Q&A: What's the best way to wash summer bedding?
Wednesday, 25 May 2011 9:40 AM
Q: "What's the best type of bedding to use in summer and how should I wash and care for my bed linen? Is it ok to use fabric conditioner?"
Emily, Shaftesbury
A: "In the warmer months, a 10.5 TOG duvet can be too warm for some – you'd be better off using a 4.5 TOG summer-weight duvet made from 100 per cent cotton and filled with top-quality micro-fibre.
"However, our European counterparts tend to only sleep under bed sheets during the summer months – so perhaps it’s time for us Brits to try a bit of Euro-style this summer and ditch the duvet!
"In terms of caring for your bedding, you need to buy quality sheets. Look for 400 thread-count percale using the finest cotton yarns. Wash your sheets at 60 degrees with a little mild detergent but avoid using fabric softener.
"Also, don’t feel you have to buy polyester for crease-free bedding. Polyester can be quite uncomfortable to sleep under, not to mention hot in the summer. The truth is that if a high-quality cotton yarn is used and the finish is done properly, 100 per cent cotton bed linen shouldn't crease that much and any lines should fall out after a few hours' use. It's also worth removing sheets from the dryer before they're completely dry as this will help avoid wrinkles forming."
Answered by Robert Lancaster Gaye, founder and director of BestBedLinenInTheWorld.com, a renowned global supplier of quality bed linen, towels and bathrobes to five-star hotels.
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