Sheets
• Remember to always stack sheets and
pillowcases in sets.
• Rotate sets by putting freshly laundered
sets on the bottom of the stack.
• Pull sheets from the dryer promptly and
fold immediately to avoid wrinkles.
• If sheets have cooled in the dryer, add a
slightly damp washcloth and tumble again
for another five to 10 minutes to restore.
Silk sheets and pillowcases
(Empress Silk from costco.com)
• Wash in cold water with mild detergent,
no bleach, on the gentle cycle.
• Wash silk separately from other items and
do not overload washer to avoid any unnecessary wear to the fabric.
• Tumble dry on low heat only if necessary.
• Never wring water from silk.
• Because silk resists creasing or wrinkling, it
will usually smooth out naturally.
• If ironing should become necessary, press
the damp silk on the reverse side with an
iron set on the low setting.
• If the silk starts to loose its sheen, use a
cool iron to restore it.
• Use 1 cup of vinegar when washing towels
the first time. It helps set the color.
• Wash like colors together.
• Use warm water for colored towels. White
towels can be washed in hot water.
• Use non-chlorine bleach.
• Use about one-half the normal amount
of detergent.
• Use 1/4 to 1/2 cup of vinegar in the rinse
water to remove soap residue.
• To fluff up the loops on your towels, shake
them before you put them in the dryer and
again when you take them out.
• Fabric softeners (even in detergent) leave a
waxy film on towels that reduces absorbency.
If you want to keep towels soft and
absorbent, use dryer sheets instead.
For the ultimate guide,
check out Martha Stewart’s
Homekeeping Handbook:
The Essential Guide for
Caring for Everything in
Your Home, available in
November in most ware-
houses and on costco.com.
It’s crammed with 752
pages of home-care tips for
every room in the house.
Winter bedding
• Flannel sheets should be washed and
dried separately, since flannel tends to
deposit lint in the dryer. Be careful not to
over-dry flannel, as this can cause wrinkles
to set and colors to fade.
washers and dryers are too small to accommodate down comforters. Also, most household washing machines have an agitator in
the center, which places unnecessary stress
on comforters.
Memory-foam toppers
and pillows (Novaform)
• Cover: Remove and machine wash with
warm water and mild soap. Rinse and spin-dry on normal cycle. Tumble dry on low
heat. Do not bleach.
• Foam core: Spot-clean with cool water
and mild soap. Hand-squeeze excess water
out. Air-dry flat. Do not put foam in
washer or dryer.
General comforter tips
(Pacific Coast Feather Co.)
• Down/feather bedding products are
packed tightly for shipping and storage.
Allow time to air them out for several hours.
Fluff and shake them before use to restore
their “cloud-like” appearance.
• The more you launder and wash your
bedding, the quicker you’ll begin to see
signs of wear (just as with your favorite
shirt or pair of jeans).
Down/feather pillows
• Pillows can be laundered in a home washing
machine once or twice a year or as needed.
Professional laundering is an alternative. The
removable cover is machine washable.
• For drying, place the pillow and one or
two tennis balls into your dryer. Use low
heat. The dryer may take several hours to
completely dry your pillow. As with all
down/feather-filled products, drying times
can vary, but it is important for products to
be thoroughly dried before putting them
back in use.
Towels
• Fold lengthwise in thirds, then crosswise
once or twice so they are ready to hang on
the towel bar.
• Wash deep-colored towels before first use
to reduce their tendency to bleed.
Down comforters
• If used with a duvet cover, a comforter
will need to be cleaned only every three to
five years.
• Comforters should be professionally dry
cleaned or laundered. Nonprofessional laundering is not recommended because home
Suggestions from
www.HousekeepingChannel.com
Down blankets
• Blankets can be washed at home as often as
needed, but shouldn’t need laundering more
than once every other month. Front-loading
washing machines are recommended.
• For drying, follow the same directions
given for pillows, allowing adequate drying
time. As with all down/feather-filled products, it is essential that they be dried thoroughly before further use. Tennis balls or
other fluffing devices are recommended to
aid in the drying process.
• Bedding and bath towels should be stored very dry
after laundering to prevent mold.
• Linens going into seasonal storage need to be clean to
avoid attracting pests that can damage the fabric.
• Rarely used linens benefit from a yearly washing for freshness;
refold along new lines to help prevent damage along creases.
Feather beds
• Feather beds must always be protected
with either a feather bed cover or another
sheet. The feather bed should be thought
of as an extension of the mattress and
should be cared for accordingly. Spot-clean
as much as possible and resort to professional laundering only when absolutely
necessary. Never attempt to “stuff” a
feather bed into your home washing
machine: You risk damaging your machine,
especially those with central agitators. C
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