Perfectly laundered bed linen is not a consideration for hotels, it is a public demand & a hygiene requirement. If there is one reason a guest will choose to immediately leave a hotel room (& probably never return) it is because of poorly laundered bed linen. This article briefly looks at what is to be considered when buying bed linen for hotel use: what fabric lasts the longest & which washes most effectively. Longevity All bed linen has a life span. This is best described as to how many washes the linen can withstand whilst still retaining its quality. The easiest way to ensure that linen lasts longer is to choose Egyptian cotton. The purchasing will cost more, but this is offset by two factors: the longevity & the initial quality that the customer experiences. So why is Egyptian cotton better? In cotton size does matter & it all has to do with the length of the cotton fibres. The conditions in Egypt produce the longest fibres (more than 1.5 inches) & this means they are stronger & finer, giving the feeling of softness. Thread count is an important part of that feeling of comfort & luxury.
Most popular cottons have a count of approximately 150, with good quality sheets starting at around 180. 200 is the point at which a thread count reaches into the luxury range. Yet it is not just about the number of threads per square inch. Egyptian cotton fibres being longer allows for finer, thinner threads which means there are more to the inch. But it also has to do with the ‘ply’ of the threads – like the number of layers in toilet paper – twisted together & how these are woven tightly to form the fabric. Quality Egyptian cotton has two ply which means smoother, finer thread. Longer threads mean there are less of them & so there are less ends to fray. They are also thinner & so they are more tightly packed which makes the sheets stronger. Finally this combination of thin, long threads makes for a more stable, tight weave which is unlikely to bobble & it can absorb more dye to give longer lasting colours. Percale ‘Percale’ is also a term worth looking out for, because this refers to the type of weave used. Percale gives a fabric strength & this means it will last longer in multiple washes. Percale is generally only found in high thread-count fabrics. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6101322
