Best sheets?

[Tennille6]

Hello Hosts,

I host on a remote island only accessible by boat. I have kept crisp, white sheets even though they are usually full of sand. Has anyone considered colored sheets? Also if you use white sheets, which brand? A link for the best linens?

[Kitty-and-Creek0 · Accepted solution]

@Tennille6 

I love colored sheets, and use them exclusively. My opinion is "go for it!" 

I love rayon, and use hotel quality or better, depending on what is available. When I find something I like, I buy a number of sets, so that when one sheet or pillow case is inevitably ruined, I just grab another from the drawer that matches. Super easy!

[Graham490]

Hi @Kitty-and-Creek0 

I think the idea of coloured sheets is great... your flavour on the stay experience!

We have chosen to stay with white sheets for a number of reasons including:

1. It is far easier to find marks/ stains

2. It is far easier to eliminate stains with either pre wash applications including bleach if necessary.

3. White sheets stay white and it is easier to swap out with a similar sheet if damaged or stained. In our experience coloured sheets may "fade" at different rates making continuity of swaps not as easy.

4. Keeping the sheets the same model/ spec allows for the rotation when required... I guess fine if all your coloured sheets are the same color....

5. Some guests see the white sheet as being  "cleaner"

Best wishes with your decision.

Regards

Graham

@Elisa 

[Graham490]

@Tennille6 .. sorry I missed your link request... 

Based in New Zealand, we buy a NZ quality sheet set... not sure that they are available globally...

https://www.wallacecotton.com/products/imperial-flat-sheet

..we iron the top sheet 18" and the pillow slips

Graham

[Elisa]

Hi @Graham490 😊, 

Thank you for helping this host.

I see your points, they’re really valid!
Do you still use the same colors during the winter season, or are you thinking about changing them?

[Elisa]

Hi @Tennille6 😊, 

Thank you for bringing up this conversation!

Why do you like the color sheet?

I'm tagging a few other hosts to see what they think about this: @Graham490, @Casa-De-La-Tierra0, @Kelly333 and @Margaret491.

Thank you in advance, everyone!

[Tara0]

Hi @Tennille6 

I agree with @Graham490 and I buy from the same supplier every time. 

I use 100% Egyptian cotton bedlinen. It's what you should provide at a higher-end listing.

Coloured sheets look depressing, and in addition to @Graham490's comment about fading/matching etc, they're also not immune to staining. There's some kind of (mystery) lotion that causes 'bleached' type marks on fabric; I know because years ago I tried coloured towels and they repeatedly got these marks and had to be thrown away.

With white stuff you at least have a chance of stain removal, though it can take some time with cold water soaks, etc. 

[Greystone0]

The mystery stain could be benzoyl peroxide. It's a type of ointment in facial products, I think mainly for acne. It leaves an orange bleach like stain that can't be fixed. 

[Greystone0]

Hi @Tennille6 ,

Sheets! While we aren't in a beach location we have lots of outside dirt, debris, pine needles, etc. 

Here's what we've been doing:

- we have 9 individual beds - so lots of sheets needed.

- in terms of color/white: we have sets of: white, off white, colored, and stripes (on a white background)

- we have had some pillow cases and towels ruined by a mystery product that we think is probably benzoyl peroxide. In the case of the ruined pillow cases I just purchased another set of cases to go with the sheet set as the rest of it was fine (so sometimes it's a mix and match set but unified by color)

- in 5 years we've had to remove 4 pillow cases from staining (and several towels but this is about sheets). In our case we just moved the stained items to our home use or use them as a pillow protector as we have over 20 sleeping pillows in the rental home.

- brands: we look for the best quality that makes sense for our home and purchase on sale from a variety of sources (pottery barn, ralph lauren, others, just watch annual sales)

Good luck!