is needed.

Crib Bedding Sets that will Last

If you are planning to use your crib sheets on your child's toddler bed then we have some suggestions. You'll want to choose a crib bedding design that is suited for a baby and toddler. You might want to select a color that is neutral or choose bedding with a simple design instead of a theme bedding that is geared towards just babies. Make sure the bedding set you select is also made of quality fabric so it will last through your child's toddler years.
You might also want to choose a crib bedding set that comes with a wide variety of bedding items so that your options are greater when your child is older. Remember, toddlers can use comforters, blankets and throw pillows on their beds so even if you have to use those heavy bedding items as accessories when your baby is little, you'll get some good bedding use out of them as your child grows.



source:http://www.simplybabybedding.com/crib-bedding-sets.html

Thursday, December 29, 2011

Weird Bed Sheets and Blankets

1. Satin Sheets




Imagine integrating a radio alarm clock within the Sheet! That’s the Melted Clock for you: a haptic, touch sensitive alarm with speakers and controls all embedded within your sheet. The three control icons are embroidered on the sheet and relevant to the operating elements on the outside edge of the bed sheet. Use the two in combo to set your radio frequency, alarm time etc. Essentially, you just feel your way through this system; IN YOUR FACE! The clock segments are thin and hidden underneath the fabric. They consist of silicone and give the emboss feel via a slat of EPS (electroactive polymer, used for artificial muscles). When activated by electricity, the slat expands and lifts up the silicon segment; giving us the embossed numbers of the clock. Apparently you can even wash the sheet; the silicon segment and the EPS slat are fixed in a small case. The small cases are arranged on a platen. When you want to wash the sheet, you just remove the platen with the clock components.

2. Rulered Couple Bed Sheet



Couple can be a game or a monitoring system. The ruler is printed so as to be readable from inside the bed. The numbering rises outwards and from warm to cold colours. Each person knows how much he or she can pull and how far apart the couple rests.

3. Bedtime Story Blanket



This Weird blanket is from a SLEEPLESS project collaberated between The Great Eastern Hotel and fourteen students from the Royal College of Art’s acclaimed Design Products department led by Professor Ron Arad. This blanket has some traditional bedtime story on it.Plust, it has several sheet just like a real book.

4. Karmasheetra


Some say the Karmasheetra is the lost linen of an ancient Indian civilization, linked to the Kama sutra, which will enable the user to master the subtle art of sensual love making and allow you and your partner to participate in sheer unadulterated pleasure…

5. Tautan Sleeping Bag


This high-quality sleeping bag looks just like a Tauntaun, complete with saddle, printed internal intestines, and a plush lightsaber zipper pull. Use the plush lightsaber zipper pull on the Tauntaun sleeping bag to illustrate how Han Solo saved Luke Skywalker from certain death in the freezing climate of Hoth by slitting open the belly of a dead Tauntaun and placing Luke inside the stinking (but warm) carcass.

6. iPod Bed Sheet

Since your iPod Touch already has access to every app a person could ever need. Just add these custom bed sheets and your collection will be complete. Available now, priced at $49.

7. CSI Blanket




7. Anatomical Blanket

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