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| I suffer from allergies, will a
down quilt make it worse? |
Many people who are allergic to animals may still be able to use
goose down quilts, since the goose down power fill is clean and enclosed
within tightly woven fabric. Some experts think it is the mix of regular
feathers with down in a down quilt that aggravates some allergies.
The purer the white goose down the less amount of feathers included—the
more allergenic the down quilt is.
It's been found that goose down quilts harbour less allergies to down
quilts than synthetic quilts, because the fabric encasing the goose down
is often made of a tighter weave. Consequently, there is less chance of
developing dust mites in down than in synthetic materials. When choosing
your down quilt, consider the casing's quality and the degree of warmth
your down quilt will provide.
Choose a goose down quilt appropriate for your home's environment or the
region in which you live. |
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| How do I wash my bedspread? |
Bedspreads are made from different kinds of fabric, many of which are
washable. Bedspreads should be washed before they become heavily soiled.
Treat spots and stains with a spray pre-wash product. Before you clean
your bedspread, dip a corner in the detergent solution to check for
colourfastness. If the colour bleeds, have your bedspread dry-cleaned.
Use a large commercial washing machine for oversize bedspreads. An
overcrowded washer won't clean very well, and the wet weight can be hard
on your washer. Dry the bedspreads on a clothesline or in a large,
commercial dryer.
Although blankets are made of many different fibres and blends, most of
them are washable by hand or machine. Even some wool blankets can be
machine-washed. If you really want to keep your blankets in top shape,
follow these additional guidelines:
- Vacuum blankets occasionally to remove dust and lint.
- Air blankets on a clothesline periodically to freshen them.
- Before you wash a blanket, mend or replace bindings and treat
spots and stains.
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| Tips for Cleaning Sleeping Bags |
Sleeping bags take a particular beating because they're mostly used
outdoors. Here are some things you can do to keep them in good shape:
- Pre-treat spots and stains on the bag cover with liquid
detergent.
- Wash down-filled sleeping bags in cool water with mild
detergent.
- Wash polyester-filled sleeping bags in warm water with an
all-purpose detergent.
- If your sleeping bag can be machine-dried, tumble it with a
clean, dry tennis shoe to prevent matting and a clean, dry bath
towel to absorb excess moisture.
- If you line-dry the sleeping bag, unzip it before drying.
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| Choosing you Towels. |
Anyone who's shopped for towels lately can tell you about the vast array
of fashion colours, trims, patterns, sizes, and quality to choose from.
Although the basic fluffy white towel is a classic and can give a clean,
spa-like, feel to any bath, you may wish to experiment with colour as
you refresh or add to your stock of bath linen.
It's also important to understand what makes up a good quality towel.
Softness alone is no longer the only barometer to measure towel quality.
Here are some ideas to consider when shopping for bath linen, including
bath mats and rugs.
Colour Choices: White and ivory coordinate with any
bathroom colour and have longevity. However, towels are a great way to
get more colour into a bath. When concerned about fading, choose light
colours that don't show fading as much as dark colours. For colour
interest, combine two colours, mixing shades such as green with blue, or
tan with cream.
Bath Mats: If you use two colours for towels, choose a
bath mat in one of the colours. For a clean look, use only washable
cotton bath mats. Avoid using top or seat covers on the toilet and don't
use a rug around the base -- they all trap moisture and are dust and
bacteria catchers. |
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| Comforters & Duvets |
Placed as the top layer of bedding, duvets offer warmth with style. Many
people have a wardrobe of duvet covers that allow them to change the
look of the bed as often as they choose.
Comforter and duvet
are both common terms for lush bed coverings filled with down, feathers,
cotton, wool, silk, or hypoallergenic synthetics.
Washable comforters, often sold in complete bed sets
that include sheets and bed skirts, do not have removable covers.
Duvets are made to be encased in a removable duvet
cover -- a giant pillowcase -- to protect the duvet and keep it clean.
Down Fill: Unless you are allergic to down, consider a
quality down-filled comforter. With proper care, a down comforter will
last 8 to 10 years. Goose down is best because the large clusters have
better (fluffing) than duck down. Although white and grey goose down
give the same service, gravy may show through a light-coloured duvet.
To eliminate blankets, a bedspread, and perhaps even the top sheet from
your bed-making routine, choose a duvet covered with a washable duvet
cover. The cover acts as the top sheet (it should be laundered at least
weekly), thus allowing you to make the bed by giving the entire duvet a
good shake and smoothing.
Cleaning Tips: Down comforters used daily should be
dry-cleaned at least annually. Duvet covers should be laundered weekly
if used in place of a top sheet; or, several times a year at the very
least.
Synthetic comforters generally can be machine-washed following
manufacturer's directions. If you own another type of natural-filled
comforter, such as wool or cotton, check the label or launder at a
professional laundry that has larger-capacity machines and experience in
cleaning bedding. |
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| Thread Counts Explained |
In simplest terms, the "thread count" (TC) refers to the number of
fibres woven together in one-square-inch of fabric. Thread counts can
range anywhere from 80 - 1200TC. Low-end thread count fabrics are
generally used in settings where the linens are going to have a short
life span (i.e. institutional settings).
Although it's very important, thread counts alone are not the only
factor to consider when purchasing a set of sheets. One must take into
consideration the type of cotton used and the "ply" of the sheets. The
term "ply" refers to the number of single fibres twisted together before
it is woven into a fabric. By twisting two fibres together, mills can
double the thread count of a fabric. By twisting three fibres together,
they can triple it and so on. Some 1000TC sets of sheets are actually
330TC 3-ply or 250TC 4-ply. Sheets are easier to make this way, so be
weary of manufacturers who do this. Generally the higher the ply, the
heavier and thicker a set of sheets is. Also, the greater the ply is,
the more you increase your chances of the fabric pilling. The highest
thread count that can be woven into a single ply is 500TC. If you can
find a set of these, then you've found yourself a great set of sheets
(depending on the cotton used). All 1000TC sheets are at least 2-ply.
The benefits of having a high thread count sheets is that mills are
forced to create much finer threads in order to increase the amount of
threads in a square inch (keeping in mind that they don't also increase
the ply). Finer threads usually result in a much smoother and softer
fabric. This is the main reason that a higher thread count fabric is
more desirable than a low thread count one. Having finer threads also
means that the threads are slightly more delicate, so one must use
proper care instructions when washing their linens.
To summarize it all, you have to find a balance between the thread count
and the ply. If you're looking for the ultimate in softness, get a high
thread count low ply but be prepared to spend the money. If you don't
mind or even prefer a heavier set of sheets, get a high thread count
with a high ply (3-4). They'll certainly keep you warmer. If you do
decide to go with a higher thread count, make sure that you use proper
care instructions to prevent pilling. Anything above 300TC is usually
soft enough for most people. If you prefer a lighter sheet, look in the
250-600TC range with lower plys.
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Percale, The Real Meaning
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The word, "Percale" refers to a specially woven fabric that is very
often woven for sheet sets and other bed linens, and occasionally shirts
too. This is the fabric used to manufacture most bed linens. Other
different types of woven fabrics are flannel and sateen. The origin of
the word percale comes from the Persian word "pargalah."
Percale can be either 100% cotton or also a blend of cotton and
polyester. The word "percale" refers to the way the fabric is woven
together and has nothing to do with the materials used. The weight of
the fabric is medium and washes very well. It can be white, dyed, or
printed upon. Percale sheeting is one of the finest available, made of
combed yarns and has a thread count of around 200TC. Carded percale
sheeting has a thread count of around 180 and has a soft, silk-like
feel. Percale was first made in New Bedford's Wamsutta Mills in 1876.
Wamsutta is still a very popular brand in today's world of bedding.
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Sateen
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Sateen is usually a cotton fabric that has a satin-like feel. It's often
found in bed sheets and other textiles throughout the world. Sateen is
usually 100% woven cotton, although it is occasionally formed from
rayon. Like percale, sateen does not refer to the material of the sheet.
It refers to the method in which the sheet was woven. The weave is what
gives the sateen sheet its soft, satin-like feel. The material is
lustrous and smooth to the touch. Only carded or combed yarns are used.
The best quality sateen is mercerised to give it a higher sheen.
Mercerised cotton has been treated with sodium hydroxide to shrink it
and increase its lustre and affinity for dye. It is also makes it more
mildew resistant and stronger.
Some sateen sheets are only calendared to produce the sheen. This is
when the fabric is pressed between two rolling pins to give it a
glossier appearance. This is lower-grade sateen. The sheen will
eventually fade away with a few washings. This is not considered genuine
sateen.
Genuine sateen can be bleached, dyed, or printed.
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| Guide to Buying Sheets |
When choosing a set of sheets, the most important place to start is
choosing a thread count. The thread count tells you the number of
threads that are in one square inch of fabric. To get the softest and
most durable sheet, aim for the higher end of the thread count spectrum
(200+).
Secondly important is the type of fabric. While poly-cotton blends do
not require as much ironing as 100% natural fibered sheets, ironing can
usually be avoided by placing the sheets directly on the bed as soon as
they are taken from the dryer. Keeping this in mind, know that there are
many different grades of cottons. Their qualities are measured upon the
length of their staple. Staple refers to the length that a particular
piece of cotton can be pulled into a single thread. The longer the
staple, the more durable and luxurious the cotton.
The best type of cotton is Egyptian, which will provide an extremely
soft and luxurious feel to the fabric. Egyptian cotton is grown in the
Nile river valley in Egypt.
Poly-cotton sheets will tend not to breathe or absorb moisture as well
as natural cotton. You will tend to save money if purchasing poly-cotton
sheets, as their materials are less expensive to produce.
Having a name brand in the world of sheet buying is unnecessary and is
usually just a waste of money. The big bedding companies use the same
type of fabric as the smaller ones.
The type of weave is also an important factor. Sateen (not satin) is
stitched with four threads over and one thread under. Most of the
threads are on the surface so it is extremely soft. The down-side to
sateen is that since there are more threads exposed to the surface, it
won't be as durable as other types of fabrics.
There is also a pinpoint weave. A little more durable than a sateen
weave, this weave consists of two threads over and one under. There are
not as many threads placed on the surface, so the result is usually not
as soft as a true sateen weave.
Finally, you should know the depth of your mattress before purchasing a
set of sheets. The pocket size is a measure of the thickness of the
mattress that the sheets were made for. You should always purchase a set
that has a pocket within 3-5 inches of your mattress depth to avoid
slippage of the corners when too small and excess material in the middle
of the bed when too large. With today's pillow top mattresses, it's not
uncommon to have pockets more than two feet! If a pocket size is not
readily available in inches, these sets are usually labeled "deep
pocket" or "extra deep pocket". |
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| Pillow Care & Cleaning |
Use a Pillow Protector
Pillows should be covered with pillow protectors in addition to
decorative pillowcases. These protectors, which often have a zipper
closure, provide you an additional layer between the pillow and a
pillowcase.
Washing
If the pillow you have selected is machine washable (check the care
label), please follow these easy steps:
- Wash with a mild detergent on a warm water/gentle setting
- After the wash cycle is complete, rinse the pillow 2 additional
times (to rid the pillow of any soap that may still be in the pillow.
Then spin the pillow two additional times (to rid the pillow of excess
water.)
- Dry the pillow completely on a low heat setting. For pillows with
internal chambers, you may need to dry the pillow for four to six hours.
Between cycles, remove the pillow and hand fluff. Note that pillows may
still be damp inside even when they feel dry to the touch. Any lumps or
clumps of fill indicates dampness; continue to dry until you are sure
there is no moisture left in your pillow.
- Between washings, the pillow can be refluffed on an air fluff
setting in the dryer. Include a couple of clean tennis balls and a
fabric softener sheet for extra fluff and a fresh smell.
Storage
When pillows are not in use, store them in breathable bags. Storing
pillows in plastic bags will trap moisture in, which may cause the
pillows to mildew or the fill to decompose.
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| Selecting bed sheets |
Sleeping in bed is the most rejuvenating part of a person's life. So
a comfortable bed and bedding that complements the overall bedroom dcor
is a must. Since bed sheets are the most visible part of a bed, high
quality bed sheets can make quite a difference to the visual appeal and
comfort level of the room. Here are a few tips on choosing the right
kind of bedsheets:
While most of the mattresses come in standard sizes such as Double, King
and Super King.
the customized mattresses with pillow tops and other accessories
attached to them can make them larger and wider and will need larger
bedsheets than the standard ones available in the market.
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Thus, it is better to measure the bed and the mattress size that you use
beforehand, so that thebedsheets you buy are of appropriate sizes.
- Thread count per inch or TPI is an important factor to be considered while
buying a bed sheet.Bedsheets with higher TPI (more than 250) are softer, more
comfortable and last longer. The bedsheets having lower than 200 TPI are not
recommended for daily use.
- Cotton bedsheets are the most popular ones though one can use flannel and
cotton mixed fabricsas bedsheets depending on our taste.
- On the high end of fashion and comfort level, satins and silks with their
soft feel on skin win almost every romantic heart.
- Colours and designs of the bedsheets should match the overall theme and
colour scheme of the room, though it can have a deeper hue than the colour of
the walls.
- Pale colours suit summer season while fall bedroom dcor can accommodate more
bright andbold colours.
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