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.

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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.

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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!

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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

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