All about linen and bedding sets

[Lizzie]

Hello everyone,

A topic that we talk about fairly regularly here in the Community Center is around how to manage linens and bed sheets, especially when it comes to providing them, changing them and washing them. We also see hosts ask what colour linen others think are the most welcoming, but also the most managable when used regularly.

There are quite a lot of different solutions that hosts adopt, many of which are based on the type of accomodation you offer, but one of common concerns is around controlling costs. Perhaps you have a plan of how often you change the bedding and replace it, perhaps you have little tips like applying a mattress cover to help prevent ware, perhaps you choose to wash your linen at a certain temperature to make them last longer.

How can you offer an excellent service and keep in budget at the same time? 

Please share your tips on how to manage linens and bed sheets, and get inspired by the solutions suggested by other hosts. Please give a “thumbs up” on your favorite ideas shared by others!

I look forward to hearing from you.

Thanks,

Lizzie

[Marzena4]

I do not have that many of them, @Lizzie. And the problem is you never know what guest someone is. When I sense one might "deserve" (=not object) something fancy, I go for it. Like recently a Brazilian/Spanish couple wrote to me before their stay that they were hoping for a romantic weekend in Cracow (they were booked for my work room). Once you get a message like that you know what to do. 😉

[Lizzie]

hehe, I love your approach @Marzena4 🙂

What is the other alternative bedding? 

[James704]

My only 'tip' is to add a flat sheet under my guests' superking duvet cover, in the same way that you would make a bed with blankets. This way, for short stays of less than a week, the duvet usually remains clean and stays on for the next guest, changing only the flat sheet. Saves on washing and ironing an enormous cover and the palava of duvet change.

[Susie268]

Oh no!  I don’t like that idea at all. Also the top of the duvet may have been “used”. Here in Europe, I wouldn’t use a flat sheet under the duvet. The duvet cover would be washed between guests

[Sarah977]

On another thread, some hosts mentioned that flat top sheets are not standard usage in many parts of Europe. But top sheets ar normal in the US and Canada. If a guest found there was no top sheet, they would think the bed was not properly made.

[Paulette23]

Not necessarily. I have experienced both scenarios, having lived in Europe for 22 years and now renting my property on AirBnB in Greece; I'm back in Canada where I recently started renting a room in my home. Here, I don't have a top flat sheet, just the duvet. No guest has commented. It is a hassle washing the massive king duvet cover and stuffing the duvet back in but I'm not happy using my pure linen and pure cotton sheets as they are, by nature, quite wrinkled and I'm not about to start ironing! The bottom sheet is also more wrinkled than I'd like but I've had no complaints. I can't use a fitted sheet as the "king" bed is actually two standard-length, single captain's beds put together using a foam bridge, mattress topper etc., resulting in a wide bed but not as long as a proper king would be. It's a nuisance making up the bed but there's no way around it!

[Michelle-And-Michael0]

Since becoming hosts, I've learnt a lot about Linen... and still learning! But two great tips I would like to share that really work for me are;

1. On advice, I've given up using Fabric Softener and have replaced it with white vinegar instead.... apparently Fabric Softeners create a film on the sheets that absorbs body oils and lotions more easily and makes stains harder to remove. It's working for me so far! A lot less stains to tackle.

2. I Iron the sheets while they are on the bed..... So much easier than struggling to iron large sheets on an ironing board. I first place the fitted sheet over the mattress, then iron the surface of the fitted sheet.... the sides of the fitted sheet don't get ironed, but they stretch out so don't really need it. 

I then lay the flat sheet in place on the top, flip up each of the three overhanging sides (one at a time) iron them. Drop them back down and finally iron the surface. This only works if you can easily walk around all sides of the bed, as you can only reach to the middle from each side. (I plug my iron into a power extension board so that the cord reaches too)

[Lizzie]

Great tips @Michelle-And-Michael0. I never thought that fabric softener would absorb body oils. Do you find that you notice any difference to the feel when you use white vinegar instead? 

[Michelle-And-Michael0]

Not at all @Lizzie The sheets are still lovely and soft.... I line dry them. We have a circular clothes line (hills hoist) that gets a good breeze which helps. 

The sheets smell fresh (not of vinegar), but they don't have any artificial smells that you get when using Fabric Softeners.

[Lizzie]

I think I'm going to try this out @Michelle And Michael in my next bedding wash. How much white wine vinegar do you add?

[Michelle-And-Michael0]

Hi @Lizzie, I just add the same amount of white vinegar into the fabric softener drawer, as I would as if it was Fabric softener. I do the same for my towels, line dry, until almost dry.... and then finish off with a 10 min tumble in the dryer to give them fluffiness.

[Lizzie]

Thanks @Michelle-And-Michael0, this is great. I'm going to try this. 🙂

[Jam2]

I recently discovered the use of white vinegar on a thread on facebook and I must admit, I can see a difference in my white linens. I predominantly use white bedding or minimal patterns since its more objective. I must admit ironing is hard work and occasionally I use the ironing center when there is no time. 

[Fiona-and-Keith-and-Fami0]

@Michelle-And-Michael0 Ha! SMART idea to iron the sheets on the bed. I might try white vinegar. ATM I use a touch of LIQUID fabric softener (the sheets will absolutely leave a film on fabric, especially on shiny fabrics where they actually leave visible blotches) and it seems to be OK, but I'm open to trying white vinegar.

How I avoid ironing the sheets is to dry them to a minimum dryness and then letting them tumble on the setting with no heat at all. This does two things: 1) allows the sheets to tumble out the wrinkles and 2) saves on utility bills. AS SOON AS they're ready--and BEFORE they stop tumbling--I take them out of the dryer one at a time (I resume the tumbling for the ones left in the dryer) and fold them immediately (or spread them out so they aren't scrunched up). ALSO, even though I wash several sets of sheets at a time I only dry ONE set at a time. This way they have LOTS of room to tumble around, minimizing twisting, squishing, and wrinkling.

No matter how much I try, how often I iron or how much steam or water I use, I cannot get the creases out along the edges. I may be able to lay the edges flat but the creases never go away. I'm not worried so much about the sides and the edges, but the top band that lays over the covers (blanket, duvet, comforter, for example). I've solved this by folding the top sheet and bed covers over twice so the creases won't show. Doing this also doubles as turning down the covers: Sometimes I like to do this when our guests are out late; I think it's inviting--and something I'd like to come home to myself--to have a bed waiting that's been turned down). 

(Please note: If I could use italicized text I would, but caps is the only option I have available.)

PS, I was born in the 'Gong! My father and grandfather worked at BHP. Some of my family still live there. I always make a trip to Wollong when I'm back home to visit!

[Rachel0]

I get all my duvet covers and pillow cases from a wonderful online company here in UK called Bedeck  - they have regular sales and you can get some really gorgeous sets at a good price.  I don't know if they operate elsewhere but they are worth a google.  Sheets, plain pillow cases, matress protectors and pillow protectors are all from M&S - 230 thread count or above.  I get all my towels from M&S as well.  Linen gets washed at 40 with a squirt of Vanish if I find any dodgy stains (and I have found some very dodgy ones) or 30 if I don't.  All get dried in the garden in the summer and in the dryer a the local laundrette on a low temp in the winter.  Fabric conditioner is a total no no in this house - I think they make vinyl records out of the stuff - and I use Fairy non bio washing pods in my washing machine.  Never had a problem with any of this apart from when a football sock got left in the machine and everything came out with red streaks!  Everything is ironed by my cleaning lady or me.

I am not sure about top flat sheets.  I used to use them under the duvet but so many people took them off and left them on the floor that I stopped using them.  If we get hot weather in the summer I leave one in the wardrobe so that guests can use it instead of the duvet if they wish.  I also leave a blanket in the wardrobe if it is really cold weather. 

I try to coordinate the colour of the flowers on the window sill with the colours of the bedlinen for a final flourish!