Many people who use flannel bedding plan on storing flannel sheets for the winter. A thick flannel sheet in particular may generate too much heat for use during the summer months, so they may be stowed away in a linen closet until the temperature drops once again. Though storing your sheets can make them last longer, as they will be used less, improper storage may actually cause them to wear more quickly than they would if they were being used regularly. In order to ensure that your winter sheets are ready when you need them, follow some good storage guidelines each spring.

Always wash your sheets before you put them into storage. Not only should they be put through a regular wash cycle, they should also be carefully inspected for stains and other imperfections. While a stain that is a few days old may come out with special stain fighting detergents, those that have been allowed to set for a few months are far more stubborn. In most cases, any stains that are present when a sheet is put into storage will be present for the remainder of the life of the sheet.

Examine your sheets for any tearing or loose seams. Even a small tear can grow exponentially while a sheet is in storage. A good rule to follow is that any such tears that become apparent should be dealt with as soon as they are noticed. Though it can be difficult to find the time to mend a seam, it is far harder to darn a large hole that dominates a sheet. There is no need to invest in a sewing machine to fix these tears. In fact, a small sewing kit that may be purchased at most drugstores is more than adequate to fix most small holes.

Whenever possible, store your sheets in air tight bags or boxes. Large, plastic tubs are an easy to find and economical way to keep your bedding safe for months on end, even if they are stored in a garage or basement. In homes where space is at a premium, plastic bags that may be deflated with a vacuum will allow one to store a large volume of bedding even in the smallest corner of the closet. These containers will not only keep sheets free of dust, but will also keep them smelling freshly washed all season.

There are a number of steps that should be taken to create the optimum conditions for storing flannel sheets.

Good flannel sheet care can ensure that you will enjoy your favorite flannel sheets for years to come. Anytime you are working with fabrics that are often used and frequently washed, it is important to use detergents that will reduce the amount of wear that washing and abrasive soaps can cause. Properly caring for flannel requires no more time than one would otherwise spend washing sheets, but it will drastically extend their life and keep them looking fresh and new, even if they are used in heavy rotation.

One should always choose their detergent carefully. While bleach can work wonders on many stains, it is best avoided for regular sheet maintenance. Non-chorine bleach can be a good option that will retain the cleaning power without causing undue damage to the flannel. If you will be washing sheets that are brightly colored, make sure your detergent is indicated for this type of use. Using mild detergent is not just a good idea when washing sheets, it can help extend the life of all the fabrics that you regularly clean in the washing machine.

Instead of turning your washing machine to one of the hottest settings, consider washing your sheets in warm water instead. Not only is this a more energy efficient way to use your machine, it will also reduce the likelihood that your sheets will become misshapen or shrink with regular washings. Before cleaning your sheets for the first time, take the time to read any care instructions that are listed on the tag. These can alert you to any special tips that will work for your particular brand.

When stains do occur, deal with them as quickly as possible. The more time that stains have to set, the more difficult they become to remove. Pre treating stains is still the best way to combat them. However, one should be careful not to scrub the stained area. Not only can this help the stain to set into the fabric, but rubbing can also wear away the fibers, which can lead to difficult to mend holes.

The last thing that anyone can do to make their sheets last longer is to avoid the dryer whenever possible. In the summertime, hanging sheets outside to dry is a quick way to deal with any wetness from the washing process. During the winter months, consider adding a drying rack to your laundry room. Keep in mind that sheets will dry more slowly when hung indoors and away from the sun, so allow a little extra time.

With good flannel sheet care, it is possible to get years of use from your favorite set of flannel sheets.

One of the most important considerations when purchasing a set of sheets is design.  Specifically, bedroom design and the flow of the room can be greatly enhanced or diminished depending on the sheets.   Many people may think that the sheets are not that important because honestly, they are mostly covered by a comforter or duvet and pillows. Color, solid, print and type all configure into the overall design and aesthetics of the room.  Of course this all depends on the way you make your bed as well, some preferring to have the sheets and comforter pulled down to reveal the sheets underneath and others may prefer to bring the covers up over the pillows with only the comforter showing.  Either way, the sheets are important.

Consider your overall theme before choosing your sheets.  Is your bedroom set in the traditional style?  If so you may want to choose smaller printed sheets, possibly in a floral or paisley design.  Another design choice, that might shock you at first, would be a bold stripe design in more traditional colors.  You do not have to stick to flowers or ivory to be traditional.  In fact a new twist on traditional could be quite exciting.

Now what if the style of your bedroom leans towards the romantic.  Normally this would mean dark rich colors, usually read and black.  You might want to consider a twist on the traditional romantic and use a deep purple and silvers or grays.  You can still keep the romantic feel with a new take on romance.  Solid sheets would work really nice in this setting, but maybe also consider a printed sheet in your color choices with a solid duvet or comforter.

Large prints are great for a tropical design.  Think of a bright airy bedroom with sheets that have large prints in bright cheery colors.  For instance a large hibiscus, a very tropical flower, in a bright pink would be a beautiful compliment to the whites and sand colors that are normally used in tropical themes.  You could even use solid color sheets in the colors of a sunset.

Obviously the choices are endless and incredible.  It is important to overall design to not overlook the sheets when considering the look you are trying to achieve.  They will quickly add or diminish a project, so take the time to stop and put some effort into choosing your sheets.  They are not just for comfort anymore!

The options for bedroom decor are endless if you just put your mind to it!

Thread count may be the most coveted subject in regards to sheets.  While there are many other things to consider when deciding to purchase a pair of sheets, thread count is by far the leader of the pack.  Thread count refers to the amount of threads, both vertical and horizontal, in per square inch of fabric.  This article will discuss the basics of thread count and what many of the popular options mean to you the consumer.  Please remember though that many do not even consider thread count to be the most important factor when considering sheets.  Other factors such as thread quality, yarn size and finishing are considered in front of thread count.

Thread count all depends on the thickness of each individual yarn.  Yarn length is also important and Egyptian cotton is notorious for having the longest thread in then world.  In fact that is the reason it is so sought after and expensive.  A lot of the controversy surround thread count is in reference to ply.  Ply refers to single and 2 ply, but in fact there are so many combination’s of the two that make quality sheets that each one should not be judged individually.

Bottom line is that the higher the thread count, the softer the sheets are going to be.  Thread count can also interfere with the finish of the sheet.  For instance, lets say you are buying flannel sheets, but a high thread count in this finish would ruin the overall appeal of the flannel.  Same would go for jersey sheets which are the feel and consistency of t-shirts.  Most stores will offer a wide range of thread count and finishes, typically the thread count will run between 180 to 320, except in higher end stores where you can find 1000 count sheets.

Standard quality sheets are considered around 150 thread count and “good” quality tends to begin around 180 thread count.  2oo thread count seems to be the average purchased sheet set.  Thread count above 500 tend to be misleading and they are typically plied, but again it can be stressed that the difference between single and 2 ply is negligible depending on other quality factors.  As a side note and a bit of personal advice from experience, the higher the thread count, from a standard retailer, will be soft and smooth, but they will also wear much much quicker than your average 200 thread count.  For instance, you might find holes worn in sheets where your feet fall (most likely caused from rubbing your feet together and general movement).

In the post “The History of Sheets” we discussed, well the history of sheets.  At first you may think that you cannot possibly imagine anything more boring, but if you made it through you realized there is much more tied to their history then first imagined.  This article discusses something that many of us have not had the pleasure of experiencing, Egyptian cotton sheets.  Egyptian cotton sheets are synonymous with luxury and as they say “Not all sheets are created equal.”.  Much of what makes the experience of having Egyptian sheets and what makes them so expensive and luxurious is thread count.

Thread count is very important, but let me back up for a minute.  The main reason that sheets from Egypt are so amazing and highly priced is the cotton they are made from.  The cotton is grown along the banks of the Nile River, literally along the banks.  As it happens, when the water from the river recedes, it leaves amazingly rich fertile soil, unique to this region and this soil is absolutely perfect for cotton.  Egyptian cotton is great because it is the longest staple of cotton in the world.  The staple is the individual fiber hair of the cotton.  This yields the sheets we all long to have.

Thread count is the measure of the number of yarns woven into one square inch of fabric.  That is the number of threads both vertical and horizontal.  There are also single play and double ply threads.  Ply refers to how many threads are wrapped together.  It also allows for the thickness of the sheet.  The finer the thread the more that can fit into a square inch.  The higher the thread count means the finer the thread being used, which in turn relates to the softness of the sheets.  There are more factors to consider when buying a pair of sheets however than thread count.

Another aspect of Egyptian sheets that makes them so expensive and sought after is the quality of the finishing.  How the cotton is treated is very important and the quality of the weave.  Some weaves of sheets are: Percale, Flannel, Sateen, and Jersey.  Percale is weaving is the finest available.  It is closely woven made from both carded and combed cotton and gives it the almost silk like feel.  Percale weave with Egyptian cotton is the finest of the fine and will cost you a pretty penny, but so worth it in the end.

We all enjoy the feeling of comfort that we get when getting into a cozy bed with clean sheets.  Sometimes it is the coolness of cotton on a hot summer night that makes us sigh with relaxation as we slip between the sheets.  Then again, on those frigid winter evenings, when we are shivering with anticipation of crawling between a great pair of soft flannel sheets that makes us smile.  Whatever your preference, I am sure we all can relate.  But where did the sheet originate?  Who decided that it was a good idea?  How are they made?

Nobody can pinpoint when people started using sheets to make the sleeper comfortable, but the bed in some form has been around for over one thousand years.  In all likelihood the material used for the first form of bed sheets was linen.  Linen is made from flax.  The Flax plant was woven for centuries by the Egyptians and while it was a very hard, they perfected the cultivation and weaving of the flax plant.  Linen is perfect for being used as bed sheets, even more so than cotton, because of its nature to become softer with use.

Thanks to the Europeans, linen was brought to the New World.  Early Americans, especially women, worked long and hard to spin flax into sheets, pillowcases, napkins, hankies, etc.  Regardless of the arduous task of cutivating, harvesting and weaving the linen, Americans through several centuries continued with the linen industry.  Eventually, early in the 19th century a new plant and process was discovered.

With the invention of the Cotton Gin by Eli Whitney, suddenly the difficult task of seperating the seeds from cotton became much more feasible and the cotton sheet was born.  Suddenly, American plantations turned to cotton as their main industry.  With the unfortunate use of slave labor, suddenly the Colonies of North America became a cotton making machine.  Looms became more mechanized and cotton became the easier of the two to cultivate, that in turned made it cheaper than flax to produce and cotton became the new king of sheets.

Whether your preference is for high thread count, satin sheets or the coziness of flannel sheets, it is important to understand the history behind something that we take for granted everyday.  Something that we probably never thought to wonder about it’s history.  One of North America’s most important and socially disturbing parts of history can be traced back to sheets.  Before you fall asleep curled up in those sheets, trying to warm yourself on that bitter cold night, that those sheets can be traced back to an important part of history, one we shouldn’t take for granted.