Our Secret Luxury Bedding Care Guide

Follow this guide to get the best out of your luxury bedding sets.

Immaculately kept bedding is one secret to a luxurious bed display and a sublime sleep night after night.

Different fabric compositions and types of bedding – sheets, pillows, comforters, and more – require slightly different care and maintenance techniques. Understanding the best ways to clean, dry, and store your pieces is essential to maintain their look and lifespan.

Your linens will be absolutely beautiful for years to come if you follow the instructions below, as suggested by our in-house experts.

Cotton Sateen Sheets

Regardless of its delicate nature, Cotton Sateen is machine washable. However, it should still be handled with great care to ensure longevity.

Set the temperature to 40 °C and the spin to gentle. Also, washing sateen sheets alone allows for better circulation and prevents them from getting damaged by zippers, studs, or other items.

Avoid tumble drying, as it results in crinkled sateen. So, if you prefer a smooth look, give it a quick iron using a low-heat setting.

Cotton Percale Sheets

Percale can be even more durable than Cotton Sateen, thus, making it an easy-care fabric that can be washed in the washing machine at 40ºC with mild soap. Remember that too much soap or starch causes the fabric to feel scratchy.

Still, avoid tumble drying as the high heat may damage fibres, causing shrinkage. On the other hand, line drying reduces wrinkles and creases and helps to avoid ironing.

Flax Linen Sheets

Linen bedding usually gets softened over time. It thrives in cooler temperatures, washing well at a gentle cold or lukewarm cycle. Keep in mind that bleach, brighteners, or even bleaching agents in detergents are not friendly to these fibres as they destroy their strength and will affect the colour of your linen.

Linen sheets can either be machine- or air-dried on an indoor or outdoor line, depending on your preference. When your linen is brand-new, we recommend tumble drying on a low to moderate setting so it softens quicker.

Linen's naturally crimp fibres result in a relaxed look after washing and drying with little need for ironing. If you prefer a smoother finish, ironing linen whilst it’s still a little damp will make it easier to iron and reduce stiffness.

Mulberry Silk Sheets

Extremely delicate, this natural material should be cool hand-washed or, if there is no such chance, machine-washed at no more than 30 °C. Then, cool tumble dry or air dry. Iron silk solely when completely dry; always use the silk setting on your iron.

Washing silk requires very special care, and we recommend always washing with a designated silk detergent. Also, rule out any biological detergents as they contain enzymes that will wreck Mulberry Silk fibres. Optical brighteners are also unnecessary, and they will wash out colours or stain your silk sheets.

Organic Bamboo Sheets

A common misconception about this fabric is that it requires a lot of care, yet bamboo bedding is very maintenance.

Wash your Organic Bamboo sheets in cold or lukewarm water, never exceeding a water temperature of 30ºC. As bamboo is a natural fibre, these bed linens should always be washed with mild laundry detergent. If possible, try to find a detergent that is made specifically for natural products.

When drying, it would be better to air-dry the sheets, although you can also put them on a low setting in your dryer machine.

General Care

We always recommend that you check the care label on your bedding to see whether it can be safely laundered at home or if it requires any special care or dry cleaning. Note that with proper care, it will last you for years.

Now we provide you with general guidelines that apply to most bed linens.

What stands out?

1. Appropriate cleaning frequency:
   • About once a week (sheets and pillowcases) ensures they always stay fresh. For duvet covers, weekly to monthly.
2. Pre-washing:
   • It’s a good idea to pre-wash new linens before using them. The first wash aids in setting the threads.
3. Effective ways to wash:
   • For best results, wash alone or with other fabrics alike.
   • Always wash similar colours together.
   • Because hot water can cause fibres to shrink, use warm water temperatures instead.
   • For coloured bedclothes, washing inside out is a good way to prevent colour fading.
   • Linens with embroidery should be washed safely in a mesh bag.
4. How to dry your bedding:
   • To minimise creases, open each sheet or duvet cover, and shake it out before hanging them up to dry.
   • Be cautious of excessive line drying in direct sunlight as it may cause colours to fade. Afterward, neatly fold and store them.
5. Ironing:
   • Ironing has a noteworthy effect as it restores the smoothness and shine fibres lose post-washing.
   • Getting the temperature right is critical, as different materials require different heat treatments. While cotton reacts favorably to a warm to hot setting, linen needs a hot temperature and is easier to iron when slightly damp to remove wrinkles, whereas silk demands very low heat.
   • For bed sheets with delicate embroidery, it’s best to iron on the reverse side.
6. What to avoid:
   • In order to maintain the premium quality of your bedding, avoid powdered detergent, fabric softeners, and bleaching agents.
   • Excessive cleaning can harm luxury duvets, so it's best to avoid it too often.
7. How to store bed linen:
   • A storage golden rule is to keep bedding folded flat in a dry, well-ventilated environment, away from direct sunlight.
   • Plastic containers aren’t a good idea as they can hold moisture.
   • Placing high-quality tissue paper and scented sachets on drawers and shelves can combat dampness and maintain a pleasant, fresh scent in bedding.
8. Replacement:
   • Pillowcases and pillow inserts require the most frequent replacement, as these are most prone to wear and tear.
9. Additional pro tips:
   • Whenever possible, hang sheets outside but not in direct sunlight.
   • Mattress and pillow protectors act as a shield against stains and provide an additional layer of comfort.
   • Ensure you have at least three to four bedding sets to use on rotation.
   • A sprinkle of fragranced linen water helps with ironing, and the scent is nice too.

Always follow the instructions on the care label for every product you own. Whether you want to deep-clean your bedding or feel like this is too much information to retain, the easiest way to wash your bedding may be to resort to a professional laundry service.

Keeping the look of hotel luxury sheets in prime condition means you shouldn’t underestimate the importance of proper maintenance. It's the most effective way to keep your bedding soft and long-lasting.

If you seek any further guidance, David's Fine Linens will be delighted to help you promptly. Please contact our Customer Service team at customercare@davidsfinelinens.com