June 2013 - Costa Calida Chronicle

In association with Costa Cálida International Radio and www.angloINFO.com
Getting The Most From Your Bedding
T h r e a d
C o u n t
Explained
We often
get asked to
explain what
thread count
means. It is
a term used
to measure
how fine a
fabric is and
refers to the number of threads contained in
one square inch of material. This is calculated
by counting the number of individual threads
counted along two sides of the square inch
and then adding them together.
Thread count is normally used as a measure
of the quality of a fabric, where the higher the
thread count, the better the quality.
To give you an idea how thread count affects
the feel of a fabric, consider that a thread
count of 150 (75 threads one way, 75 the
other) produces muslin, which feels a little
rough. Good quality sheets come in at 180
and anything above 200 is considered better
quality. Luxury bedding would generally be
anything from 400 thread count Egyptian
cotton all the way up to 1000 thread count
(the highest thread count available). Some
manufacturers have been known to claim
thread counts of over 1000, but these are
false claims. It is simply not possible to fit
so many threads into a square inch of fabric.
In order to make their products appear
superior, manufacturers will not count the
threads, but the fibres (or piles) that make
up the threads. One individual thread may
be constructed from 4 piles twisted together.
Whereas most of us would refer to that as
one thread, some of the more creative
manufacturers will call it four.
At Yorkshire Linen, our sheets start at 180
thread count (percale polycotton) and go
all the way up to luxury 1000 thread count
(Egyptian cotton).
Yorkshire
Linen is now
a retailer of
the premium
Belledorm
Egyptian Cotton Range, a UK based
company with a distinguished reputation for
exceptional quality. All of Belledorm’s ranges
are made from certified Egyptian cotton and
carry the official kite mark so you can be sure
of the quality.
Caring For Your Bedding
If you want to keep that same fresh, crisp and
immaculate look on the first day you bought
it, you have to look after your bedding; this
includes how you wash it, dry it, handle it and
use it. Much of today’s bedding has durability
in mind when it is manufactured. The rigours
of modern households usually mean that
use-and-wash cycles are very frequent. This
puts a strain on the construction or weave of
the product, as well as its colour fastness.
Over time, repeated use and washing
will deteriorate, wear down and fade the
feel, handle and overall appearance of the
bedding. For example, a 150 count polycotton
fitted sheet can withstand many washes, be
changed regularly and tumble dried or line
dried without any major deterioration. The
polyester in the weave makes it easy to iron,
holds deep colours well and generally be more
robust in a domestic environment with regular
washing. If you compare this to a 400 count
Egyptian cotton, you will see that the linen
is softer, almost silky in feel with a lustrous
shine from the surface of the fabric. This
linen is delicate and
to an extent quite
fragile. The fact that
it is genuine 100%
Egyptian cotton with
a single ply weave
means that greater
care has to be taken
to elongate its life
span.
For plain dyed bed linen (polycotton and
100% Cotton):
- Always wash new bedding before use
- Wash at 40 degrees
- Do not bleach
- Tumble dry at medium heat
- Iron at low to medium heat
- Do not dry clean
For Egyptian Cotton:
- Line dry instead of tumble drying as high
drying heat can damage Egyptian cotton
fibres
- To make ironing easier, iron whilst damp
and fold flat when storing in the airing
cupboard
- Do not wash Egyptian cotton with fabric
softeners. The chemicals present can
deteriorate the strength and durability of
fine long staple Egyptian cotton fibres
- Do not wash with polycotton or other
synthetic fibres eg nylon or 100%
polyester
- Try not to wear bed clothing with high
synthetic fibre content eg nylon or 100%
polyester, when sleeping on Egyptian
cotton.
Finally, store well away from any dust; ideally
in a separate linen cupboard, or drawer,
perhaps adding an evocative scent to infuse
the linen. The result will be long lasting,
crisply ironed freshly scented linen, which will
make it a treat to get into bed every night.
Given that we spend up to a third of our lives
in bed, it just has to be worth it.
Tel 968 595 946
www.yorkshirelinen.com
Page 8
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Sales Contact Teresa 619 199 407 or for the Editor Contact Patti 646 005 017
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